Real Estate Investing in Seymour, Iowa (52590)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Wayne County • Population: 1,433 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 52590 (Seymour, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 17.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Seymour, IA (52590)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $146,375
Avg Monthly Rent $828
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $47,344
% Renters 16.4%

Market Analysis: 52590 Seymour

ZIP 52590 inside Wayne County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $146K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Rent of $828/mo on a $146K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 52590 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

The gap between 52590 and stronger Seymour ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 52590 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

trends toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Seymour:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $828/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 52590

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$45,471/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $90,942 $920 7.3% $45,471
3BR $143,042 $1,190 6.0% +8.3% $47,681

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$158K$140K$122K$104K$87K$69KFeb 2018May 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 52590 Compare?

Metric 52590 Seymour Iowa
Home Value $146,375 $146,375 $227,232
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% 6.0%
Avg Rent $828 $828 -
Cap Rate 4.4% 4.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 52590? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 52590 (Seymour, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $146,375
Monthly Rent $828
Price-to-Rent 14.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.8%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 10.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
17.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 52590

Population: 1,433

💰 Median Household Income
$47,344
This area
$47,344
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
16.4%
This area
16.4%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.7%
This area
0.7%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.2%
This area
12.2%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
28.7 years
This area
28.7 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.5%
This area
17.5%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.7%
Other/Mixed 2.3%
Hispanic/Latino 0.4%
👶 Under 18
37.3%
This area
37.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.4%
This area
14.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.7%
This area
17.7%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 52590

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
10.1:1 Avg Class Size
$19,904 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Seymour High School

📚 05 – 12 High School
👥
124 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,904 Per Student
A Very Good

Seymour Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
88 Students
👨‍🏫
9.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,904 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do rentals sit vacant long in Seymour, IA?

Seymour, IA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader IA rental market.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Seymour, IA?

Seymour, IA draws a stable base of working renters. Demand at the $828/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

How strict are landlord regulations in Seymour, IA?

IA law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Seymour inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

Can I house hack in Seymour, IA?

For house hackers, Seymour, IA is a challenging. The $828/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $146K property.

How should investors approach Seymour, IA?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Seymour, IA. The numbers - $146K homes against $828/mo rents - support that play.

You know 52590 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 52590 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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