Real Estate Investing in Lamoni, Iowa (50140)

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

Decatur County • Population: 2,817 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 50140 (Lamoni, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (65/100)

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

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

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 13.4% 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 Lamoni, IA (50140)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $163,127
Avg Monthly Rent $900
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,808
% Renters 41.0%

Market Analysis: 50140 Lamoni

In practical terms, ZIP 50140 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $163K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 50140 stands at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

From an investor standpoint, 50140 offers a low basis, the region around Lamoni has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

On the rental side, 2,817 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

The 50140 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Lamoni:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+11.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $900/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$169K$154K$140K$126K$112K$97KJul 2010Jul 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50140 Compare?

Metric 50140 Lamoni Iowa
Home Value $163,127 $163,127 $227,232
5-Year CAGR 2.7% 2.7% 6.0%
Avg Rent $900 $900 -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 50140? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 41% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 50140 (Lamoni, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 50140 (Lamoni, IA)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+2.7%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $163,127
Monthly Rent $900
Price-to-Rent 15.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.6%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 7.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +11.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
13.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50140

Population: 2,817

💰 Median Household Income
$54,808
This area
$54,808
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
41.0%
This area
41.0%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.3%
This area
4.3%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
50.5%
This area
50.5%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
29.3 years
This area
29.3 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.4%
This area
13.4%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.3%
Other/Mixed 8.1%
Black/African American 3.2%
Hispanic/Latino 2.0%
Asian 1.4%
👶 Under 18
20.6%
This area
20.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.8%
This area
16.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
16.4%
This area
16.4%
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 50140

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
14.8:1 Avg Class Size
$13,664 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Lamoni Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
196 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,664 Per Student
B Good

Lamoni High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
81 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,664 Per Student
C+ Average

Lamoni Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
65 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,664 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.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby
C
Graceland University-Lamoni
1,195 students · 3.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Lamoni, IA?

Lamoni, IA median home values land near $163K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $900/mo-per-month rentals.

How strong are rents in Lamoni, IA?

Rent in Lamoni, IA is around $900/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $163K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Are renters plentiful in Lamoni, IA?

The tenant pool in Lamoni, IA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $900/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

How do experienced investors play Lamoni, IA?

For Lamoni, IA, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

What is it like being a landlord in Lamoni, IA?

The landlord environment in Lamoni, IA is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

You know 50140 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 50140 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.

Compare Plans
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 50140 (Lamoni)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 50140 (Lamoni, IA).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.