Real Estate Relocation Guide To Iowa

Relocating from Chicago to Iowa is a major move. You’re crossing state lines and heading 175 miles to find a new home in a different community. By familiarizing yourself with the local real estate market, whether your destination is Des Moines or Sioux City you can get a good idea of the Iowa landscape and locate the best area for you and your family.

We’ll start with the big picture… Iowa has an estimated population of 2.9 million* and around 55,800 square miles of land. The total number of housing units is 1,319,980, of which about 886,000 are owner-occupied and 322,000 are inhabited by renters. Roughly 111,000, or 8.4 percent, of the residences in the state are vacant. The median home value in Iowa is $112,600 and the median household income is $44,491. For an idea of how this sizes up with national averages – the median home value in the U.S. is $185,200 and the median household income is $48,451.

Statewide figures provide a good overview of Iowa, but when you’re planning to relocate to the region, knowing what types of housing are available is the most important thing. So here’s a breakdown of what Iowa real estate has to offer…

About 19,000 homes in Iowa are new construction, developed in 2005 or after (another 87,800 were put up between 2000 and 2004). Iowa has its share of vintage charm as well with 389,000 residences built prior to 1940. The total number of detached, single-family houses across the state is 975,000, and there’s also a good selection of multi-unit residences and condos. Most homes have 3 bedrooms, but size varies greatly depending on where you look. And, in case you’re wondering about how your budget will pan out in Hawkeye State, monthly mortgage costs in [Alabama] generally hover between $700 and 2,000+.

Relocation Resources

Iowa Real Estate Des Moines Area Homes
Selling Des Moines Real Estate & Iowa Realty. West Des Moines, Ankeny, Altoona, Waukee, Des Moines, Johnston, Urbandale and more. A realtor helping home buyers and seller fulfill their dreams.

*All statistics are from the 2006 American Community Survey as shown on the U.S. Census Bureau website.
Sources: factfinder.census.gov and www.city-data.com