Market Intelligence Report — IA-980

Iowa City, IA

Monthly housing intelligence, market trends, and trusted local expertise.

Ref. No: 2026-IA-08
As of the latest 2026 data
Cooling

Median Listing

$382K
+8.3% YoY

Pending Ratio

0.42
+19.5% YoY

Active Inventory

639
-24.7% YoY

Median DOM

63 Days
+10.5% YoY

Primary Intelligence Tool — Sold Score™

Will your home sell in today's cooling Iowa City market?

Sold Score™ analyzes 40+ local data points to estimate your home's probability of sale in the next 60 days across Iowa City, IA.

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The Iowa City market exhibits cooling conditions with a pending ratio of 0.42, indicating a demand absorption rate that is below the supply of available properties. While the pending ratio has increased significantly by 19.5% year-over-year, the overall absorption level remains moderate relative to active listings.

Local Market Signals

Source: FRED (St. Louis Fed)

Local economic trends can influence how quickly homes sell and how much competition sellers may face.

Job Market

3.1%+0.0 pp YoY

Unemployment rate · Jul 2026

Shows whether local employment conditions are supporting buyer demand.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED (St. Louis Fed).

Population & Migration

182,711+0.7% YoY

Resident population · Jan 2025

Shows whether the area is gaining or losing potential housing demand.

U.S. Census Bureau via FRED (St. Louis Fed).

Future Housing Supply

Data not yet available.

Shows whether future inventory pressure may increase.

Market Analysis

What's moving the Iowa City market right now.

Active listings have contracted notably by 24.7% over the past year, although new listings show a more modest year-over-year decline of 3.9%. Median listing prices have experienced an 8.3% year-over-year increase, alongside an 8.6% rise in median price per square foot. However, the median days on market has extended by 10.5% compared to the prior year, suggesting a lengthening sales cycle.

Monica Hayes
Monica Hayes
Independent

Local pricing and inventory dynamics across Iowa City shift block by block — happy to walk through what's actually closing.

Historical Analysis

Market Trends

Median Price

$382K-0.2% MoM

Active Inventory

639-24.7% YoY

Days on Market

63+10.5% YoY

Sold Score™

68+19.5% YoY

Sold Score™ Over Time

Market liquidity index • 36 months

68
Sep 23Aug 26

Price & Days on Market

Median listing vs market velocity

Price DOM
Sep 23Aug 26

Inventory Dynamics

Total active listings vs new monthly supply

Active New listings
Sep 23Apr 24Nov 24Jun 25Jan 26Aug 26

Sourced from Realtor.com RDC Inventory Core Metrics, supplemented by the Primpted research desk. Updated As of the latest 2026 data.

Market Signals & Indicators

Negotiating Leverage

The current market dynamics suggest that properties are taking longer to move, with median days on market increasing. While inventory levels have decreased, the moderate pending ratio indicates that demand is not intensely outpacing supply, allowing for more extended consideration periods for prospective purchasers. This environment may necessitate greater price discipline from sellers to achieve transaction completion.

Luxury Segment

The average listing price has grown by 5.0% year-over-year, which is less than the 8.3% increase observed in the median listing price, suggesting some relative softness at higher price points. However, without more granular data on price tiers, this signal is not definitive.

Supply Dynamics

639 active listings represent the current floor, with new supply arriving at roughly 200 per month.

Pricing Pressure
11.3%

of active listings carry a price reduction, -0.4% from prior period.

$/Sq Ft
$0K

Median price per square foot has moved +8.6% year-over-year.

Absorption
0.42

Pending-to-active ratio — Cooling.

Recommended For This Market

Cooling

Selling in Iowa City, IA? Homes here are taking 6 days longer to sell than last year.

Iowa City, IA is sitting near equilibrium. Preparation, pricing and timing decide whether a listing sells fast or lingers.

Buyer Demand Index
42%
Median Days on Market
63 days
Inventory YoY
−25%

Iowa City, IA is balanced, so preparation decides the outcome. Your Sold Score shows where you stand today.

Check my home's Sold Score

Talk to a local listing expert covering Iowa City, IA.

Monica Hayes

Independent

How these recommendations are chosen →

The Monthly Briefing

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Metro Demographics

Metro Area
Iowa City, IA
CBSA Code
26980
State
IA

Vetted Local Practitioners

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