Market Intelligence Report — IA-980

Iowa City, IA

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

Ref. No: 2026-IA-07
As of the latest 2026 data
Accelerated

Median Listing

$382K
+9.3% YoY

Pending Ratio

0.60
+29.8% YoY

Active Inventory

651
-19.7% YoY

Median DOM

72 Days
+58.9% YoY

Primary Intelligence Tool — Sold Score™

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

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The Iowa City housing market is characterized as Accelerated, with a pending ratio of 0.60 indicating robust demand absorption. Active listings have contracted by 19.7% year-over-year, contributing to tighter market conditions.

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

2.7%-0.1 pp YoY

Unemployment rate · Jun 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.

The market is experiencing a significant year-over-year increase in demand, as evidenced by a 29.8% rise in the pending ratio. This demand strength is met with contracting supply, with active listings down 19.7% from a year prior. Median listing prices have appreciated 9.3% year-over-year, alongside an 11.7% increase in median price per square foot, despite a slight monthly decline of 0.3% in median listing price. The median days on market have extended by 58.9% year-over-year, suggesting a moderation in transaction speed compared to the prior period.

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-0.3% MoM

Active Inventory

651-19.7% YoY

Days on Market

72+58.9% YoY

Sold Score™

76+29.8% YoY

Sold Score™ Over Time

Market liquidity index • 36 months

76
Aug 23Jul 26

Price & Days on Market

Median listing vs market velocity

Price DOM
Aug 23Jul 26

Inventory Dynamics

Total active listings vs new monthly supply

Active New listings
Aug 23Mar 24Oct 24May 25Dec 25Jul 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 pace of demand absorption relative to inventory levels places significant pressure on available listings. With a pending ratio of 0.60 and a substantial year-over-year contraction in active listings, buyers face a more competitive environment. This reduced supply necessitates prompt decision-making and reinforces price discipline, as limited inventory generally supports pricing power.

Luxury Segment

The average listing price has risen by 1.4% year-over-year, significantly underperforming the 9.3% increase in the median listing price. This disparity, coupled with a higher average-versus-median spread, suggests some softness in the higher-priced tiers of the market. While median price per square foot remains strong, the relative underperformance of average pricing indicates a more discerning environment for luxury properties. No distinct luxury-segment signal in this dataset.

Supply Dynamics

651 active listings represent the current floor, with new supply arriving at roughly 230 per month.

Pricing Pressure
9.3%

of active listings carry a price reduction, -4.0% from prior period.

$/Sq Ft
$0K

Median price per square foot has moved +11.7% year-over-year.

Absorption
0.60

Pending-to-active ratio — Accelerated.

Recommended For This Market

Accelerated

Selling in Iowa City, IA? Homes here are taking 27 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
60%
Median Days on Market
72 days
Inventory YoY
−20%

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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One email per month: median price, inventory, days on market, and curated expert commentary — straight from the Primpted data desk.

Metro Demographics

Metro Area
Iowa City, IA
CBSA Code
26980
State
IA

Vetted Local Practitioners

Direct Consultation

Need a real Iowa City expert on the phone?

Skip the search. Our vetted local practitioners know the Iowa City, IA micro-markets, pricing strategy, and negotiation dynamics — and they answer the phone.

Analysis FAQ
  • What is the current market condition in Iowa City?+

    As of the latest 2026 data, the Iowa City metro is classified as Accelerated. Pending ratio is 0.60 with median days on market at 72.

  • Are home prices dropping in Iowa City?+

    Median listing price is $382K, +9.3% year over year. 9.3% of active listings carry a price reduction.

  • How fast are homes selling in Iowa City?+

    The typical listing sits 72 days on market, a +58.9% change YoY. New listings are arriving at 230 per month.

  • What's happening in the Iowa City luxury market?+

    The average listing price has risen by 1.4% year-over-year, significantly underperforming the 9.3% increase in the median listing price. This disparity, coupled with a higher average-versus-median spread, suggests some softness in the higher-priced tiers of the market. While median price per square foot remains strong, the relative underperformance of average pricing indicates a more discerning environment for luxury properties. No distinct luxury-segment signal in this dataset.

  • Where can I find a trusted Iowa City real estate expert?+

    Primpted maintains a vetted registry of Iowa City agents with verified credentials, Google reviews, and neighborhood specialization. See the Featured Experts section above.

Data & Methodology

Primary data sourced via Realtor.com's RDC Inventory Core Metrics (CBSA-level), supplemented by editorial analysis and the Primpted local expert registry. Historical trends calculated on a rolling 12-month basis. Past direction is not a forecast.

As of the latest 2026 data · CBSA 26980 · 36mo history