Charles J. Thompson House · Photo: Chuckmor · CC BY-SA 3.047 homes sold in Forest City in the last year, at a typical $144K
Almost every sale is a house. Below: what each kind of home sells for, the best months to buy, how hard you’ll have to bid, and a shortcut to every site where Forest City homes are listed.
Every place Forest City homes are listed, in one stop
We don’t copy listings: the agents’ sites have the photos and the latest price changes. Set what you want once and we open each site already filtered to Forest City.
For sale
Rent
New, land & open houses
Links open the listing sites; TownRatings isn’t paid for them and doesn’t rank one above another. Rentals and government-owned homes come from sources outside the MLS.
Houses are 0% of Forest City’s sales, at a typical — (year to May 2026)
47 homes sold in the year to September 2026.
About as many homes sell as usual, at 1.3 times the 2016 price
47 sales in the last year, against 69 in 2020 and a low of 0 in 2013. The typical sale went from $111K in 2016 to $144K.
Source: Redfin Data Center, MLS sales; from June 2026 each month is a 3-month rolling window, its counts divided by 3. Typical price and $/sq ft are the monthly medians, weighted by sales. Redfin stopped publishing towns’ figures by property type after May 2026, so houses and condos are shown for the year to then.
Bidding wars in Forest City are back to pre-pandemic levels, with about as many homes for sale
We read every month of Forest City’s home sales since 2013 so you don’t have to. Each figure covers 12 months, because a single month in a town is too few sales to mean much. Latest: the year to September 2026, 47 sales.
If you’re buying in Forest City
- Shop in May. It brings about 5 new listings a month, close to the busiest month, with fewer bidding wars (15% over asking).
- Offer under asking. Buyers paid 95.5% of the list price on average; 13% paid over.
- You’ll usually have time. Only 22% of homes go under contract within two weeks; the typical one takes 60 days.
Summer brings both the most homes and the most bidding wars
July has the most new listings (about 6 a month), but June is the most competitive: 20% of June sales close over asking. May offers nearly as much choice with fewer homes bid up (15%). March has the least competition (12%) but only about 3 new listings.
Averages for each calendar month, 2015 on.
Calmer than the 2021 frenzy, and calmer than Iowa
| Forest City now | 2017–19 | 2021 peak | IA now | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sold over askingShare of sales that closed above the list price | 13% | 10% | 23% | 20% |
| Gone within two weeksShare of homes under contract within 14 days | 22% | 6% | 0% | 35% |
| Price paid vs. askingAverage sale price ÷ list price | 95.5% | 94.6% | 95.9% | 97.5% |
| Days to sellMedian days from listing to contract | 60 | 115 | 78 | 46 |
22 homes for sale on a typical day
That’s 5.7 times the 2013 low (4), about the 2017–19 level and well under 2015’s 31.
Source: Redfin Data Center, city figures, January 2013 to September 2026 (MLS sales, not seasonally adjusted; from June 2026 each month is a 3-month rolling window, its counts divided by 3). Ratios are weighted by homes sold; price cuts by homes for sale.
Owning the typical Forest City home costs about $939 a month
Price: Forest City’s typical sale, last 12 months. Property tax at Forest City’s 1.6% (median bill ÷ median value, Census ACS); insurance at 0.35% of price a year. Before PMI, HOA dues, upkeep and the tax deduction. Whether Forest City is affordable on local pay is on Cost of living.
Six things worth knowing
New listings in July
The month with the most choice. February has the fewest, about 3.
Best time to buyProperty tax, a year
Of a home’s value: the median bill over the median home value. On a $144K home, about $2,250 a year.
Taxes vs. neighborsSchools
The schools grade for Forest City, from test results, graduation and how much students grow.
Schools in Forest CityTypical commute
The average one-way trip to work for people who live in Forest City.
Work & commuteCheck the flood map
Flood insurance isn’t in a standard policy, and lenders require it in FEMA flood zones. Check the address before you make an offer.
Natural hazardsLook up any property
Assessed value, lot size and every past sale of a home you’re eyeing are public, at the town or county assessor and the registry of deeds.
Britt and Northwood sell for less a square foot; Garner and Clear Lake for far more
The busier markets within 25 miles of Forest City, by what sold. Prices, taxes and how far a paycheck goes next door are on Cost of living.
| Sold | Typical sale | $/sq ft | Over asking | Days to sell | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mason City | 394 | $168K | $112 | 19% | 58 |
| Clear Lake | 138 | $337K | $206 | 9% | 84 |
| Forest City | 47 | $144K | $96 | 13% | 60 |
| Garner | 41 | $218K | $132 | 10% | 54 |
| Northwood | 27 | $158K | $87 | 32% | 63 |
| Britt | 23 | $110K | $73 | 9% | 37 |
Redfin Data Center, October 2025 to September 2026. Towns with fewer than 20 sales are left out, and Redfin doesn’t report every town separately.
Post your home to Forest City, free
Selling it yourself, renting out an apartment or looking for a roommate? Post it to Forest City. People who follow the town see it, and so do people comparing Forest City with their own town. No commission, no listing fee.
Questions about buying a home in Forest City
What do homes sell for in Forest City, IA?
47 homes sold in the year to September 2026 at a typical $144K, $96 a square foot.
Is Forest City a buyer’s or seller’s market?
A buyer’s market: 31 homes were for sale in September 2026 and 4 sold, about 6.6 months of supply. Buyers paid 95.5% of asking on average.
When is the best time to buy in Forest City?
July brings the most new listings. The sales history shows which months have fewer bidding wars.
How much are property taxes in Forest City?
About 1.6% of a home’s value a year. On a $144K home that’s near $2,250.
Where can I see homes for sale in Forest City?
Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com and Homes.com all carry Forest City’s MLS listings; the search links above open each one filtered to Forest City.
Sales, prices, days on market and listings: Redfin Data Center (MLS, monthly, not seasonally adjusted; from June 2026 each month is a 3-month rolling window, its counts divided by 3). Property tax rate: Census American Community Survey. Two-bedroom rent: HUD Fair Market Rent. Typical home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Schools grade: TownRatings (how grades work).