Old Capitol · Photo: Billwhittaker · CC BY-SA 3.0953 homes sold in Iowa City in the last year, at a typical $311K
About one sale in 3 is a condo. Below: what each kind of home sells for, what your budget buys, the best months to buy, how hard you’ll have to bid, and a shortcut to every site where Iowa City homes are listed.
Every place Iowa 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 Iowa 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.
A third of Iowa City’s sales are condos, at $107K less than a house
629 houses and 295 condos sold in the year to May 2026. Houses sell faster.
typical sale · 629 sold in the year to May 2026
- Per square foot
- $178IA $158
- Days to sell
- 46
- Sold over asking
- 23%
- Listings with a price cut
- 19%
typical sale · 295 sold in the year to May 2026
- Per square foot
- $162IA $165
- Days to sell
- 72
- Sold over asking
- 21%
- Listings with a price cut
- 14%
Multi-family (2–4 units): 12 sold, typical $391K
Townhouses: 1 sold, typical $154K
Too few sales in 12 months for reliable figures.
About as many homes sell as usual, at 1.5 times the 2016 price
953 sales in the last year, against 1,188 in 2021 and a low of 21 in 2012. The typical sale went from $203K in 2016 to $311K.
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.
What $300K buys in Iowa City
Check a listing against what Iowa City homes sold for
Against the town’s median price per square foot over the last 12 months. A rough check: condition, lot and location within town move a price more than this can see.
Bidding wars in Iowa City are back to pre-pandemic levels, but a third fewer homes come up for sale
We read every month of Iowa City’s home sales since 2012 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, 953 sales.
If you’re buying in Iowa City
- Shop in March. It brings about 153 new listings a month, close to the busiest month, with fewer bidding wars (20% over asking).
- Bid near asking. Buyers paid 98.6% of the list price on average; 21% paid over.
- You’ll usually have time. Only 36% of homes go under contract within two weeks; the typical one takes 43 days.
Spring brings the homes; summer brings the bidding wars
March has the most new listings (about 153 a month), but June is the most competitive: 30% of June sales close over asking. January has the least competition (11%) but only about 81 new listings.
Averages for each calendar month, 2015 on.
Nearly as heated as 2021, and about like Iowa State as a whole
| Iowa City now | 2017–19 | 2021 peak | IA now | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sold over askingShare of sales that closed above the list price | 21% | 18% | 30% | 20% |
| Gone within two weeksShare of homes under contract within 14 days | 36% | 4% | 4% | 35% |
| Price paid vs. askingAverage sale price ÷ list price | 98.6% | 98.4% | 99.5% | 97.5% |
| Days to sellMedian days from listing to contract | 43 | 80 | 68 | 46 |
220 homes for sale on a typical day
That’s 4.5 times the 2012 low (49), 36% fewer than in 2017–19 and well under 2014’s 477.
Since 2019, houses are up 44%, condos 42%
A house typically sold for $365K in the year to May 2026 (629 sales), a condo for $258K (295).
Median sale price, weighted by sales each month. Years with fewer than 4 sales of a type are left out.
Iowa City ranks 37th of 91 busy Iowa State markets for bidding wars
Share of sales over asking in the last year, among towns with 60 or more sales. Iowa City is in the middle of the pack.
Source: Redfin Data Center, city figures, January 2012 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 Iowa City home costs about $2,061 a month
Price: Iowa City’s typical sale, last 12 months. Property tax at Iowa City’s 1.7% (median bill ÷ median value, Census ACS); insurance at 0.35% of price a year. Before PMI, HOA dues, upkeep and the tax deduction. Whether Iowa City is affordable on local pay is on Cost of living.
Six things worth knowing
New listings in March
The month with the most choice. December has the fewest, about 32.
Best time to buyProperty tax, a year
Of a home’s value: the median bill over the median home value. On a $311K home, about $5,270 a year.
Taxes vs. neighborsSchools
The schools grade for Iowa City, from test results, graduation and how much students grow.
Schools in Iowa CityTypical commute
The average one-way trip to work for people who live in Iowa 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.
West Branch sells for less a square foot; University Heights for far more
The busier markets within 25 miles of Iowa 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City | 953 | $311K | $175 | 21% | 43 |
| North Liberty | 514 | $334K | $171 | 18% | 41 |
| Coralville | 421 | $335K | $173 | 19% | 52 |
| Tiffin | 251 | $349K | $172 | 23% | 73 |
| Solon | 101 | $414K | $181 | 25% | 53 |
| West Branch | 51 | $306K | $150 | 16% | 52 |
| University Heights | 35 | $369K | $244 | 24% | 30 |
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 Iowa City, free
Selling it yourself, renting out an apartment or looking for a roommate? Post it to Iowa City. People who follow the town see it, and so do people comparing Iowa City with their own town. No commission, no listing fee.
Questions about buying a home in Iowa City
What do homes sell for in Iowa City, IA?
953 homes sold in the year to September 2026 at a typical $311K, $175 a square foot. Houses sold for about $365K, condos for about $258K in the year to May 2026.
Is Iowa City a buyer’s or seller’s market?
A seller’s market: 192 homes were for sale in September 2026 and 85 sold, about 2.3 months of supply. Buyers paid 98.6% of asking on average.
When is the best time to buy in Iowa City?
March brings the most new listings. The sales history shows which months have fewer bidding wars.
How much are property taxes in Iowa City?
About 1.7% of a home’s value a year. On a $311K home that’s near $5,270.
Where can I see homes for sale in Iowa City?
Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com and Homes.com all carry Iowa City’s MLS listings; the search links above open each one filtered to Iowa 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).