Is NOW the Best Time to Sell a House in Iowa?

✏️ Editor’s Note: Realtor Associations, agents, and MLS’ have started implementing changes related to the NAR’s $418 million settlement. While home-sellers will likely save thousands in commission, compliance and litigation risks have significantly increased for sellers throughout the nation. Learn how NAR’s settlement affects home sellers.

Surprisingly, yes. April is ideally a good time to start prepping your Iowa home for sale. The housing demand is at its peak, but inventory is still tight. With the median home price currently at $222,700, major forecasts expect home prices to continue rising in 2024. 

But home prices aren’t the only factor expected to increase. Mortgage rates, though lower than their 7.79% peak in October 2023, are also inching their way up. The current 6.87% mortgage rate favorably treats home shoppers. But it may not do so in a month’s time.

If you want to take advantage of this trend before the housing inventory tightens up, list your home on the MLS in Iowa NOW!

What Is the Best Time to Sell a House in Iowa?

Selecting the best time to sell a house depends on your goals, whether you want to earn profits or sell your home quickly.

1. Best Time to Sell Your House for a Higher Price

June, July, and August are the best months to sell your house in Iowa. The median sale price of houses in June 2023 was $237,900, which is expected to rise in 2024.

However, cities like Marion and Dubuque follow an upward trend throughout the year.

» Home Value Calculator: You can find your property’s current FMV in a few seconds and list the home accordingly.

2. Best Time to Sell Your House Quickly

Again, May and June are the best months to close your house sale quickly. During these months, homes spend an average of 21-25 days on the market, which is 10-15 days less than the rest of the months.

Fewer days on the market are considered an indicator of a seller’s market. However, people who have to move due to job relocation tend to do it during November and December. Such sellers are usually eager and have strict home-selling timelines.

3. Best Day of the Week to List Your Iowa House

Thursday is the best day to list a house. 21% of homes across the nation are listed on Thursday post 5 p.m. This is crucial as most home buyers start searching for their house online over the weekend once they are back from work.

The properties appearing at the top of the search page get the maximum exposure. Thus, increasing the chance of selling the Iowa house faster.

4. Best Season to Sell Your House in Iowa

Spring is the best time of the year to sell a house. You can yield quicker sales and higher profits if you list your home in late spring or early summer. These seasons are ideal for three reasons:

• Families can settle without disrupting their kids’ schooling.
• Fall and winter are busy seasons, leaving little time for house-hunting.
• Summer offers longer daylight hours and better weather, which is ideal for scheduling house showings.

But winter still holds an opportunity for a home sale in warmer regions.

Best Time of the Year to Sell a House in Iowa

Iowa’s net population rate increased by 0.23% from 2022. Having said this, it indicates that the market conditions are favorable to list your property.

Check this table to find the best and the worst time to sell your Iowa house:

Month	Average Home Sale Price	Houses Sold	Days on Market
January	$208,100	1,827	44
February	$202,000	1,891	48
March	$215,600	2,898	39
April	$224,000	2,776	31
May	$229,400	3,460	21
June	$237,900	4,292	21
July	$231,400	3,461	22
August	$231,000	3,760	22
September	$228,300	3,222	24
October	$223,400	2,984	28
November	$217,800	2,721	28
December	$220,600	2,558	36

When Should You Sell Your Iowa House?

Here’s when you can consider selling your home:

When You Need a Change in Life

Sometimes there are situations that demand a change in your life such as:

• Job-Relocation: Say, you have received an appealing job offer, but it demands relocation. This situation can force you to sell your house in a slow market.
• Adverse Neighborhood: You may need a safe neighborhood for your family or a house closer to your kids’ school.
• Divorce: Homes often hold a sentimental value for couples. But after a divorce, you may consider selling it a practical option.

When Market Conditions Are in Your Favor

Favorable market conditions can get you a top-dollar rate. Some factors that affect the real estate market are:

• Economy: Economic indicators like manufacturing activity, GDP, employment rate, costs of goods, etc., influence the Iowa real estate market.
• Interest Rates: Lower interest rates boost the demand for mortgages. This affects the real estate sector, thus increasing the price of the homes.
• Government Policies: The government can temporarily create a favorable housing market by implementing tax credits, subsidies, and deductions.

When You Are Financially Prepared

Here are a few factors to consider if you are financially ready:

• Affordability: The average mortgage rate affects the affordability of buyers. Check in advance if the interest rates are surging or are expected to decline.
• Downgrade Your Expenses: If you own a bigger house and are looking to save on your property taxes, homeowners insurance, and HOA fees, you can sell the bigger house and move into a smaller one.
• Equity for New House: When your current home has procured enough equity to fulfill a healthy down payment, you can sell it at the right time.

Is Now a Good Time to Sell a House in Iowa?

Yes, this is the right time to list your Iowa home to sell. Spring will be here soon, and the summer season will be an excellent time for home sellers.

If you want to sell your house in Iowa quickly and for higher profits, list it on the MLS. Houses listed on the MLS sell for 17.5% more than those off the MLS.

Houzeo can get your Iowa home listed on the MLS for a flat fee. This saves you 3% real estate agent commission. Your listing also gets syndicated to the major online real estate websites.

Eager to Know how Houzeo Works?

Houzeo is the #1 For Sale By Owner website in the U.S. It helps you list your house within 24 hours, unlike traditional brokers, who take 20 days to list your property.

Check out the following video to understand how Houzeo would help you crack the deal faster in 5 steps.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Best Time to Sell a House
• Iowa