WEST DES MOINES, Iowa – The Iowa housing market showed clear signs of spring and its transitional increases in activity in March. While economic uncertainty resulted in fluctuations of many markets, the housing market across the state proved that buyers and sellers remain optimistic and ready for their next move.  Iowa REALTORS® President Travis Bushaw says  “Despite economic uncertainty and shifting market dynamics throughout the state, overall Iowa’s housing market through March is showing continued signs of a strong spring in real estate. The first quarter ended with rising inventory, faster sales, and  an increase in median sale price, supporting the conversation that there is a renewed confidence from buyers and sellers.”

Les Sulgrove, Iowa REALTORS® statewide housing analyst, said single-family homes entering the market, “Remained mostly flat in March compared to the same time in 2024, tallying a 0.1% increase with 3,861 new listings added during the month. The largely unchanged figure is likely a result of sellers waiting out the heavy winter months and lingering cold weather before officially listing properties. Monthly, new listings jumped 37.9% from the 2,800 new listings of February, proving that while cold temperatures may have kept many on the sidelines, inventory is blooming for the spring market.  Active listings saw a 22% increase with 7,411 properties listed statewide compared to March 2024. The increase was more stable monthly, rising 2.5% from February’s 7,228 active listings.

Median sales price increased 6.2% from last year’s metrics to $239,000. A similar fluctuation was seen month-over month.  Sulgrove says “Perhaps the clearest sign that the housing market is picking up as we enter the spring months is the dramatic shift in days on the market. Homes are spending a median of 12 days on the market in March, a 45.5% drop from 22 days recorded in February. As with previous metrics, the monthly decrease is a contrast to that of the market a year ago when homes spent a median of 9 days on the market.”

The “golden child” of the housing market during covid, condo-townhome inventory he said, has begun to see a drop in closed sales. In March, 341 properties sold, a decrease of 5% from the 359 sold a year ago.  Sulgrove notes that the slip is indicative of increasing single-family home inventory. Inventory continued to increase for condo-townhomes, however. New listings climbed to 611 properties, a jump of 10.7% from a year ago, and active inventory came in at 1,764 a 28.1% increase from a year ago. Days on markets outpaced single-family homes, with properties seeing a median of 26 days on market, an increase of 160% from the same time in 2024. Median sales price was in-line with single-family homes at $238,000.