Hold Period — Cities of Iowa

Cities of Iowa ranked by average flip hold-period.

Public Record

Currently viewing: Iowa · View nationwide

National avg hold

1.00 yr

Fastest-flip state

—

Longest-hold state

—

Flip pairs analyzed

7,325

Fastest-flip states (shortest avg hold)

Longest-hold states

City ranking — Iowa (avg hold period)

Cities in Iowa (sample ≥ 20 flips)

Sorted shortest to longest

#	City	Avg hold (yrs)	Avg hold (mo)	Avg gain %	Sample
1	Riverside	0.78	9.5	+491.5%	23
2	Muscatine	0.85	10.4	+146.4%	30
3	Peosta	0.85	10.4	+593.2%	21
4	Council Bluffs	0.85	10.3	+165.9%	198
5	Carlisle	0.86	10.5	+307.8%	33
6	Washington	0.86	10.4	+99.9%	21
7	Polk City	0.87	10.6	+422.1%	56
8	Bettendorf	0.87	10.6	+267.7%	95
9	Coralville	0.87	10.6	+160.9%	69
10	Davenport	0.88	10.7	+188.7%	196
11	Independence	0.88	10.8	+328.6%	20
12	Adel	0.88	10.7	+198.0%	101
13	Sioux City	0.89	10.9	+126.4%	126
14	Des Moines	0.89	10.8	+135.6%	620
15	Pella	0.89	10.8	+251.3%	62
16	Van Meter	0.90	10.9	+317.3%	22
17	Huxley	0.91	11.0	+415.7%	53
18	West Branch	0.91	11.1	+248.4%	30
19	Clinton	0.93	11.3	+138.8%	65
20	Ottumwa	0.94	11.4	+97.1%	54
21	Vinton	0.94	11.4	+127.6%	25
22	Iowa City	0.95	11.5	+168.7%	123
23	Knoxville	0.95	11.6	+177.9%	37
24	Grimes	0.95	11.5	+412.4%	158
25	Altoona	0.96	11.6	+193.1%	103
26	Bondurant	0.96	11.7	+244.6%	101
27	Urbandale	0.97	11.8	+284.4%	161
28	Ankeny	0.97	11.8	+337.2%	417
29	Nevada	0.98	11.9	+211.0%	26
30	Norwalk	0.98	11.9	+346.2%	114
31	Tiffin	0.98	12.0	+287.4%	80
32	Boone	0.98	11.9	+169.3%	70
33	Jefferson	0.98	12.0	+141.9%	23
34	Ames	0.99	12.1	+158.4%	119
35	Johnston	1.00	12.2	+299.0%	59
36	Fort Dodge	1.00	12.2	+114.8%	44
37	Dubuque	1.00	12.2	+284.3%	48
38	Solon	1.00	12.2	+238.9%	22
39	Waukee	1.01	12.3	+285.9%	207
40	Cedar Falls	1.01	12.3	+214.5%	77
41	Newton	1.02	12.4	+149.0%	73
42	West Des Moines	1.02	12.4	+212.8%	157
43	Granger	1.02	12.4	+270.8%	43
44	Indianola	1.03	12.5	+224.8%	76
45	Cedar Rapids	1.03	12.6	+185.0%	260
46	North Liberty	1.06	12.9	+196.0%	42
47	Spirit Lake	1.07	13.0	+170.8%	39
48	Centerville	1.07	13.1	+168.1%	31
49	Pleasant Hill	1.08	13.2	+241.3%	48
50	Clear Lake	1.08	13.1	+170.7%	37

What hold period tells investors

Liquidity signal

Short average holds (under 2 years) indicate a liquid market — properties trade often, exit timing is flexible, and capital recycles quickly. Long holds (5+ years) suggest fewer buyers, slower exits, and higher carry-cost risk.

Flipper vs. landlord markets

Markets where typical investors hold 3–9 months are dominated by fix-and-flip operators. Markets averaging 5–10 years are dominated by buy-and-hold landlords. Choose the strategy that matches the market — don't fight it.

Caveats

This metric reflects only properties that resold. True buy-and-hold landlords who never sold during the data window are invisible here. Treat the numbers as a relative ranking across states, not an absolute hold-period truth. Source: public record.