Iowa Active Listings Climb 13.9% as Sales Slow

Iowa housing data for October 2026 shows more homes on the market while closed and pending sales declined from a year earlier.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Residential

Iowa Active Listings Climb 13.9% as Sales Slow

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Iowa active housing listings rose 13.9% year-over-year to 10,737 in October 2026, according to Iowa REALTORS®. Closed sales fell 10.2% to 2,927 over the same period.

Why it matters

More available inventory alongside weaker sales activity points to a market where buyers have more choices while transactions have slowed statewide. The median sales price held at $250,000, unchanged from a year earlier.

Iowa REALTORS® reported 4,114 new listings in October 2026, down 8.6% from 4,501 a year earlier. The median sales price was $250,000, unchanged year-over-year, though the source does not address how the broader price trend will develop.

The players

Iowa REALTORS®

The state trade association representing licensed real estate professionals in Iowa, which compiles and publishes monthly housing market statistics for the state.

The details

Active listings rose 5.5% from September 2026, while new listings were roughly flat month-over-month at 4,114. Pending sales fell 18.4% year-over-year and 4.8% from September, pointing to slower contract activity.

October 2025: Year-ago comparison period for listings, sales and prices.
September 2026: Prior-month comparison period for the October data.
October 2026: Iowa housing market data reported for the month.

Market Pulse

Iowa's October 2026 figures continue the year-over-year pattern tracked in Iowa REALTORS® monthly reports, where active listings have grown while closed and pending sales have declined. The shift leaves more homes competing for a smaller pool of completed transactions across the state.

Iowa homebuyers may find more listings to choose from, though closed sales have slowed. Sellers should expect a more competitive environment as active inventory grows and fewer homes move to closing.

The takeaway

Monitoring monthly listing and sales counts can help buyers and sellers gauge whether inventory is growing faster than transactions in their local market. Comparing year-over-year figures reveals trends that a single month may obscure.