Iowa offers affordable housing options

There are plenty of housing options in Iowa /Gazette file photo

By Nancy Owen
Iowa.com

Compared to the rest of the nation, affordable housing prices make home ownership in Iowa a reality for anyone living here or considering a move to Iowa.

In fact, the 2008 Coldwell Banker Home Price Comparison Index (HPCI) compared 315 housing markets across America using a four-bedroom, 2,200-square-foot-home as the model. At the top of the price chart was La Jolla, Calif., with an average $1.8 million. At the other end of the spectrum, making it the most affordable community was Sioux City with an average home price of just $133,459.

Iowa offers a variety of housing options. Whether you prefer downtown living or a more rural setting, apartment, condo or single-family home, owning or renting, you’re sure to find the right fit for your budget.

In 2007, the median home price in Cedar Rapids was about $126,000; in Iowa City it was slightly higher at about $167,000 according to City-Data.com. The median gross apartment rent in 2007 in Cedar Rapids was $554, in Iowa City it was $649, and in Des Moines it was $633.

Condo/townhome living is a great alternative in a state with four very distinct seasons. Most association fees provide lawn care, snow removal, and maintenance. No more facing the elements to shovel snow before work or mowing the lawn in the heat and humidity; condo living takes care of those tedious tasks. A search of www.realtor.com, the official site of the Association of Realtors, showed nearly 200 condos for sale in Iowa City, about 400 in Des Moines, and 150 in Cedar Rapids.

Use the iGuide to search for apartments, a Realtor, home furnishings and more.

You can also find housing and related information:

• National Association of Realtors
• Eastern Iowa

Your Turn: Where’s the best place to live in Iowa? Brag about your town below.