County market intelligence

Story County, IA Housing Market

Compare city-level housing market conditions across Story County using RealSights Market Pulse data. Includes Ames, Cambridge, Collins, and other covered markets. Each city keeps its own market page.

13 covered city markets4 with a current Market PulseLatest reading · Oct 18, 2026

The county market read

Most covered Story County city markets currently lean buyer-friendly based on RealSights Market Pulse readings. Conditions vary by city, ZIP code, price range, and property type.

4Buyer advantage
0Balanced
0Seller advantage

Based on current city readings only. There is no single countywide Market Pulse.

Most common conditionMixed
Strongest buyer advantageStory City (10), Ames (22), Huxley (39)
Closest to balancedNone today
Limited data9 cities

City market comparison

Compare city markets in Story County

13 of 13 cities

Buying in Story County

Compare cities and ZIPs before choosing where to focus. Buyer-friendly readings may signal more room to compare listings, negotiate, or wait for the right home.

Selling in Story County

Review your city and nearby ZIPs before pricing. Countywide patterns can help, but local competition matters most.

For your home

Thinking about selling in Story County?

Enter your address to see the homes you’d compete with, the demand around you, and how quickly homes are selling — from current local market data.

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Common questions

Story County housing market, explained

Is Story County a buyer’s market or seller’s market?

Here's what we're seeing: Most covered Story County city markets currently lean buyer-friendly based on RealSights Market Pulse readings. Conditions vary by city, ZIP code, price range, and property type. Of the 4 covered cities with a current reading, 4 lean toward buyers, 0 are balanced, and 0 lean toward sellers — a count of city readings, not a countywide score.

Which Story County cities are most buyer-friendly?

Story City (Pulse 10), Ames (Pulse 22), Huxley (Pulse 39) currently have the lowest Market Pulse scores among covered Story County cities, suggesting buyers may have more negotiating power there. A lower score isn't a guaranteed discount — check each city's local report.

Which Story County cities are closest to balanced?

No covered Story County city with a current reading is in the balanced range right now.

Can nearby cities have different market conditions?

Yes — each city has its own mix of available homes and buyer demand. Compare the city readings and their reporting dates; a countywide pattern won't determine competition for an individual home.

How should buyers use this county report?

Use it to shortlist cities where you may have more choice or negotiating room, then open the city and ZIP reports and compare specific homes before making an offer.

How should sellers use this county report?

Use it for context, then price from your own city, nearby ZIP codes, and comparable homes — the competition closest to your home matters more than the countywide pattern.

Major cities: Ames · Cambridge · Collins

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