Published October 18, 2026 in Market Update

Higher rates have not stopped one part of Cedar Falls from holding value

Rates crossed 7% for the first time since January 2025, according to Realtor.com. Most people expected that to cool prices. In ZIP 50613, the highest-priced part of Cedar Falls, it did not. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted a $312,000 median sale price for the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is up 9.3% from the same months of 2025. The reason is simple: fewer homes to choose from.

Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.40% as of October 15, 2026. That is real pressure on buyers. Even so, low supply kept sellers in a strong spot in 50613.

Why prices held: fewer homes for sale

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 100 homes for sale in ZIP 50613 for the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is down 15.3% from a year before. New listings fell 4.9% in the same period. When supply shrinks, sellers keep more of their asking price.

1.8 months of supply is very thin. A balanced market usually sits near six months. Buyers in 50613 had almost no room to wait.

Homes sold fast and close to asking price

The Real Estate Data Aggregator recorded a median of 10 days on market in ZIP 50613. That was unchanged from a year before. Homes sold for 99.8% of list price on average. Nearly 45 in 100 sold above list price. And 59% went under contract within two weeks of listing, up 11.4 points from a year ago.

Not every ZIP code in Cedar Falls tells the same story

The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows prices dipped in other parts of Cedar Falls. ZIP 50701 saw a median sale price of $219,000, down 1.6%. ZIP 50702 came in at $162,000, down 2.8%. ZIP 50703 reached $90,313, down 10.2%. More inventory in those areas gave buyers more leverage.

Nationally, Realtor.com reported that price cuts hit 20.8% of listings in September 2026, the highest share since October 2022. Cedar Falls ZIP 50613 bucked that trend. The other ZIP codes here were closer to what the national picture showed.

What this means for owners and buyers in Cedar Falls

If you own in ZIP 50613, low supply is still working in your favor. Prices held up even as Freddie Mac put the 30-year rate at 7.40%. That is not nothing. If you own in 50701, 50702 or 50703, prices eased a little. That does not mean the market stopped moving. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 120 homes sold in 50701 and 87 in 50702 in the same three months. Homes are still trading.

For buyers, speed matters everywhere here. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows median days on market of 10 in 50613, 9 in 50701, 8 in 50702 and 12 in 50703. A good fit does not sit long. Fannie Mae, as reported by CNBC on October 14, 2026, forecast the 30-year rate at 7.4% through the end of 2026 and 7.5% through 2027. Waiting for rates to fall may mean waiting a long time.

These numbers cover the three months ending August 31, 2026. A lot can shift street by street. If your home sits near a ZIP code line, the picture next door may not match your own. Text me and I can tell you what homes near yours actually sold for.