Published October 11, 2026 in Market Update

Cedar Falls still looks tight even with mortgage rates above 7%

CE
By Carl Ericson
Real estate, Cedar Falls, IA

Freddie Mac put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.40% as of October 8, 2026. That is a real cost. But the Cedar Falls market has not stalled. These numbers cover the three months ending August 31, 2026.

The one fact that changes what you should do: pricing still decides speed. Homes priced right are going fast. Homes priced wrong are sitting longer. That gap is wider now than it was a year ago.

How fast are homes moving?

In ZIP 50702, the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 62.2% of homes going under contract within two weeks of listing. That share rose 8.4 points from a year before. In ZIP 50701, the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 62% doing the same, up 2.5 points. In ZIP 50613, 59% went under contract within two weeks, up 11.4 points. ZIP 50703 was slower, at 50%, and that share fell 23.3 points from last year.

Share of homes under contract within two weeks
5070262.2%5070162%5061359%5070350%
Real Estate Data Aggregator, three months ending August 31, 2026. Higher means faster.
Source: Real Estate Data Aggregator, the three months ending August 31, 2026

How many days did it take?

Median days on market by ZIP code
50702
2 days shorter than last year
50701
4 days shorter than last year
50613
unchanged from last year
50703
6 days longer than last year
Source: Real Estate Data Aggregator, the three months ending August 31, 2026

Three of the four ZIP codes got faster. ZIP 50703 is the honest exception. Days there rose 6 days from a year before. More homes for sale and a softer median price tell the same story in that area.

What did homes actually sell for?

Median sale price and change, by ZIP code
50613507015070250703
Median sale price$312,000$219,000$162,000$90,313
Change from last yearup 9.3%down 1.6%down 2.8%down 10.2%
Sale to list price99.8%98.5%98.9%97.5%
Real Estate Data Aggregator, three months ending August 31, 2026.

ZIP 50613 is the clear standout. The Real Estate Data Aggregator put the median sale price there at $312,000, up 9.3% from a year before. Sellers there got 99.8% of their list price on average. That is nearly full ask, even with rates at 7.40%.

ZIP 50701 and 50702 dipped a little on price. That is worth knowing if you are pricing a home in those areas. ZIP 50703 dropped 10.2% on median price, and days on market rose. Pricing carefully there matters more than anywhere else in this market right now.

How much supply is out there?

Months of supply by ZIP code
507021.5 months506131.8 months507032.3 months507012.6 months
Real Estate Data Aggregator, three months ending August 31, 2026. Lower means fewer homes to choose from.
Source: Real Estate Data Aggregator, the three months ending August 31, 2026

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 1.5 months of supply in ZIP 50702 and 1.8 months in ZIP 50613. Those are very low numbers. ZIP 50701 had 2.6 months, up 0.5 months from last year. More supply there gives buyers a little more room.

What about the rate picture?

Freddie Mac reported the 30-year fixed rate averaged 7.40% as of October 8, 2026. The 15-year fixed averaged 6.73%, also from Freddie Mac. Realtor.com noted rates climbed above 7% for the first time since January 2025. Nationally, Realtor.com reported price cuts hit 20.8% of listings in September, the highest since October 2022.

Cedar Falls does not match that national picture. Supply here is still low. Most homes are still selling close to list. The rate is real, but it has not stopped well-priced homes from moving quickly.

Above-list sales: more common than you might think

Share of homes that sold above list price
5061344.8%5070235.6%5070133.3%5070326.1%
Real Estate Data Aggregator, three months ending August 31, 2026. All four shares rose from a year before.
Source: Real Estate Data Aggregator, the three months ending August 31, 2026

In ZIP 50613, the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 44.8% of homes selling above list price. That share rose 2.5 points from a year before. Even in ZIP 50703, where the market is softer, 26.1% sold above list, up 9.4 points. Not every home got a bidding war, but more did than last year.

In short
  1. Rates are above 7%, and that is a real cost for buyers.
  2. But Cedar Falls supply is still tight, most homes are selling in under two weeks, and sellers in three of four ZIP codes are getting close to full ask.
  3. ZIP 50703 is moving more slowly and prices dipped there, so pricing carefully matters most in that area.
  4. The period is the three months ending August 31, 2026.

One more thing worth saying: one street can read very differently from the whole ZIP code. A block with newer homes, a block near a school, a block with more investor activity. The ZIP code number is a starting point, not the final word on your home.

Your next step

(319) 504-3640

Text me your address and I will send back how fast homes like yours are selling in Cedar Falls right now, and what they are actually closing for near you. Takes a day, costs nothing.

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Where these numbers came from
Carl Ericson
Oakridge Real Estate · (319) 504-3640
Privacy policyTerms of useDo not sell or share my informationAccessibility statementFair housing notice
Carl Ericson is a licensed real estate agent with Oakridge Real Estate, license #Licensed in Iowa. Market numbers come from MLS records and are believed accurate but not guaranteed. Nothing on this site is an appraisal or a promise of value. If your home is already listed with another broker, this is not a solicitation.
© 2026 Carl Ericson · Oakridge Real EstateEQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY