Story County Sees 69 Homes Flipped with 50.0% Average Gross ROI in July 2026
Story County, Iowa, recorded 69 residential home flips in the trailing 12 months as of July 2026, demonstrating active investor engagement in the local housing market. These properties generated an average gross profit of $94K, with an average gross ROI of 50.0%. This activity highlights the potential for capital appreciation within the county's real estate landscape for those undertaking renovation and resale projects.
County Overview
In July 2026, Story County stood out as a significant hub for residential real estate flipping within Iowa, with 69 homes changing hands within a 12-month period. This activity positions Story County at #12 among Iowa's 98 counties, accounting for 1.6% of the state's total flip volume. The state of Iowa recorded 4,187 residential flips, while the national figure reached 341,944 flips, according to BatchData's Flip Activity Report. The county's average gross profit per flip was $94K, reflecting healthy margins for successful projects, and its average gross ROI of 50.0% underscores the profitability of these investment strategies. The average time homeowners held a property before reselling, or the average days to flip, was 186 days, indicating a relatively swift capital turnover for investors in the area.
Local Market Context
Story County's flip activity, though representing a smaller fraction of the national total, is notably robust within Iowa. The 69 flips recorded indicate a consistent flow of properties being acquired, renovated, and resold. The average gross profit of $94K on these flips suggests that even with fluctuating market conditions, there is still substantial opportunity for value creation through strategic property improvements. This figure reflects the strong buyer demand and the effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts by local investors. The average gross ROI of 50.0% provides further evidence of the market's attractiveness, offering investors a significant return on their initial purchase price before factoring in other costs. This strong gross ROI can be particularly appealing to real estate investing professionals looking for high-yield opportunities.
The relatively short average days to flip, at 186 days, points to an efficient market where properties are bought, improved, and sold within approximately six months. This quick turnaround is crucial for investors aiming to maximize their capital velocity and undertake multiple projects within a year. Such efficiency signals a responsive market with readily available buyers and streamlined processes for renovation and sale. For investors, understanding these metrics, available through comprehensive property datasets and a property data API, is key to identifying potential opportunities.
Compared to the broader state and national trends, Story County's position at #12 in Iowa suggests that while it isn't the largest market by sheer volume, its activity is disproportionately strong relative to its size, making it an interesting area for targeted investment. Its 1.6% share of Iowa's total flips indicates a concentrated level of activity, drawing attention to the specific dynamics that support profitable flipping. This concentration of activity, along with the solid average gross profit and ROI, highlights Story County as a market where individual investor-owned homes are actively being revitalized. Investors seeking to understand specific market conditions and identify high-potential properties can leverage advanced tools like smart search and smart monitoring to track these trends. The overall picture for Story County reveals a healthy and active flipping market with compelling returns and efficient capital deployment, a key takeaway for anyone reviewing BatchData's flip activity report for the area.