Emerson Plan · Urbandale, IA 50323

$309,990

4 bd · 2.5 ba · 1,767 sqft · SingleFamily · 403 Days on market

↓ 3% since listing

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Why this score? — see what drove the F grade

The composite is a weighted blend of 9 inputs, each scored 0–100. Each bar is that input's sub-score; the figure is the points it added to the 100-point composite (weight × sub-score).

• ARV discount +7.5/15.0
• Appreciation +7.4/10.0
• Schools +7.1/10.0
• Livability +4.5/5.0
• Rent growth +2.5/5.0
• Condition / age +2.5/5.0
• Cash flow +1.2/30.0
• 1% rule +0.0/10.0
• DSCR +0.0/10.0

Listing remarks MLS

Your new home awaits in the Mallard Prairie Twinhomes community in Urbandale, IA. The Emerson is a bi-attached twinhome, offering 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a 2-car garage, and 1,767 sq. ft. of thoughtfully designed living space. From the covered porch, step into the foyer, passing the guest bathroom, garage access, and stairs to the second level. The foyer opens into the heart of the home-a spacious living room with a sleek electric fireplace and three large windows that fill the space with natural light. The open layout flows into the kitchen and dining area, with sliding glass doors leading to the back patio or deck. The kitchen features white cabinetry, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, a walk-in pantry, and an oversized island with seating-perfect for everyday meals or hosting. A nearby staircase leads to the unfinished lower level, offering abundant storage. Upstairs, three generously sized secondary bedrooms share a full bathroom with dual sinks and a separate toilet and shower/tub area. The laundry room is conveniently located on this level for easy access. The primary suite includes a spacious bedroom, an en-suite bathroom with dual sinks, a private water closet, and an oversized walk-in closet. Contact us today to learn more about the Emerson and find your new home in Mallard Prairie Twinhomes.

Key facts

• Covered porch
• Large windows
• Quartz countertops

Tags

• COVERED PORCH
• ELECTRIC FIREPLACE
• LARGE WINDOWS
• BACK DECK
• WHITE CABINETRY
• QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS

🏗️ New construction. The $309,990 list price is a builder figure, so every metric below is computed on the value from comparable previous sales — $606,081.

What this means for you Summary

Snapshot

• This is a 4-bed/2.5-bath single-family listed at $310k.

Deal economics

• At list price, monthly cash flow is $-2k ($-29k/yr) — negative.
• To cash-flow at today's rent, offer at most $251k (19.2% below list).
• To meet the 1% rule (rent ≥ 1% of price), the offer needs to be $219k (29.3% below list).
• Recommended offer: $219k (29.3% below list) — sets the bar for 1% rule.
• Cap rate 1.4% vs local median 2.4% in Urbandale — below-typical yield; the buyer is paying a premium for something (appreciation thesis, condition, location) that the cap rate doesn't capture.

Location & tenants

• Location reads 90/100 on livability (#4 in IA, #69 nationally) — a professional / high-income tenant draw. Strengths: crime A+, amenities A+, employment A+; Watch: commute F.
• Waukee Community School District (suburban): math 80% / reading 79% proficiency, ranked #14 of 289 in IA (top 5%) — strong family-tenant draw, lease renewals of 3-5y typical; only 11% free/reduced lunch — higher-income household profile.
• Zoned schools: Walnut Hills Elementary School (math 91% / reading 81%, grade A+, #26 of 616 statewide, top 4%, 625 students, 9% FRL); Waukee Middle School (math 83% / reading 81%, grade A+, #22 of 246 statewide, top 12%, 1,069 students, 12% FRL); Waukee High School (math 74% / reading 82%, grade A-, #53 of 336 statewide, top 16%, 1,268 students, 24% FRL) — zoned schools at 15% FRL track the district average.
• Market conditions: 381 active listings in the ZIP; 8 comparable units currently listed for rent nearby; rentals at typical pace (median 25d on market — plan ~3-4 weeks tenant-placement turnaround); high-income renter base; 1,503 units permitted in Dallas County in 2024 (630 in 5+ unit buildings).
• This rent is only 15% of the median local income ($176k/yr) — well below the 30% rent-burden line; pricing power to push rent on renewal without tenant pushback.

Forward outlook

• In year one you build about $33k of equity ($4k loan paydown + $29k appreciation (4.8% local appreciation)).
• Dallas County population projected at +74% by 2050 — long-run rental-demand tailwind backs the buy-and-hold thesis.
• By year 2, paydown + projected appreciation supports a ~$53k cash-out refi (75% LTV) — recoverable capital for the next deal without selling this one.

Negotiation context

• It's been on market 403 days — a 12% lower offer ($273k) is reasonable based on typical stale-listing flexibility.
• 2 sale attempts with the ask held roughly flat each time — persistent listings suggest the price (not the market) is what's stuck; bring a comps-based counter.

Risks & watch-outs

• Watch-outs: property tax is 2.9% of price.

Recommended offer $219,234 (29.3% below list)

Questions for the listing agent

1. What do current leases actually rent for vs. the listed asking? Can we see a recent rent roll and the last 12 months of T-12 income?
2. It's been on market 403 days. Have you received any prior offers? Is the seller open to a 29% concession, seller financing, or rate buy-down credit?
3. Property tax is high relative to price — has the assessment been appealed recently, and will the sale trigger a re-assessment?
4. Why hasn't it sold? Are there any deal-killer items the seller is aware of (foundation, flood, title, zoning, code violations)?
5. Is there a deadline driving the sale (1031 exchange, divorce, estate, relocation)? That informs how much negotiation room exists.
6. Schools are A-rated — typically a magnet for longer-tenancy family renters. What's the average tenant stay here, and is there a school-zone premium baked into asking?
7. The area grade is low — what's the realistic commute time and amenity access for the typical tenant pool here? Any planned neighborhood developments (good or bad) we should know about?
8. What's the average days-on-market for RENTAL listings here right now (not sales)? A rising rental-DOM trend means longer vacancies and softer asking-rent achievability than the comps imply.
9. What's the recent tenant-quality profile in this submarket — average credit score on applications, eviction rate, late-payment / NSF rate, and stable-employment percentage? A property-management company in the area should have these aggregated.
10. How much new for-sale + rental construction is in the pipeline within 1–3 miles? Heavy new supply typically softens prices + rents 12–24 months out; constrained supply supports both.

Investment metrics

• 1% rule: 0.36% ✗
• Cap rate: 1.43%
• Cash-on-cash: -17.37%
• DSCR: 0.23
• GRM: 23.0

CMA / ARV

• ARV (on-the-fly): $606,081
• Comps found: 12

Show comp detail 12 sales within ~0.75 mi

Address	Dist	Beds/Ba	Sqft	Sold	Price	$/sf	Match
17151 Plum Dr	0.38mi	4/3.5	1,762 (-0%)	1mo	$479,500	$272	77
17308 Northview Dr	0.31mi	4/3.5	1,719 (-3%)	2mo	$630,000	$366	76
17118 Blue Sage Ln	0.17mi	3/2.5 (-1)	1,618 (-8%)	1mo	$290,000	$179	72
4701 177th St	0.41mi	3/2.0 (-1)	1,800 (+2%)	1mo	$517,519	$288	70
4485 NW 167th St	0.59mi	4/3.0	1,713 (-3%)	1mo	$507,500	$296	64
4705 180th St	0.58mi	3/2.0 (-1)	1,800 (+2%)	1mo	$464,990	$258	62
4601 178th St	0.53mi	4/3.0	1,659 (-6%)	2mo	$639,000	$385	62
16616 Deerview Dr	0.71mi	4/3.0	1,812 (+2%)	0mo	$639,900	$353	60
17418 North Valley Dr	0.44mi	4/4.0	1,896 (+7%)	2mo	$699,900	$369	60
16412 N Valley Dr	0.61mi	5/3.0 (+1)	1,869 (+6%)	2mo	$649,900	$348	54
4654 180th St	0.63mi	3/2.0 (-1)	1,912 (+8%)	0mo	$506,990	$265	50
16624 Deerview Dr	0.69mi	5/3.0 (+1)	1,895 (+7%)	0mo	$650,000	$343	49

Match score weights: distance 35% · size 25% · config 20% · recency 20%. Top-matched comps best support the ARV.

Projected returns pro-forma

4.81% appreciation · 3.0% rent growth · sell at horizon

5-year hold

• IRR: -2.1%
• Equity multiple: 0.86×
• Total profit: $-23,377
• Equity at exit: $336,390

10-year hold

• IRR: 2.1%
• Equity multiple: 1.40×
• Total profit: $67,991
• Equity at exit: $574,802

Cash invested: $169,703 (down + closing). Projections, not guarantees.

Landlord ↔ Tenant lean methodology

• Overall (STATE): 83 Strongly Landlord-Friendly
• State Iowa: 83 Strongly Landlord-Friendly · R+6
• County: — inherits STATE
• City: — inherits STATE

3-day pay-or-quit; mostly landlord-friendly statewide.

Methodology + full state rankings →

ZIP-level market 50323

• Home prices YoY: 2.5%
• Active inventory: 381
• Price-to-rent: 11.8×

Monthly cashflow live

• Estimated rent: $2,192 high
• Mortgage (P&I): −$3,178
• Tax est. 1.5%: −$758 /mo · $9,091/yr
• Insurance: −$253
• HOA: −$0
• Vacancy / Maint / Mgmt: −$460
• Net cashflow: $-2,457

Break-even live

Break-even rent $5,302

Max offer price $250,616

Occupancy floor —

Sensitivity live

Price	-10% $-2,038	-5% $-2,247	+0% $-2,457	+5% $-2,666	+10% $-2,875
Rent	-10% $-2,630	-5% $-2,543	+0% $-2,457	+5% $-2,370	+10% $-2,283
Rate	-1.0pp $-2,151	-0.5pp $-2,302	base $-2,457	+0.5pp $-2,614	+1.0pp $-2,773

UW: 25.0% down · 7.5% · 30yr · 1.5% tax · 5.0% vac · 8.0% maint · 8.0% mgmt

Financing live

Cash to close

• Down payment: $151,520
• Closing costs: $18,182
• Reserves months: —
• Total cash needed: —

Rent comps 8 comps

Address	Beds	Baths	Sqft	Rent	$/sqft	DOM	Units	Dist
4743 170th Pl Waukee, IA	3.0	2.5	1511	$2,050	$1.36	16d	1	0.09mi
4736 167th St Urbandale, IA	3.0	2.5	1585	$2,296	$1.45	16d	1	0.41mi
4735 NW 167th St Waukee, IA	3.0	3.0	1557	$2,300	$1.48	45d	1	0.43mi
16605 Oakwood Dr Urbandale, IA	3.0	2.5	1572	$2,350	$1.49	45d	1	0.53mi
16008 Springbrook Trl Urbandale, IA	5.0	3.0	1670	$2,900	$1.74	45d	1	0.98mi
4307 154th St Urbandale, IA	3.0	2.5	1445	$1,850	$1.28	25d	1	1.31mi
5437 155th St Urbandale, IA	3.0–4.0	2.5	1590	$2,096	$1.32	16d	8	1.39mi
5440 154th Ct Urbandale, IA	4.0	3.5	2367	$2,200	$0.93	21d	1	1.49mi

Listing history 22 events

1. 2026-06-21
   days on market $309,990 Active 403 DOM
2. 2026-06-18
   days on market $309,990 Active 400 DOM
3. 2026-06-17
   days on market $309,990 Active 399 DOM
4. 2026-06-16
   days on market $309,990 Active 398 DOM
5. 2026-06-15
   days on market $309,990 Active 397 DOM
6. 2026-06-14
   days on market $309,990 Active 395 DOM
7. 2026-06-13
   days on market $309,990 Active 394 DOM
8. 2026-06-10
   days on market $309,990 Active 392 DOM
9. 2026-06-09
   days on market $309,990 Active 391 DOM
10. 2026-06-08
    days on market $309,990 Active 390 DOM
11. 2026-06-07
    days on market $309,990 Active 389 DOM
12. 2026-06-05
    days on market $309,990 Active 386 DOM
13. 2026-06-03
    days on market $309,990 Active 385 DOM
14. 2026-06-02
    days on market $309,990 Active 384 DOM
15. 2026-06-01
    days on market $309,990 Active 383 DOM
16. 2026-05-31
    days on market $309,990 Active 382 DOM
17. 2026-05-31
    days on market $309,990 Active 381 DOM
18. 2026-01-24
    status Active 1339-char remark

    Show marketing remark (1339 chars)

    Your new home awaits in the Mallard Prairie Twinhomes community in Urbandale, IA. The Emerson is a bi-attached twinhome, offering 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a 2-car garage, and 1,767 sq. ft. of thoughtfully designed living space. From the covered porch, step into the foyer, passing the guest bathroom, garage access, and stairs to the second level. The foyer opens into the heart of the home-a spacious living room with a sleek electric fireplace and three large windows that fill the space with natural light. The open layout flows into the kitchen and dining area, with sliding glass doors leading to the back patio or deck. The kitchen features white cabinetry, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, a walk-in pantry, and an oversized island with seating-perfect for everyday meals or hosting. A nearby staircase leads to the unfinished lower level, offering abundant storage. Upstairs, three generously sized secondary bedrooms share a full bathroom with dual sinks and a separate toilet and shower/tub area. The laundry room is conveniently located on this level for easy access. The primary suite includes a spacious bedroom, an en-suite bathroom with dual sinks, a private water closet, and an oversized walk-in closet. Contact us today to learn more about the Emerson and find your new home in Mallard Prairie Twinhomes.

19. 2025-12-09
    historical 1339-char remark

    Show marketing remark (1339 chars)

    Your new home awaits in the Mallard Prairie Twinhomes community in Urbandale, IA. The Emerson is a bi-attached twinhome, offering 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a 2-car garage, and 1,767 sq. ft. of thoughtfully designed living space. From the covered porch, step into the foyer, passing the guest bathroom, garage access, and stairs to the second level. The foyer opens into the heart of the home-a spacious living room with a sleek electric fireplace and three large windows that fill the space with natural light. The open layout flows into the kitchen and dining area, with sliding glass doors leading to the back patio or deck. The kitchen features white cabinetry, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, a walk-in pantry, and an oversized island with seating-perfect for everyday meals or hosting. A nearby staircase leads to the unfinished lower level, offering abundant storage. Upstairs, three generously sized secondary bedrooms share a full bathroom with dual sinks and a separate toilet and shower/tub area. The laundry room is conveniently located on this level for easy access. The primary suite includes a spacious bedroom, an en-suite bathroom with dual sinks, a private water closet, and an oversized walk-in closet. Contact us today to learn more about the Emerson and find your new home in Mallard Prairie Twinhomes.

20. 2025-11-08
    price $309,990 1339-char remark

    Show marketing remark (1339 chars)

    Your new home awaits in the Mallard Prairie Twinhomes community in Urbandale, IA. The Emerson is a bi-attached twinhome, offering 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a 2-car garage, and 1,767 sq. ft. of thoughtfully designed living space. From the covered porch, step into the foyer, passing the guest bathroom, garage access, and stairs to the second level. The foyer opens into the heart of the home-a spacious living room with a sleek electric fireplace and three large windows that fill the space with natural light. The open layout flows into the kitchen and dining area, with sliding glass doors leading to the back patio or deck. The kitchen features white cabinetry, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, a walk-in pantry, and an oversized island with seating-perfect for everyday meals or hosting. A nearby staircase leads to the unfinished lower level, offering abundant storage. Upstairs, three generously sized secondary bedrooms share a full bathroom with dual sinks and a separate toilet and shower/tub area. The laundry room is conveniently located on this level for easy access. The primary suite includes a spacious bedroom, an en-suite bathroom with dual sinks, a private water closet, and an oversized walk-in closet. Contact us today to learn more about the Emerson and find your new home in Mallard Prairie Twinhomes.

21. 2025-04-02
    price $319,990 1339-char remark

    Show marketing remark (1339 chars)

    Your new home awaits in the Mallard Prairie Twinhomes community in Urbandale, IA. The Emerson is a bi-attached twinhome, offering 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a 2-car garage, and 1,767 sq. ft. of thoughtfully designed living space. From the covered porch, step into the foyer, passing the guest bathroom, garage access, and stairs to the second level. The foyer opens into the heart of the home-a spacious living room with a sleek electric fireplace and three large windows that fill the space with natural light. The open layout flows into the kitchen and dining area, with sliding glass doors leading to the back patio or deck. The kitchen features white cabinetry, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, a walk-in pantry, and an oversized island with seating-perfect for everyday meals or hosting. A nearby staircase leads to the unfinished lower level, offering abundant storage. Upstairs, three generously sized secondary bedrooms share a full bathroom with dual sinks and a separate toilet and shower/tub area. The laundry room is conveniently located on this level for easy access. The primary suite includes a spacious bedroom, an en-suite bathroom with dual sinks, a private water closet, and an oversized walk-in closet. Contact us today to learn more about the Emerson and find your new home in Mallard Prairie Twinhomes.

22. 2025-03-29
    listed $317,990 Active 1339-char remark

    Show marketing remark (1339 chars)

    Your new home awaits in the Mallard Prairie Twinhomes community in Urbandale, IA. The Emerson is a bi-attached twinhome, offering 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a 2-car garage, and 1,767 sq. ft. of thoughtfully designed living space. From the covered porch, step into the foyer, passing the guest bathroom, garage access, and stairs to the second level. The foyer opens into the heart of the home-a spacious living room with a sleek electric fireplace and three large windows that fill the space with natural light. The open layout flows into the kitchen and dining area, with sliding glass doors leading to the back patio or deck. The kitchen features white cabinetry, quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, a walk-in pantry, and an oversized island with seating-perfect for everyday meals or hosting. A nearby staircase leads to the unfinished lower level, offering abundant storage. Upstairs, three generously sized secondary bedrooms share a full bathroom with dual sinks and a separate toilet and shower/tub area. The laundry room is conveniently located on this level for easy access. The primary suite includes a spacious bedroom, an en-suite bathroom with dual sinks, a private water closet, and an oversized walk-in closet. Contact us today to learn more about the Emerson and find your new home in Mallard Prairie Twinhomes.

ⓘ Source: listings_history table (triggers on properties + properties_extension) + one-shot backfill from property_details.listing_events for pre-trigger history.

Climate risk First Street

• 🌊 Flood 1/10 Low FEMA zone X (unshaded) · 0% chance over 30 yrs
• 🔥 Wildfire 1/10 Low
• 🌡 Heat 3/10 Moderate 7 d/yr ≥102°F today · 16 d/yr by 30 yrs out
• 💨 Wind 2/10 Low
• 🫁 Air quality 1/10 Low 0 unhealthy d/yr today · 0 by 30 yrs out

Taxation est. · year 1

• Rental income: $26,308
• − Mortgage interest: −$33,950
• − Property taxes: −$9,091
• − Insurance: −$3,030
• − Repairs & maintenance: −$2,105
• − Management: −$2,105
• − Depreciation: −$17,631
• Taxable loss: −$41,604
• Est. tax savings @ 24.0%: +$9,985
• After-tax cash flow: $-19,493/yr

For passive investors: Depreciation is non-cash, so a rental often shows a tax loss while cash-flowing — sheltering income. Rental losses are passive: they offset passive income freely, and up to $25,000/yr can offset ordinary (W-2) income if you actively participate and your MAGI is under $100k (phasing out to $0 by $150k); unused losses carry forward. On sale, claimed depreciation is recaptured at up to 25%, and gains may owe capital-gains tax (a 1031 exchange can defer both). Figures are a year-1 estimate at your 24.0% rate — not tax advice; consult a CPA.

Schools (NCES district)

• District: Waukee Community School District
• NCES district ID: 1930510
• Math proficiency: 80% ▼ -6.00%
• Reading proficiency: 79% ▼ -5.00%
• Median HH income: $88,580
• Composite: 70.94/100
• National rank: #245
• State rank: #14 of 289 in IA

Livability — Urbandale

• Score: 90/100
• State rank: #4
• US rank: #69

Category grades

Amenities A+ Commute F Cost of living A- Crime A+ Employment A+ Housing A+ Health & safety A+ User ratings A+

Schools grade is shown separately in the Schools card above.

Census & demographics

• Census place: Urbandale, IA
• County: Polk County · 453,298 people
• City population: 49,196
• Metro: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
• Population (ZIP): 17,265
• Household income: $175,944
• Rent vs Own: 12.8% rent · 87.2% own
• Severe rent burden: 63.0

Population outlook (Dallas County) Hauer SSP2

• Today (2025): 111,904 people
• By 2030: 127,807 · +14.2%
• By 2040: 160,576 · +43.5%
• By 2050: 194,154 · +73.5%
• By 2075: 271,895 · +143.0%
• By 2100: 326,525 · +191.8%

Race, ethnicity, and origin ACS 2023

• Neighborhood character: Predominantly White (86%)
• Race & ethnicity: White 86% Asian 6% Two or more races 4% Hispanic / Latino 3% Black 2%
• Common ancestry: Portuguese 6% Iranian 5% Lithuanian 2%
• Foreign-born: 7% · Canada, China, Philippines
• Languages at home: 92% English-only · Russian/Polish/Slavic 2% Chinese 1% Spanish 1%

Political lean MEDSL · Dallas

• 2024 margin: Toss-up / Even · D 46.9% · R 51.7% · Other 1.4%
• 2008→2024 swing: +0.8pp no change · 2008: -5.5pp · 2024: -4.8pp
• All cycles: 2024: R+4.8 2020: R+2.0 2016: R+9.6 2012: R+11.8 2008: R+5.5

Not yet ingested

• Civics: —

Market trends

• HPI YoY: ▲ 4.81%
• Current HPI: 199.789
• Rent YoY: —
• Metro: Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
• State GDP YoY: ▲ 2.48%
• F500 in state: 4

Industry mix (Fortune 500 HQ in IA)

Industry	F500 HQs	Revenue
▸Financial Services	1	$16B
▸Retail / Convenience	1	$15B

Price history

-2.5% since first listed

5 events — show timeline

• 2026-01-24 Relisted — Zillow
• 2025-12-09 Delisted — Zillow
• 2025-11-08 Price Changed $309,990 Zillow
• 2025-04-02 Price Changed $319,990 Zillow
• 2025-03-29 Listed $317,990 Zillow