Is Ames a buyer's or seller's market right now?

Ames is currently a seller's market with 2.6 months of supply. 20.7% of homes sell above asking price, and 38.9% go pending within two weeks. The Ridley Sell Score for Ames is 66/100 (Moderate), based on 7 real-time market signals including inventory, pricing trends, and buyer demand.

What's the median home price in Ames?

The median home price in Ames is $398,750, up 26.6% year-over-year. The median price per square foot is $206. Homes sell in a median of 54 days with a sale-to-list ratio of 98.5%.

How much does it cost to sell a home in Ames, Iowa?

On a $398,750 home in Ames, a traditional listing agent charges around $11,963 (3% commission). Add buyer agent commission (3%), closing costs (1–2%), and you could spend $31,900 or more. With Ridley Essentials ($999) you save $10,964, and with Ridley Pro ($3,499) you save $8,464 while getting full agent support.

How does Ridley's flat fee compare to a traditional Ames agent?

A traditional Ames listing agent typically charges 3% of the sale price — about $11,963 on a $398,750 home. Ridley offers two flat-fee plans: Essentials ($999) with MLS listing, marketing tools, and self-service support, or Pro ($3,499) with a dedicated licensed agent. That saves you $10,964–$8,464 compared to a traditional agent.

How long does it take to sell a home in Ames?

The median home in Ames currently spends 54 days on the market before going under contract. 38.9% of homes go pending within two weeks. At a 98.5% sale-to-list ratio, sellers are seeing some negotiation. Only 31.1% of listings see a price drop, suggesting sellers can hold firm on pricing.

Do I need a real estate agent to sell in Iowa?

No. Iowa does not require you to use a real estate agent to sell your home. You can sell independently (FSBO) or use a flat-fee service like Ridley that gives you MLS access, professional tools, and expert support at a fraction of the traditional commission. On a $398,750 home, that could save you up to $8,464.

What's included with Ridley Essentials and Pro?

Ridley offers two plans in Iowa. Essentials ($999) includes MLS listing distribution, professional listing tools, marketing materials, and self-service support. Pro ($3,499) includes everything in Essentials plus a dedicated licensed agent partner, expert pricing consultation, offer review and negotiation support, contract and deadline management, and full closing coordination. Both save significantly vs. the traditional $11,963 commission.

National/Iowa

Ames, IA

Is Now a Good Time to Sell in Ames, Iowa?

The median home in Ames sells for $398,750 with prices up 26.6% year-over-year. The average seller pays $11,963 in commissions — Ridley’s flat fee saves you $8,464.

Ames Real Estate Market Conditions — March 2026

66out of 100

Ridley Sell Score

How it's scored →

Moderate

66/100

A balanced market with opportunities for well-priced homes.

What this means for sellers

The Ames market is balanced — neither strongly favoring buyers nor sellers. Accurate pricing is key: overpriced homes will sit, but correctly priced listings are still moving. Watch for competing listings dropping prices — come in sharp from day one. Sellers who prepare well can still achieve strong results.

Inventory TightnessFavors sellers

2.6 months of supply — below the 5-month balanced threshold — 45% below the Iowa average of 4.7.

Price MomentumFavors sellers

Prices up 26.6% year-over-year — vs. +8.6% statewide.

Seller LeverageNeutral

Homes selling at 98.5% of asking — buyers are negotiating 1.5% below list. Iowa average is 96.9%.

Bidding ActivityNeutral

20.7% of homes selling above list price — 30% above the Iowa average of 15.9%.

Sale SpeedFavors sellers

54 median days on market — 9 days faster than the Iowa average.

Market UrgencyFavors sellers

38.9% of listings go pending within 2 weeks — vs. 22.8% statewide.

Price StabilityFavors buyers

31.1% of listings have dropped their price — accurate initial pricing is critical. Iowa average is 23%.

Score based on 7 real-time market signals. Updated with latest available data.

How it works →

Median Sale Price

The midpoint price of all homes sold in the past month. Half sold for more, half for less.

$398,750

+26.6%

Days on Market

How long the typical home sits on the market before going under contract. Lower is better for sellers.

Price per Sq Ft

Average cost per square foot of living space. Useful for comparing homes of different sizes.

$206

Sale-to-List Ratio

How close homes sell to their asking price. Above 100% means bidding wars; below means negotiation room.

98.5%

Months of Supply

How long it would take to sell all current listings at the current pace. Under 3 months favors sellers; over 6 favors buyers.

2.6

Seller’s market

Competitiveness

Overall market competition based on offers per listing, days on market, and sale-to-list ratio.

Somewhat Competitive

Sold Above List

Percentage of homes that sold for more than their list price.

20.7%

Room to negotiate

Price Drops

Percentage of active listings that had a price reduction.

31.1%

Pricing matters

Pending in 2 Weeks

Percentage of listings that went under contract within 14 days.

38.9%

Moderate pace

12-Month Price Trend

$326,250 → $398,750

▲22.2%

$400K$350K$300K

AprJunAugOctDecFebMar

Data updated March 2026

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Personalized pricing signals, demand shifts, and Sell Score changes for Ames — delivered monthly.

Your savings

How much can you save selling your home in Ames?

The average Ames homeowner saves $8,464 by selling with Ridley instead of paying the traditional 3% listing commission on a $398,750 home.

$0Estimated savings

That's 6 months of groceries — save 2.1% of your home value

Your Ames home value

$398,750

$50,000$10M

Traditional Agent (3%)

$11,963

Ridley Pro (flat fee)

$3,499

Ready to sell in Ames?

Get a personalized selling strategy with AI-powered pricing analysis

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Cost comparison

How much does it cost to sell a house in Ames?

The total cost to sell a house in Ames in 2026 ranges from $999 with Ridley Essentials to approximately $11,963 with a traditional 3% commission on a $398,750 home.

	Traditional Agent	Best valueRidley Pro	Ridley Essentials	FSBO
Listing fee	$11,963	$3,499	$999	$0
Buyer agent	$11,1652.8% avg	$7,975~2% avg	$7,975~2% avg	$11,1652.8% avg
Closing costs (~1.5%)	$5,981	$5,981	$5,981	$5,981
Total cost	$29,109	$17,455	$14,955	$17,146
Net proceeds	$369,641	$381,295	$383,795	$381,604
You save	—	$8,464	$10,964	$11,963No support