Is Fort Madison a buyer's or seller's market right now?

Fort Madison is currently a buyer's market with 8 months of supply. Homes are selling at 94.4% of list price, and 30.8% go pending within two weeks. The Ridley Sell Score for Fort Madison is 40/100 (Cooling), based on 7 real-time market signals including inventory, pricing trends, and buyer demand.

What's the median home price in Fort Madison?

The median home price in Fort Madison is $142,000, up 94.5% year-over-year. The median price per square foot is $122. Homes sell in a median of 54 days with a sale-to-list ratio of 94.4%.

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

On a $142,000 home in Fort Madison, a traditional listing agent charges around $4,260 (3% commission). Add buyer agent commission (3%), closing costs (1–2%), and you could spend $11,360 or more. With Ridley Essentials ($999) you save $3,261, and with Ridley Pro ($3,499) you save $761 while getting full agent support.

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

A traditional Fort Madison listing agent typically charges 3% of the sale price — about $4,260 on a $142,000 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 $3,261–$761 compared to a traditional agent.

How long does it take to sell a home in Fort Madison?

The median home in Fort Madison currently spends 54 days on the market before going under contract. 30.8% of homes go pending within two weeks. At a 94.4% sale-to-list ratio, sellers are seeing some negotiation. Only 14.6% 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 $142,000 home, that could save you up to $761.

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 $4,260 commission.

National/Iowa

Fort Madison, IA

Is Now a Good Time to Sell in Fort Madison, Iowa?

The median home in Fort Madison sells for $142,000 with prices up 94.5% year-over-year. The average seller pays $4,260 in commissions — Ridley’s flat fee saves you $761.

Fort Madison Real Estate Market Conditions — March 2026

40out of 100

Ridley Sell Score

How it's scored →

Cooling

40/100

The market is shifting — strategic pricing and presentation matter more.

What this means for sellers

The Fort Madison market is cooling, and sellers need to be strategic. Buyers have more options and are negotiating harder. Invest in staging and professional photography to differentiate your listing. Flexibility on terms can make the difference in attracting serious buyers.

Inventory TightnessFavors buyers

8 months of supply — above the 5-month balanced threshold, giving buyers more options. Iowa average is 4.7.

Price MomentumFavors sellers

Prices up 94.5% year-over-year — vs. +8.6% statewide.

Seller LeverageFavors buyers

Homes selling at 94.4% of asking — buyers are negotiating 5.6% below list. Iowa average is 96.9%.

Bidding ActivityFavors buyers

0% of homes selling above list price — 100% below the Iowa average of 15.9%.

Sale SpeedFavors sellers

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

Market UrgencyNeutral

30.8% of listings go pending within 2 weeks — vs. 22.8% statewide.

Price StabilityNeutral

Only 14.6% of listings have dropped their price — sellers are holding firm. 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.

$142,000

+94.5%

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.

$122

Sale-to-List Ratio

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

94.4%

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.

Buyer’s market

Competitiveness

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

Somewhat Competitive

Price Drops

Percentage of active listings that had a price reduction.

14.6%

Well-priced market

Pending in 2 Weeks

Percentage of listings that went under contract within 14 days.

30.8%

Moderate pace

12-Month Price Trend

$73,000 → $142,000

▲94.5%

$140K$120K$100K$80K$60K

AprJunAugOctDecFebMar

Data updated March 2026

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

Your savings

How much can you save selling your home in Fort Madison?

The average Fort Madison homeowner saves $761 by selling with Ridley instead of paying the traditional 3% listing commission on a $142,000 home.

$0Estimated savings

That covers your moving costs — save 0.5% of your home value

Your Fort Madison home value

$142,000

$50,000$10M

Traditional Agent (3%)

$4,260

Ridley Pro (flat fee)

$3,499

Ready to sell in Fort Madison?

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Cost comparison

How much does it cost to sell a house in Fort Madison?

The total cost to sell a house in Fort Madison in 2026 ranges from $999 with Ridley Essentials to approximately $4,260 with a traditional 3% commission on a $142,000 home.

	Traditional Agent	Best valueRidley Pro	Ridley Essentials	FSBO
Listing fee	$4,260	$3,499	$999	$0
Buyer agent	$3,9762.8% avg	$2,840~2% avg	$2,840~2% avg	$3,9762.8% avg
Closing costs (~1.5%)	$2,130	$2,130	$2,130	$2,130
Total cost	$10,366	$8,469	$5,969	$6,106
Net proceeds	$131,634	$133,531	$136,031	$135,894
You save	—	$761	$3,261	$4,260No support