For years, we’ve all heard the same refrain: spring is for sellers. Fresh listings hit, bidding wars break out, and buyers burn themselves out chasing homes that disappear in a weekend. But 2025 flips that script. According to Realtor.com, the week of October 12–18, 2025 has been crowned the best week to buy a home in the entire decade. And here in Iowa, that prediction couldn’t hit at a better moment.
Fall always brings a shift in the housing market. Families are settled into school routines, the rush of spring buyers has long faded, and sellers who missed the peak are left staring down year-end. Inventory builds, price cuts pop up, and negotiations get friendlier. Iowa REALTORS® data shows exactly that: homes are sitting a little longer, inventory is ticking higher, and fall buyers are finally gaining leverage.
Normally, seasonality and interest rates don’t align—they run on different calendars. But 2025 is an exception. After years of higher mortgage rates, we’re finally seeing some relief. Thirty-year fixed mortgages are dipping into the low 6% range (even 5% at a number of local financial institutions), levels we haven’t touched in quite a while. For buyers, even a half-point drop translates into tens of thousands in extra purchasing power. Stack that on top of softer October pricing, and you get a rare convergence: more choices, less competition, and cheaper money.
But this October could stand out from the last ten. Other Octobers gave buyers seasonal leverage, sure—but rates were punishing, or demand still overflowed. This year is different. 2025 offers the rare alignment of inventory + motivated sellers + falling rates. If you’ve been waiting, this could genuinely be the best window in a decade to make your move in Iowa.
A Note for Sellers:
Don’t feel left out—your turn comes in May. According to ATTOM, homes listed on May 27th net sellers a jaw-dropping 14% premium. I even broke it down in this reel: Instagram post here.
