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Renovated Duplex with Private Entrances
For Sale
$245,000

525 /527 6th St Unit 2, West Des Moines, IA 50265

Two residential units feature updated kitchens, remodeled bathrooms, and shared basement laundry facilities.

Property Size1,528 SF
Price / SF$160.34
Days on Market34

Property Features for 525 /527 6th St Unit 2

General Information

Standard status Active
Size 1,528 SF
Property subtype Multi-Family

Building Details

Year Built 1903
Listing Agency: Keller Williams Realty GDM
Listed By: Sonja Winter · License #S70604000
Source: Mistysoldteamiowa
Added: Jul 28 Changed: Aug 30 Last Checked: Aug 30 at 1:19AM

Displayed information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. All listing content including descriptions, pricing, images are the copyrighted material of Keller Williams Realty GDM

Investment Insights

Based on property information with market context.

This duplex contains two separately entered residences within a 1,528-square-foot building constructed in 1903. The first-floor unit has two bedrooms and one bathroom, while the second-floor residence includes one bedroom and one bathroom. Both kitchens have been updated with white cabinetry and appliances, including dishwashers and over-the-range microwaves. Ceramic-tile bathroom updates include tubs with showers. A shared basement provides washer and dryer access.

The property is located near Valley Junction amenities, including the Thursday farmers market, retail shops, galleries, antique stores, restaurants, Legion Park, tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, a wading pool, and park shelters. Raccoon River Park, Blue Heron Lake/Beach, Holiday Park Aquatic Center, Jordan Creek Mall, downtown Des Moines, and Des Moines International Airport are also identified in the surrounding area. I-235 provides regional access. The landlord plans to have the units rented before closing, subject to the buyer’s right to approve tenants.

Key Highlights

  • Two‑unit duplex with private entrances for each residence
  • 1,528‑square‑foot building constructed in 1903
  • First‑floor unit offers 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom

Financial Insights

Estimated NOI and Cap Rate

NOI = area × lease_rate × (100 − vacancy) / 100 × (1 − expense_ratio). Net Operating Income — what the owner takes home each year before mortgage payments and income tax. Effective rent (asking rent minus vacancy losses) minus operating costs (taxes, insurance, maintenance, management).
NOI / Yr
$13,556
Cap rate = NOI / list price × 100. Capitalization rate — annual return on a fully cash purchase, before financing. NOI divided by price. Higher means more income per dollar invested, but usually also more risk or older condition. 5–8% is typical for stabilized commercial property; double digits often signal distressed deals.
Cap Rate
5.53%
Suggested Prices Based on Cap Rates Cap rates vary significantly by property type, market, and asset quality. Typical U.S. stable-market ranges: Multifamily — 4.5% to 6.5% (Class A in primary markets often sub-5%; Class C in secondary markets 6%+) Industrial / Logistics — 5.0% to 7.0% (compressed heavily in recent years due to e-commerce demand) Office — 6.5% to 9%+ (wide spread post-2020; CBD Class A vs. suburban Class B varies dramatically) Retail — 5.5% to 8.5% (grocery-anchored on the low end, unanchored strip centers higher) Hospitality / Hotels — 7.5% to 10%+ (higher due to operational risk) Self-Storage — 5.5% to 7.5% Medical Office — 6.0% to 7.5% Net Lease (single tenant, credit) — 5.0% to 7.0% depending on tenant credit and lease term Rules of thumb: Primary markets (NYC, SF, LA, Boston, DC) trade at lower cap rates than secondary/tertiary markets, often by 100–200 bps (bps, aka basis points; 1 bp = 0.01%). Class A assets trade ~50–150 bps tighter than Class B, and Class B tighter than Class C. Cap rates move inversely with price — a lower cap rate means a higher price for the same NOI. Spread to the 10-year Treasury is a common benchmark; historically 200–400 bps over the 10-year.
Cap Rate 5%
$271,120 $271.1K
Cap Rate 7%
$193,657 $193.7K
Cap Rate 9%
$150,622 $150.6K
Market Conditions
NOI Build-Up for 1,528 SF Vacancy — income lost from leasable area expected to sit empty during the year, subtracted from gross rent. EGI (Effective Gross Income) — gross rent minus vacancy losses, the realistic income before paying operating costs. OpEx (Operating Expenses) — recurring costs to operate the property (property tax, insurance, utilities, maintenance, management); excludes financing and capital improvements. NOI (Net Operating Income) — income a property generates after operating costs but before financing and taxes.
Gross rent
$20.5K $13.44/SF
− Vacancy
−$1.2K −$0.77/SF
EGI
$19.4K $12.67/SF
− OpEx
−$5.8K −$3.80/SF
NOI
$13.6K $8.87/SF
Area
Polk County, IA
Vacancy
5.70%
Lease Rate
$13.44 /SF/Yr
Expense Ratio
30.00%
Simulate Cap Rate and NOI
Suggested Prices Based on Cap Rates Cap rates vary significantly by property type, market, and asset quality. Typical U.S. stable-market ranges: Multifamily — 4.5% to 6.5% (Class A in primary markets often sub-5%; Class C in secondary markets 6%+) Industrial / Logistics — 5.0% to 7.0% (compressed heavily in recent years due to e-commerce demand) Office — 6.5% to 9%+ (wide spread post-2020; CBD Class A vs. suburban Class B varies dramatically) Retail — 5.5% to 8.5% (grocery-anchored on the low end, unanchored strip centers higher) Hospitality / Hotels — 7.5% to 10%+ (higher due to operational risk) Self-Storage — 5.5% to 7.5% Medical Office — 6.0% to 7.5% Net Lease (single tenant, credit) — 5.0% to 7.0% depending on tenant credit and lease term Rules of thumb: Primary markets (NYC, SF, LA, Boston, DC) trade at lower cap rates than secondary/tertiary markets, often by 100–200 bps (bps, aka basis points; 1 bp = 0.01%). Class A assets trade ~50–150 bps tighter than Class B, and Class B tighter than Class C. Cap rates move inversely with price — a lower cap rate means a higher price for the same NOI. Spread to the 10-year Treasury is a common benchmark; historically 200–400 bps over the 10-year.
Cap Rate 5%
$271,120
Cap Rate 7%
$193,657
Cap Rate 9%
$150,622

Alternative Uses

Best Use
Multifamily LT 5
$193.7K
$169.5K – $225.9K (±1% cap)
NOI $13,556 @ 7.0% cap · market cap 5.53%
Second Best
Apartment 5plus
$169.3K
$148.1K – $197.5K (±1% cap)
NOI $11,850 @ 7.0% cap · market cap 4.84%
Theoretical Best
Flex RnD
$1.47M
$1.29M – $1.72M (±1% cap)
NOI $102,963 @ 7.0% cap · market cap 42.03%
Zoning and permitted uses should be independently verified with authorities.

Property Analytics

Current Use

Duplexes

Suggested Use

Top Pick Dental Office (Bike/Boat/Book/etc) Store Pharmacy Skin Care Clinic Garden Center Florist

Score = modeled unmet demand for each use within ~1 mi (higher = bigger opportunity). Zoning and permitted uses should be independently verified with local authorities.

Location Intelligence

Trade Area within ½ mile

796
Businesses Nearby

Demographics for 50265, IA

32,187
Population
15,104
Households
2.1
Avg Household Size
38
Median Age
48%
College-Educated
95%
High-School Grad
19.3 sq mi
ZIP Area
1,668
Density / Sq Mi
$84,588
Median Household Income
$49,785
Median Earnings
$1,065
Median Rent
$267,600
Median Home Value

Market

Vacancy Rate% for Multifamily in Midwest region

6.5% 2022
7.5% 2023
7.8% 2024
8% 2025
Rey
Questions? Ask Rey
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Frequently Asked Questions

What type of property is this?
Duplex - Two residential units feature updated kitchens, remodeled bathrooms, and shared basement laundry facilities.
Where is this duplex located?
The property is located at 525 /527 6th St Unit 2 West Des Moines, IA.
What is the asking price?
The asking price for this property is $245,000.
What are key features of this property?
This property features: Two‑unit duplex with private entrances for each residence; 1,528‑square‑foot building constructed in 1903; First‑floor unit offers 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom
More about this property
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