Story County · Ames
Sell Your Commercial Property In Ames, IA
From Campustown to Somerset, we buy Ames multifamily and commercial apartment properties of 5+ units in every condition. Owners and agents get a straight answer on fit, usually within two business days.
- Clear feedback on your deal, typically within 48 hours
- 5 to 100+ units, stabilized or distressed, listed or off-market
- Owners, agents, and brokers welcome — every conversation is confidential
We buy:Tired landlordsEstate & trust sales1031 exchangesDeferred maintenanceHigh vacancyPartnership splits
Ames Submarkets: Campustown · West Ames · Somerset · North Grand — Story County, IA
Local Demand
Our View On Ames
Ames is a Story County city of 67,669 residents in ACS 2020-2024, home to Iowa State University. Renters occupy 57.9% of Ames homes, and median gross rent is $1,023 a month, above the Iowa median of $972.
Owners who plan to sell commercial property in Ames, IA face buyers who study the Story County levy, Chapter 13 rental registration and the residential tax class Iowa gives apartments. Every figure below links to the official Census, HUD, Story County or Iowa Code page it came from.
Iowa State University
Iowa State enrolled 31,105 students in fall 2025, per the Iowa State University news service.Ames National Laboratory
The Department of Energy lab in Ames lists 310 employees and 149 students, per the DOE Office of Science.Mary Greeley Medical Center
Mary Greeley is a 220-bed regional hospital in Ames with more than 1,300 nurses, technicians and therapists.Our Buy Box
What We Buy In Ames
Asset Type
Multifamily, 5+ Units
Apartment buildings and income-producing residential.
Size
5 – 100+ Units
Sweet spot: 15–25 units.
Condition
Stabilized To Distressed
Value-add, mismanaged, and high-vacancy properties welcome.
Deal Types
Listed Or Off-Market
Direct-to-owner, pocket listings, portfolios.
Local Market Data
Ames Apartment Market
Figures gathered October 2026 from public market data.
Who rents in Ames
Renters occupy 57.9% of 25,785 occupied Ames homes, or 14,934 households, per the ACS 2020-2024 tenure table. Story County stands at 44.5% and Iowa at 28.3%.
Buildings of five or more units hold 12,459 Ames homes, or 44.4% of the housing stock, per the ACS units-in-structure table. Median year built is 1992, and 39.9% predates 1980, per the ACS year-built table.
Rents and affordability in Ames
Median gross rent in Ames is $1,023 a month, per the ACS median rent table. HUD FY2027 fair market rents set an Ames two-bedroom at $1,061.
| Unit size | HUD FY2027 FMR, Ames, IA HUD Metro FMR Area |
|---|---|
| Efficiency | $891 |
| One-bedroom | $944 |
| Two-bedroom | $1,061 |
| Three-bedroom | $1,469 |
| Four-bedroom | $1,768 |
Rent takes 30% or more of income for 48.9% of Ames renter households, per the ACS rent burden table. The ACS 2020-2024 housing profile puts Ames rental vacancy at 6.7%. Owners who sell commercial real estate in Ames, IA see buyers price that vacancy into offers.
Property taxes in Story County
A $2,000,000 apartment building inside Ames city and the Ames school district owes about $27,504 a year, or 1.38% of value. Iowa Code 441.21(14)(a)(6) puts parcels with three or more dwelling units in the residential class. The Iowa Department of Revenue 2025 limitation order taxes residential realty at 44.5345% of value.
The Story County Auditor levy sheet lists a consolidated Ames/Ames rate of 30.87890 per $1,000 for taxes payable July 2026 through June 2027.
- Taxable value: $2,000,000 x 44.5345% = $890,690.
- Annual tax: $890,690 x 30.87890 / 1,000 = $27,504.
When you sell commercial property in Ames, IA, the Iowa transfer tax costs about $3,199 on a $2,000,000 price.
Landlord rules in Ames
Deposits in Iowa are capped at two months' rent and must be returned within 30 days of termination under Iowa Code 562A.12. A landlord may end a lease when rent stays unpaid three days after written notice, under Iowa Code 562A.27.
Iowa Code 364.3 forbids city ordinances that limit rent on private residential property. Ames Municipal Code Chapter 13 bars renting any unit until it is registered and holds a valid or pending Letter of Compliance, per the City of Ames rental registration page.
What it means for an owner in Ames
Anyone selling commercial property in Ames meets buyers who track Iowa State enrollment. Keep registrations, compliance letters and Story County tax bills in one folder.
Owners ready to sell commercial property in Ames, IA can begin with our cap rate calculator. Skyline Capital Investments buys buildings with five or more units, so you can sell your apartment building in Ames directly to us.
Before You Sell
Selling In Ames
More about selling in Iowa →Investing in Ames? See apartment syndications in Ames →
- Ames requires every rental unit to be registered, with a valid or pending Letter of Compliance.
- Ames parcels in the Gilbert school district pay 35.58394 per $1,000 instead of 30.87890.
- To sell commercial real estate in Ames, IA, gather registrations, compliance letters and deposit ledgers.
Seller Guides
Your Situation, Handled — Ames
Learn More
Taxes & Rules For Ames Property
The Iowa rules that shape any deal in Ames: what a sale costs in tax, how buildings are taxed, what landlords must follow, and how to defer gains.
Ames Seller FAQ
How much property tax does a $2 million apartment building in Ames pay?
About $27,504 a year inside Ames city and the Ames school district. That applies Iowa's 2025 residential limitation of 44.5345% to the Story County consolidated rate of 30.87890 per $1,000, for taxes payable July 2026 through June 2027.
What do buyers look at when I sell commercial property in Ames, IA?
They study rents, taxes and compliance. Median gross rent in Ames is $1,023 a month in ACS 2020-2024, and 48.9% of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent. Every rental unit also needs city registration under Chapter 13.
Can Ames cap the rent I charge tenants?
No. Iowa Code 364.3 bars any city from adopting or enforcing an ordinance that limits the rent charged for leasing private residential or commercial property. Ames rents follow the market, and the HUD FY2027 two-bedroom fair market rent for the Ames metro is $1,061.
How deep is rental demand if I sell commercial real estate in Ames, IA?
Renters occupy 57.9% of Ames homes, roughly double the Iowa share of 28.3%, in ACS 2020-2024. Rental vacancy is 6.7%. Owners who sell multifamily property in Ames compete within 12,459 homes in buildings of five or more units.
Which employers drive apartment demand in Ames?
Iowa State University leads, with 31,105 students enrolled in fall 2025. Mary Greeley Medical Center runs a 220-bed hospital, and Ames National Laboratory lists 310 employees and 149 students, per the Department of Energy Office of Science.
Will you buy a Ames property that needs work or has high vacancy?
Yes. We regularly evaluate value-add, mismanaged, and distressed multifamily properties and underwrite them as they are today — no repairs or lease-up required before selling.
Do you work with Ames brokers and agents?
We do. Agents can bring us listed or pocket-listing deals in Ames, and we keep every conversation confidential.
Can I sell rental property in Ames with tenants in place?
Yes. We buy apartment buildings with tenants in place and keep existing leases intact. As a commercial real estate buyer focused on 5+ unit properties, we underwrite the current rent roll as it stands.
Do I need a broker to sell my apartment building in Ames?
No. You can work with us directly, or your broker can bring the deal to us. Either way, conversations stay confidential.
Submit A Deal
Tell Us About Your Property In Ames
Tell us about it. Owners, agents, brokers, and deal finders are all welcome — conversations are confidential.
