Scott County · Quad Cities
Sell Your Commercial Property In Quad Cities, IA
Own a commercial apartment building of five or more units in Quad Cities? We purchase multifamily properties around Davenport, Bettendorf, and the rest of Scott County, and we review every deal against a clear buy box.
- 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
Quad Cities Submarkets: Davenport · Bettendorf · Moline · Rock Island — Scott County, IA
Why Quad Cities
Why We Buy Multifamily In Quad Cities
The Quad Cities straddle the Mississippi River, with Davenport and Bettendorf in Scott County, Iowa, and Moline and Rock Island in Illinois. Davenport has 100,913 residents and a 37.1% renter share under the Census Bureau's ACS 2020-2024 estimates. Its median gross rent is $978 a month. Bettendorf, the second Iowa city, has 39,647 residents and a 25.0% renter share.
Owners who want to sell commercial property in Quad Cities, IA face buyers who read Iowa tax law closely. This profile covers renters, rents against HUD's FY2027 fair market rents, apartment stock, Scott County tax math on a $2,000,000 building, and Iowa landlord rules. Every figure links to the official page it came from, so you can check it before you set a price.
Data and law focus on the Iowa side, where Scott County sets the levies and the Iowa Code governs leases. Illinois figures appear only where the Census Bureau reports them, and Illinois law differs.
Deere offices and factories
Deere & Company lists its principal executive offices in Moline, Illinois, and factories at Davenport Works and East Moline's Harvester Works in its fiscal 2025 annual report, with about 73,100 employees worldwide.Rock Island Arsenal workforce
The Rock Island Arsenal reports more than 6,000 military, civilian and contractor personnel and over 80 tenant organizations on a 960-acre Mississippi River island between Davenport and Rock Island.Four-city, two-state metro
The Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area had 381,503 residents in ACS 2020-2024, including 174,608 in Scott County, Iowa, and 142,757 in Rock Island County, Illinois.Our Buy Box
What We Buy In Quad Cities
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
Quad Cities Apartment Market
Figures gathered October 2026 from public market data.
Who rents in the Quad Cities
Davenport is the Iowa anchor of the Quad Cities, and 37.1% of its occupied homes are rented. That equals 16,052 of 43,237 Davenport households in the ACS 2020-2024 tenure table. Bettendorf sits at 25.0%, Scott County at 30.0% and Iowa at 28.3%.
Income splits sharply between the two Iowa cities. Davenport has a median household income of $66,200, per the ACS 2020-2024 income table. Bettendorf reports $100,495 and Scott County $78,277 for the same period.
Rental vacancy is tight on the Iowa bank. Davenport posts 5.9% and Bettendorf 4.1% in the ACS 2020-2024 housing profile. Scott County is at 5.6% and Iowa at 5.7%.
The wider Quad Cities metro spans two states. The Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area counts 381,503 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 population table. Moline and Rock Island, both in Illinois, have renter shares of 32.7% and 35.2%.
Rents and affordability in the Quad Cities
Davenport's median gross rent is $978 a month under ACS 2020-2024, per the ACS median rent table. Bettendorf is $1,187, Scott County $1,005 and Iowa $972. On the Illinois side, Moline is $900 and Rock Island $842.
Under HUD FY2027 fair market rents, the two-bedroom figure for the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA is $1,056. That is $78, or 8.0%, above Davenport's ACS median rent.
| Unit size | HUD FY2027 FMR, Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA |
|---|---|
| Efficiency | $787 |
| One-bedroom | $852 |
| Two-bedroom | $1,056 |
| Three-bedroom | $1,396 |
| Four-bedroom | $1,697 |
Rent burden limits how far rents can climb. In Davenport, 45.5% of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent, per the ACS 2020-2024 rent burden table. Bettendorf is at 36.0% and Scott County at 43.2%.
The severe tier looks alike in both Iowa cities. Davenport has 22.4% of renters paying half of income or more, and Bettendorf has 22.3%. A year of rent at Davenport's median equals 17.7% of its median household income.
Apartment stock in the Quad Cities
Davenport has 10,501 homes in buildings of five or more units, or 22.4% of its 46,849 housing units. The source is the ACS 2020-2024 units-in-structure table. Bettendorf is at 15.0%, Scott County 17.6% and Iowa 14.5%.
Davenport's stock skews old. In Davenport, 69.7% of homes were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1967, per the ACS 2020-2024 year-built table. Bettendorf is newer, at 51.3% pre-1980 with a median year of 1979.
Moline and Rock Island are older still, with median years built of 1956 and 1954 in the same table. Those buildings fall under Illinois statutes, which differ from the Iowa rules on this page. Anyone selling commercial property in Quad Cities on the Illinois bank should review Illinois law separately.
Age shows up in a buyer's inspection. Roofs, boilers, plumbing and electrical panels in pre-1980 buildings feed straight into price. Recent replacement invoices are the best counter to a capital-reserve deduction.
Property taxes in Scott County
A $2,000,000 apartment building in Davenport carries about $32,907 a year in property tax. That uses the 2025 assessment and the Scott County FY2026-27 levy, or 1.65% of value. The same building in Bettendorf runs about $29,108.
Apartment parcels are taxed as residential in Iowa today. Iowa Code 441.21 classifies a parcel used for human habitation with three or more dwelling units as residential from assessment year 2022. Iowa's 2025 assessment limitation order sets 44.5345% for residential realty.
The Scott County FY2026-27 levy sheet lists 36.94584 per $1,000 of taxable value for Davenport city in the Davenport school district, code DAD. Bettendorf in the Bettendorf district, code BEB, is 32.67973. Davenport's city portion alone is 16.58227.
- Taxable value: $2,000,000 x 44.5345% = $890,690.
- Davenport (DAD): $890,690 x 36.94584 / 1,000 = $32,907 a year, or $823 per unit on 40 units.
- Bettendorf (BEB): $890,690 x 32.67973 / 1,000 = $29,108 a year, or $728 per unit.
That math will change. The Iowa Department of Revenue overview says multiresidential returns as a class in assessment year 2027 at the residential limitation plus three percent. From 2028 the add-on is six percent. Anyone planning to sell commercial property in Quad Cities, IA should price that step into a buyer's pro forma.
Protests go to the board of review from April 2 through April 30 of the assessment year, under Iowa Code 441.37. Iowa's transfer tax under Iowa Code 428A.1 is $0.80 per $500 above the first $500. On $2,000,000 that is $3,199.20.
Landlord rules for Iowa-side owners
Iowa caps security deposits at two months' rent under Iowa Code 562A.12. A landlord has 30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant supplies an address to return it or itemize deductions. Missing that deadline forfeits the right to withhold.
A tenant who fails to pay within three days of written notice can be terminated, under Iowa Code 562A.27. Other material breaches carry a seven-day notice. Month-to-month tenancies end on 30 days' written notice under Iowa Code 562A.34.
Rent control is barred in Iowa cities. Iowa Code 364.3 says a city shall not adopt or enforce any ordinance limiting the rent charged for private residential or commercial property.
Davenport requires a rental property license for all rental property, per the city rental license page. The annual fee ranges from $30 to $60, depending on the property's inspection cycle. Failing to register brings a $500 fine and an annual inspection cycle.
Owners or managers must also complete Davenport's Landlord Education Assistance Program training at least once. Before you sell commercial real estate in Quad Cities, IA, gather the license, inspection history and training record for each building.
What it means for a Quad Cities owner
Davenport pairs a 37.1% renter share with 5.9% vacancy and a stock that is mostly pre-1980. Buyers will price capital needs and the 2027 multiresidential class change. A clean file on both shortens diligence.
Deposits move with the sale. Under Iowa Code 562A.12, a seller transfers deposits to the successor and tells tenants the buyer's name and address, or returns them. When you sell your apartment building in Quad Cities, reconcile the deposit ledger first.
Employers on both banks support demand. Deere & Company lists its principal offices in Moline and a Davenport Works factory in its fiscal 2025 annual report. The Rock Island Arsenal reports more than 6,000 military, civilian and contractor personnel.
If you want to sell commercial property in Quad Cities, IA, Skyline Capital Investments buys apartment buildings of five or more units. Test your numbers with the cap rate calculator, then read how our apartment building purchase works.
Good To Know
Quad Cities Seller Checklist
More about selling in Iowa →Investing in Quad Cities? See apartment syndications in Quad Cities →
- Owners who sell commercial real estate in Quad Cities, IA should confirm Davenport rental license status early, because unregistered rental property draws a $500 city fine.
- Davenport rental vacancy is 5.9% and Bettendorf's is 4.1% in ACS 2020-2024 table DP04, both close to the Scott County figure of 5.6%.
- Iowa restores a multiresidential tax class in assessment year 2027 at the residential limitation plus three percent, so the 2025-based Davenport tax example may not hold for later bills.
- Moline and Rock Island sit in Illinois, so anyone selling commercial property in Quad Cities across the river should review Illinois statutes on deposits and notices.
Seller Guides
Your Situation, Handled — Quad Cities
Learn More
Taxes & Rules For Quad Cities Property
The Iowa rules that shape any deal in Quad Cities: what a sale costs in tax, how buildings are taxed, what landlords must follow, and how to defer gains.
Quad Cities Seller FAQ
What is the median rent in Davenport and Bettendorf?
Median gross rent is $978 a month in Davenport and $1,187 in Bettendorf under ACS 2020-2024, against $1,005 for Scott County. HUD's FY2027 fair market rent for a two-bedroom in the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL MSA is $1,056, which is $78 above the Davenport median. Moline and Rock Island report $900 and $842.
Can I sell commercial property in Quad Cities, IA with tenants in place?
Iowa Code 562A.12 covers this case. When a landlord's interest ends, the landlord must transfer each rental deposit, less lawful deductions, to the successor and notify tenants of the transferee's name and address, or return the deposit. The buyer then holds the landlord's rights and duties for those deposits. Collect the deposit ledger and current leases before listing.
How much property tax does a $2 million apartment building pay in Davenport?
About $32,907 a year as an illustration. Iowa's 2025 order sets 44.5345% for residential realty, giving $890,690 of taxable value. Scott County's FY2026-27 levy for Davenport city in the Davenport school district is 36.94584 per $1,000. The same building in Bettendorf would pay about $29,108. Check the parcel's own tax statement for its district.
What should I check before I sell commercial real estate in Quad Cities, IA?
Start with three items. Confirm the Davenport rental property license and inspection cycle for each building. Model the multiresidential class that Iowa restores in assessment year 2027 at the residential limitation plus three percent. Then reconcile deposits, since Iowa Code 562A.12 requires a transfer to the buyer with notice to tenants. Gaps in any of these tend to surface late in diligence.
Does Davenport have rent control?
No. Iowa Code 364.3 says a city shall not adopt or enforce any ordinance imposing a limit on the amount of rent charged for private residential or commercial property. Davenport and Bettendorf owners set rents by market and lease terms. Notice and deposit rules in Iowa Code chapter 562A still apply, including the three-day nonpayment notice.
Do Iowa landlord rules cover buildings in Moline and Rock Island?
Moline and Rock Island are Illinois cities, and the statutes cited on this page are Iowa Code sections. Illinois has its own landlord and property tax laws, which this profile does not cover. Owners who sell multifamily property in Quad Cities on both banks should prepare separate document sets and review Illinois rules with counsel there before listing.
What if my Quad Cities building has vacancies or deferred maintenance?
That is often where we add the most value. We buy buildings that need renovation, new management, or lease-up, and we account for that in our offer.
Do you work with Quad Cities brokers and agents?
We do. Agents can bring us listed or pocket-listing deals in Quad Cities, and we keep every conversation confidential.
Is it possible to sell rental property in Quad Cities without evicting tenants?
It is. We buy apartment buildings occupied, and tenants stay on their current leases. Skyline Capital Investments is a commercial real estate buyer of 5+ unit buildings, so occupied properties are the norm for us.
How fast can I sell my apartment building in Quad Cities?
Most owners get clear feedback within 48 hours of sending the address, unit count, and a rent roll. Closing is typically set around your timeline, including extra time for a 1031 exchange.
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