Scott County Multifamily Buyer
Sell Your Commercial Property In Scott County, IA
Scott County forms the Iowa side of the Quad Cities along the Mississippi River, including Davenport and Bettendorf. Manufacturing, the nearby Rock Island Arsenal, and health care drive demand for a mix of historic riverfront buildings and suburban garden communities.
- 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
Cities We Cover: Quad Cities · Davenport · Bettendorf — County seat: Davenport
Scott County
Where We Buy In Scott County
We evaluate apartment buildings of 5+ units across Scott County — in each city below, plus smaller towns and unincorporated areas countywide.
Local Market Data
Scott County Apartment Market
Figures gathered October 2026 from public market data.
If you plan to sell commercial property in Scott County, IA, you are stepping into a market where renters fill 21,956 of the county's 73,132 occupied households, a 30.0% share, and median gross rent has reached $1,005 per the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey. That rent is up 26.7% from $793 in the 2015-2019 survey, a faster climb than Scott County's 1.3% population growth over the same five years.
Scott County spans Davenport, Bettendorf and the wider Quad Cities market along the Mississippi River. Davenport alone holds 16,052 renter households, 73.1% of the Scott County total, while Bettendorf's smaller renter pool pays the highest rents in the table. Rental vacancy sits at 5.6%, and 47.3% of Scott County renters are rent-burdened, numbers that shape how a buyer here prices risk.
Rent up 26.7% since 2015-2019
Scott County's median gross rent rose from $793 to $1,005 between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 ACS surveys, a $212 increase.Davenport holds 73.1% of county renters
Davenport counts 16,052 renter households, 73.1% of Scott County's 21,956 total, anchoring the county's apartment demand.Apartment supply grew 14.0%
Units in Scott County buildings of five or more apartments rose 14.0%, adding 1,693 units between the two ACS periods.Who rents in Scott County
Renters head 21,956 of Scott County's 73,132 occupied households, a 30.0% share, per the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey. Owners hold the remaining households, so Scott County still leans owner-occupied overall.
Davenport carries most of that renter base. The city counts 16,052 renter households, 73.1% of the Scott County total, and a 37.1% renter share of its own households. Bettendorf runs smaller and more owner-heavy, with a 25.0% renter share, while the broader Quad Cities metro area posts 28.3%. Scott County's 13,784 units in buildings of five or more apartments make up 17.6% of its housing stock, concentrated mostly in Davenport. Scott County's housing stock has a median year built of 1972, so much of its rental inventory predates current apartment codes and can carry different operating costs than newer buildings.
Rents, growth and affordability
Median gross rent in Scott County rose 26.7% between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 ACS periods, climbing from $793 to $1,005, a $212 increase. Median household income in Scott County grew faster still, up 27.9% to $78,277, which helped offset some of that rent growth.
Renter households in Scott County increased 5.8% over the same five years, adding 1,194 households to reach 21,956. Units in 5+ unit buildings grew 14.0%, an increase of 1,693 units, outpacing renter household growth and suggesting new supply absorbed some of the demand.
Even so, 47.3% of Scott County renters paid 30% or more of income on gross rent in the 2020-2024 survey. HUD's FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL metro area is $1,056, effective October 1, 2026, running $51 above Scott County's median gross rent. Rental vacancy in Scott County stands at 5.6%, a loose enough market that landlords compete on concessions more than in tighter metros.
City-by-city comparison
Davenport anchors the Scott County rental market with the county's largest renter pool and its highest share of apartment-style units. Bettendorf's smaller, pricier rental stock and the wider Quad Cities figures round out the comparison below.
| City | Median gross rent | Renter share | Share of units in 5+ buildings | Rental vacancy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quad Cities | $941 | 28.3% | 15.0% | 5.9% |
| Davenport | $978 | 37.1% | 22.4% | 5.9% |
| Bettendorf | $1,187 | 25.0% | 15.0% | 4.1% |
Rent ranges from $941 in the wider Quad Cities market to $1,187 in Bettendorf, a $246 spread. Davenport sits in between at $978, but it edges out both neighbors on renter share and apartment density. Vacancy swings less, from Bettendorf's 4.1% to a near-identical 5.9% for both Davenport and the Quad Cities metro.
Property taxes and assessment in Scott County
Scott County assesses commercial and apartment property at market value as of January 1, with all real property reassessed in odd-numbered years, per the Iowa Department of Revenue. Iowa's 2025 equalization order sets the commercial rollback at 44.5345% on the first $150,000 of a property unit's value and 90.0000% above that threshold.
Owners can protest a Scott County assessment through an informal review in April, then a local board of review, and finally the Property Assessment Appeal Board or district court. Property taxes come due September 30 and March 31 each year. A property transfer in Scott County also triggers Iowa's real estate transfer tax of roughly $1.60 per $1,000 of consideration, filed with the county recorder at closing.
What this means if you sell in Scott County
When you sell commercial property in Scott County, IA, you are selling into a market with 5.6% rental vacancy and a 30.0% countywide renter share, both softer figures than many larger Midwest counties. Buyers will weigh that vacancy against your current rent roll, especially if your building sits in Davenport, where 73.1% of Scott County's renter households live.
Rent growth of 26.7% since 2015-2019 gives sellers a story to tell, but Iowa's odd-year reassessment cycle means a buyer underwrites the next assessed value, not just your current tax bill. There is no rent control to plan around; Iowa Code 364.3(9) bars cities from capping rent on private property.
As a multifamily buyer in Scott County, IA, we look at 5+ unit buildings across Davenport, Bettendorf and the wider Quad Cities footprint. Send your rent roll, trailing financials and latest tax statement, and we will price the building from current numbers.
Local Knowledge
Selling Multifamily In Iowa
What we factor into every Scott County offer:
More about Iowa →- Iowa bars rent control; Scott County landlords set rents freely under Iowa Code 364.3(9).
- Security deposits in Iowa cap at two months' rent and must be returned within 30 days.
- Scott County rental vacancy runs 5.6%, looser than many Midwest counties; verify current occupancy before pricing.
- Commercial property is reassessed in odd years at market value, with Iowa's 2025 rollback at 44.5345%.
Property Tax
Property Tax In Scott County For Apartment Owners
Homeowners in Scott County pay a median of $3,273 a year in property tax on a median home value of $222,000, an effective rate of about 1.47%, according to the Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey. That is above the Iowa statewide average of 1.33%.
How property tax works in Iowa: classes, assessment and appeals →Estimate a building’s tax bill with the property tax calculator →
- Those figures describe owner-occupied homes. An apartment building can be assessed on a different basis or in a different class, so its bill as a share of value may differ.
- A sale can reset the assessed value. Before you price a Scott County building, check how Iowa reassesses property after a transfer and model the buyer’s new tax bill.
- Pull the actual tax bill from the Scott County assessor or tax collector. City, school and special-district levies stack on top of the county rate.
Seller Guides
Scott County Seller Situations
Learn More
Taxes & Rules For Scott County Property
The Iowa rules that shape any deal in Scott County: what a sale costs in tax, how buildings are taxed, what landlords must follow, and how to defer gains.
Our Buy Box
What We Buy In Scott County
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.
How Selling To Us Works
- 01
Submit The Deal
Send the address, unit count, asking price, and a rent roll or T-12 if you have them.
- 02
Initial Review
We review it against our buy box and give clear feedback — typically within 48 hours.
- 03
Underwriting & LOI
If it fits, we underwrite in detail and submit a written letter of intent.
- 04
Diligence & Close
Inspections and financing on the agreed timeline, then a professional, predictable closing.
Scott County Seller FAQ
How much have rents risen in Scott County?
Median gross rent in Scott County rose 26.7% between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 American Community Survey periods, climbing from $793 to $1,005. Income grew even faster, up 27.9% to $78,277, which helped offset part of that rent increase for local renters.
What should I know before I sell commercial property in Scott County, IA?
Check current occupancy against the county's 5.6% rental vacancy rate, confirm your building's rent roll matches market rates near $1,005, and expect a buyer to underwrite the next odd-year property reassessment rather than your existing tax bill.
Is there rent control in Scott County, Iowa?
No. Iowa Code 364.3(9) prohibits cities from adopting or enforcing ordinances that limit rent on private residential or commercial property, so Scott County landlords and buyers price units without a rent-cap ceiling to plan around.
How is commercial property assessed in Scott County?
Scott County values commercial and apartment property at market value as of each January 1, with reassessment in odd-numbered years. Iowa's 2025 order sets the commercial rollback at 44.5345% on a property's first $150,000 and 90.0000% above that amount.
How do I sell commercial property in Scott County, IA?
Send the address, unit count, and any financials. We review Scott County apartment buildings of 5+ units, give feedback typically within 48 hours, and follow with a written letter of intent if it fits.
Do you buy apartment buildings throughout Scott County?
Yes. We evaluate multifamily properties across Scott County, including Quad Cities, Davenport, and Bettendorf, as well as smaller towns and unincorporated areas. Every property is reviewed on its own fundamentals.
What size Scott County properties do you buy?
Apartment buildings and income-producing residential properties with 5 or more units. Our sweet spot is 15–25 units, and we review larger communities with capital partners.
Will you buy a property that needs work or has high vacancy?
Yes. We underwrite value-add, mismanaged, and distressed properties as they are today — no repairs or lease-up required before selling.
Can I sell rental property in Scott County 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 Scott County?
No. You can work with us directly, or your broker can bring the deal to us. Either way, conversations stay confidential.
How do property taxes factor into a Scott County offer?
Property is assessed at the county level (the county seat is Davenport), within Iowa rules. Iowa now taxes multi-residential property under the residential class, and assessments are updated in odd-numbered years. We underwrite using current classification and values.
Submit A Deal
Have A Property In Scott County?
Tell us about it. Owners, agents, brokers, and deal finders are all welcome — conversations are confidential.
