If your home has been on the market for a few weeks or even a month, it can start to feel like something is wrong. Many sellers begin to wonder if their home is overpriced or if demand has dropped off.
But here is the reality in 2026: 57 days on the market is not slow. It is normal.
If you're wondering how long it should take to sell your home, understanding what your home is worth in the Quad Cities is the first step toward setting the right expectations.
No. In today's housing market, homes are taking longer to sell than they did during the peak of the pandemic market. A timeline of around 50 to 60 days is now considered typical in many markets, including the Quad Cities.
In many cases, the timeline has more to do with strategy than demand. Proper pricing, marketing, and positioning all play a major role. That is why reviewing why some homes sit on the market can provide helpful insight when evaulating your own situation.
If you're wondering whether your home is taking too long to sell, this short video offers a helpful perspective. In today's market, a timeline closer to 57 days is much more normal than many sellers realize.
Quick takeaway: If your home has been on the market for several weeks, that does not automatically mean something is wrong. In a more balanced market, homes often take longer to sell than they did during the ultra-competitive years many people still remember.
Curious how your home compares? You can browse current homes for sale in the Quad Cities to see how similar properties are priced and positioned.
Over the past few years, the real estate market has shifted significantly. During the pandemic-driven market, homes were often selling in days with multiple offers. That pace set unrealistic expectations for many homeowners.
Today's market is more balanced, which means:
This shift is not a slowdown. It is a return to a healthier, more sustainable market.
If you are selling your home in areas like Bettendorf, Davenport, Moline, or surrounding communities, patience and strategy are key. A longer time on the market does not mean your home will not sell. It means:
Working with a local expert can make a significant difference. Ruhl&Ruhl agents understand neighborhood trends, buyer behavior, and how to position your home effectively.
For buyers, this shift creates opportunity.
Instead of rushing into decisions, buyers in the Quad Cities now have more time to evaluate homes, greater negotiating power, and more options to choose from. This creates a much less stressful environment compared to the fast-paced, high-pressure market of the past few years.
The key takeaway is simple: the housing market is not slowing down. It is stabilizing.
A market where homes take a few weeks or even a couple of months to sell is considered normal. It allows both buyers and sellers to make more informed decisions, which ultimately leads to stronger, more successful transactions.
As the market continues to normalize, we are seeing trends similar to what we outlined in our 2026 Quad Cities Real Estate Facts & Trends Guide.
If your home has been on the market for several weeks, do not panic. In today's Quad Cities real estate market, that timeline is expected.
The most important factors are still the same: pricing, presentation, and having the right strategy in place.
Whether you are thinking about selling your home or starting your search for the right property in the Quad Cities or surrounding communities, having the right guidance matters.
Connect with Ruhl&Ruhl today for expert insights tailored to your goals. Because with Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, you're Never on Your Own!
For the past couple of years, many homebuyers have struggled to make the numbers work. Home prices rose quickly, mortgage rates climbed, and affordability became a major challenge. As a result, a lot of buyers pressed pause on their plans.
But there's good news. If you've been waiting for a better time to re-enter the market, affordability is finally showing signs of improvement this fall.
According to the latest Redfin data, the typical monthly mortgage payment is now about
The new year has arrived, and you may be thinking if 2024 is the best time to purchase or sell a property. If you want to make the best selection possible, you should know what the experts think about the property market's outlook. Note that the projections may be more accurate than you expect. Here's why.
Experts Forecast Ongoing Home Price Appreciation
Take a look at the latest home price forecasts from Fannie Mae, the
Each quarter the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) releases home appreciation data that reflect changes to our regional markets or Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). The third quarter data shows percent changes in the last year and over a 5-year range. In the past year, home prices in our area have increased: +0.45% in Dubuque; -0.66% in Iowa City; +0.34% in Cedar Rapids; and -1.06% in the Quad Cities. This compares to other cities: Des Moines +1.34% and Chicago +0.84%. Of course, there is variation based on price range and location of properties, with more affordable properties appreciating more and expensive properties appreciating less. "House prices were flat for the third quarter but continued to remain above levels from a year ago," said William Doerner, Ph.D., Supervisory Economist in FHFA's Division of Research and Statistics. "The rate of U.S. house price growth has substantially decelerated. This deceleration is widespread with about one-third of all states and metropolitan statistical areas registering annual growth below 10 percent."
| Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) | Percent Change in House Prices | |
| 1 Year | 5 Year | |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | · 0.34% | + 11.71% |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | - 1.06% | + 8.35% |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | + 1.34% | + 13.70% |
| Dubuque, IA | + 0.45% | + 13.06% |
| Iowa City, IA | - 0.66% | + 10.76% |
| USA | + 12.40% | + 60.58% |
Information courtesy of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) for the third quarter of 2022. FHFA stats always run one-quarter behind. Their full report is available at www.fhfa.gov. The National Association of Realtors also shared their 2022 summary and 2023-2024 housing market forecast all predicting a positive home price and dollar volume gain by end of 2024. In 2022 Ruhl&Ruhl markets performed better than many national markets with a +9% home price game and +0.4% dollar volume increase over the national -5%.

For sellers, the market has changed where homes will stay active longer, as affordability may be a concern for some home buyers, but much more in line with days on market (DoM) numbers we have seen in previous years. Median home prices are expected to advance 5.4% nationally, meaning significate equity opportunities can still be had with the sale of your home. Buyers will have more options than they did previously as housing inventory is expected to increase by 22.8% nationally. It's a good idea to be in constant communication with your real estate agent and mortgage lender to stay informed on changing market conditions and trends. Because although it's true that mortgage rates are higher than they were last year, the mindset of, " date the rate and marry the home," can be helpful for buyers to remember as the opportunity to refinance when rates are lower can be a consideration later down the road. It's important to note that housing market predictions and forecasts are helpful resources for homebuyers and sellers, but it's best to contact your real estate agent and loan officer for local, real-time data to have the most accurate outlook on what is going on in your area. Real estate tends to move fast and information that is relevant today can change. Your real estate agent can provide you with a home valuation, real estate review, market reports, and reputable recommendations to help you along.
The residential real estate sales volume in the Quad Cities reached its highest mid-year level ever through June of this year. Combined sales in the Iowa and Illinois Quad Cities were up 3.5% over last year. This increase was reflective of 4.1% fewer actual properties sold, but an 8% increase in average sales price from $169,800 to $183,400.
● Iowa Quad Cities: the highest number of sales in 15 years, since 2004. Compared to the 1st half of 2018, sales volume was up 12%. Listing inventory is up 3% and there are 2.8 months of inventory - a seller's market. The average sales price is $222,600.
● Illinois Quad Cities: 5-year low in the number of sales. Sales volume is below mid-year 2017 and 2018. There were 6% more properties for sale and 4.8 months of inventory - a market balanced between buyers and sellers. The average sales price is $130,100.
With interest rates at their lowest leve...