Riverfront Homes for Sale in Iowa

Listings reported as fronting a river. River levels, banks and floodplain mapping vary along every reach.

4 participating MyStateMLS listings report this water type. A listing can report more than one water type. Search riverfront rentals.

Photo 1 of 60, home at 513 Acre St., Guttenberg, IA 52052
For sale

$899,000

5 beds4,653 sq ft6.68 acres

MississippiRiverWaterfront, relationship not specified

513 Acre St.Guttenberg, IA 52052

Attached home · MLS 11994667

Listing courtesy of Better Way Realty · MyStateMLS

Photo 1 of 30, land at 4900 E Watrous Ave, Des Moines, IA 50320
For sale

$800,168

Des Moines RiverRiverDirect parcel frontage

4900 E Watrous AveDes Moines, IA 50320

Land and lots · MLS 11964251

Listing courtesy of Farm & Rec Real Estate LLC · MyStateMLS

Photo 1 of 60, farm or ranch at 1254 220th Street, Ionia, IA 50645
For saleReduced $855,000

$1,995,000

6 beds5,903 sq ft96 acres

Little Cedar RiverRiver · PondDirect parcel frontage

1254 220th StreetIonia, IA 50645

Farm or estate · MLS 11943360

Listing courtesy of Farm & Rec Real Estate LLC · MyStateMLS

Photo 1 of 44, land at Tbd 170th St, Riceville, IA 50466
For saleReduced $167,160

$890,000

111 acres

Wapsipinicon RiverRiverDirect parcel frontage

Tbd 170th StRiceville, IA 50466

Land and lots · MLS 11630224

Listing courtesy of High Point Land Company, LLC · MyStateMLS

What to check before buying a riverfront home

Riverfront property can mean anything from a quiet stream bank to a navigable river with locks and commercial traffic. River levels rise and fall with rain and upstream releases, banks can erode, and floodplain mapping often covers more of a riverfront lot than buyers expect.

  • How high has the river come at this property, and what does the floodplain map show for the house and the access road?
  • Is the bank stable, and has any erosion control been built or permitted?
  • Who owns the riverbed and the bank, and can the public use the river past the property?
  • If boating matters, what are the depths, locks or low bridges between the property and where you want to go?

More: waterfront due-diligence checklist · what counts as waterfront · ownership budget planner

Water type is what each listing reports, not an independent survey. Listings provided by MyStateMLS. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.