Thinking about buying or selling in Adel but not sure how the numbers stack up right now? You’re not alone. A few key stats can tell you how fast homes are moving, how competitive offers need to be, and whether new construction is shaping prices. This guide shows you what to look for, how to interpret the data, and what it means for your next move in the Adel market. Let’s dive in.
How to read this snapshot
You can get a reliable read on the Adel market by focusing on a small set of metrics and comparing them across time windows. Look at the last 30, 90, and 365 days to see short-term shifts and longer trends. Pair Adel stats with Dallas County-wide figures for context.
When you review the numbers, keep your eye on:
- Median sale price and price-per-square-foot
- Median days on market (DOM)
- Months of supply (inventory)
- Sale-to-list price ratio
- Share of new-construction listings and sales
If sample sizes are small in a given period, treat the results as directional. Adel is a focused market, so one or two unusual sales can move the needle in a short window.
Key metrics that matter
Here’s what each metric means for your timing, pricing, and negotiation power.
Median sale price
- What it shows: The middle sale price for homes that closed in the period.
- Why it matters: It removes the effect of unusually high or low sales and gives you a fair baseline for pricing or budgeting.
- How to use it: Compare the current median to 3, 6, and 12 months ago. A rising median may indicate strengthening demand or more higher-end sales in the mix. A flat or declining median can point to more negotiation room for buyers.
Price-per-square-foot
- What it shows: Sale price divided by finished square feet.
- Why it matters: Helps you compare homes of different sizes more apples-to-apples.
- How to use it: Review price-per-square-foot within your specific segment: single-family vs. townhome, new build vs. resale, and your price band. Use medians for cleaner comparisons.
Days on market (DOM)
- What it shows: How long it took recent listings to go under contract.
- Why it matters: Speed signals competition. Faster DOM usually means buyers must act quickly.
- How to use it:
- Fast market: median DOM under 30 days suggests quick offers.
- Normal turnover: 30 to 60 days.
- Slower pace: over 60 days suggests buyers can take more time and sellers may need sharper pricing or stronger marketing.
Months of supply
- What it shows: Current active listings divided by the average number of homes sold per month.
- Why it matters: Inventory balance drives leverage.
- How to use it:
- Under 3 months: seller’s market with tighter supply.
- 3 to 6 months: more balanced.
- Over 6 months: buyer’s market with more options and negotiation room.
Sale-to-list price ratio
- What it shows: The sale price relative to the final list price.
- Why it matters: Indicates how close offers are landing to ask.
- How to use it:
- At or above 100%: multiple-offer or premium conditions.
- 98% to 100%: balanced.
- Below 98%: buyers often negotiate below asking.
New-construction share
- What it shows: The portion of active listings and closed sales that are flagged as new builds.
- Why it matters: A higher share can expand choices for buyers and shape pricing on nearby resales.
- How to use it: If new construction makes up a significant portion of listings or recent closings, expect builders to offer incentives at times. That can affect how you price or position a resale in the same neighborhood or price band.
Pricing: bands and segments
Adel has a mix of single-family homes, townhomes, and a steady pipeline of new builds. Instead of relying on one overall median, segment the data to match your search or sale:
- Property type: single-family vs. townhome/condo
- Price bands: entry, middle, and upper tiers
- Age: new construction vs. resale
- Size: finished square foot ranges
A segmented approach helps you estimate value and timing more precisely. For example, a townhome in an entry-level price band can have different DOM and sale-to-list dynamics than a larger single-family resale in an upper band.
Market speed and competition
Even within the same city, some segments move faster than others. Review DOM and sale-to-list by price band to understand offer strategy.
- If DOM is short and sale-to-list is near or above 100% in your segment, plan for strong first-week marketing if you’re selling and confident pre-approval if you’re buying.
- If DOM is stretching past 60 days and sale-to-list dips below 98% in your segment, buyers can approach negotiations more patiently, and sellers should watch for price-reduction trends to set expectations.
Inventory: what months of supply tells you
Months of supply sums up inventory balance at a glance. Look at Adel’s active-listings snapshot and divide by the average monthly sales pace over the last 90 days.
- Tight supply favors quicker decisions and sharper list-to-contract execution.
- Balanced supply allows both sides to take a measured approach.
- Higher supply gives buyers leverage and invites more strategic pricing and staging for sellers.
Because Adel’s market can be seasonal, compare months of supply to the same period last year. Spring and early summer often see more new listings, which can change leverage for a few months.
New construction: how it shapes Adel
New construction is a meaningful part of Adel’s housing story. Track three things:
- Share of active listings tagged as new builds
- Share of closed sales that are new construction in the last 12 months
- Building permits over time for single-family homes
When the new-construction share rises, buyers typically enjoy more choices and sometimes builder incentives. Resale sellers in nearby subdivisions should monitor pricing and days on market to stay competitive on features, updates, and presentation. When the share is low, resale homes can hold pricing power in their micro-markets.
Adel vs. Dallas County: use apples-to-apples
To see how Adel stacks up, calculate the same metrics for both Adel and Dallas County over the same window and for the same property mix. Where possible, compare single-family homes to single-family homes and townhomes to townhomes.
- Price: Is Adel’s median above or below the county’s? If it’s lower, buyers may find relative value; if higher, sellers may capture premiums for certain features or locations.
- Speed: Compare DOM to see if Adel is moving faster or slower than the county average.
- Inventory: Months of supply shows where leverage sits in each area.
- New construction: A larger share in Adel can influence nearby resale pricing and time on market.
What this means if you’re buying in Adel
Use the data to set your pace and negotiation plan.
- Get pre-approved early so you can act quickly in segments with low DOM and high sale-to-list ratios.
- If months of supply is higher in your segment, structure offers with inspection and financing timelines that suit your comfort level.
- Consider new construction if you want more choice or specific features. Builder timelines and incentives can change your budget math, but compare price-per-square-foot and total ownership costs to resales before deciding.
Pro tip: Have your agent pull the percentage of recent sales that closed above list price. It offers a clear view of how competitive offers need to be.
What this means if you’re selling in Adel
Lean on the metrics that drive pricing and timing.
- Price to the current median and recent comps in your micro-market, not just the city-wide headline.
- Match your launch strategy to DOM trends. In faster segments, aim for strong first impressions with professional photography, clean staging, and precise pricing.
- Watch months of supply. If inventory is building, consider pricing within your band’s most active range and prepare for earlier adjustments if traffic is slow.
If new construction is active near you, study nearby builder specs, features, and incentives. Resale listings win with move-in readiness, curb appeal, and value-forward pricing relative to new-build options.
How we build a current Adel snapshot for you
Here’s the process you can expect when you request a custom report tailored to your home or search:
- Define the window and property mix
- 30, 90, 180, and 365 days for context.
- Match property type, price band, and square-foot range to your home or target list.
- Pull MLS data for Adel and Dallas County
- Active, pending, and closed counts.
- List price, sale price, DOM, and price-per-square-foot.
- New construction flags and, when relevant, builder notes.
- Calculate the essentials
- Medians for price, DOM, and sale-to-list ratio.
- Months of supply from active listings and recent sales pace.
- New-construction share of active and closed transactions.
- Interpret the results in plain language
- What timing to expect.
- How to price or structure offers.
- Whether to consider incentives, upgrades, or pricing strategies relative to new builds.
- Fine-tune next steps
- For buyers: search setup, touring plan, and offer strategy.
- For sellers: prep plan, photography and staging coordination, and launch timing.
Local factors to keep on your radar
- Commuting influence: Adel is part of the broader Des Moines region, so regional job trends and commute patterns influence demand.
- Seasonality: Spring and early summer often bring more listings and faster movement than winter.
- Neighborhood and schools: District boundaries and program offerings can matter to many buyers. Review district details directly and compare them alongside commute, budget, and home features.
- Development pipeline: Subdivision activity and building permits indicate whether new-construction share is likely to trend up or down in coming months.
Ready for your custom Adel market read?
If you want a current, neighborhood-level snapshot that fits your home or search, let’s put the numbers to work for you. From full-service seller representation and turnkey prep to new-construction consulting and relocation support, you’ll get a clear plan and responsive follow-through. For sellers who value certainty, ask about our convenience-focused Guaranteed Cash Offer option.
Have questions or want your tailored report? Reach out to Adam Bugbee to start the conversation today.
FAQs
What is a good days-on-market number in Adel right now?
- Use median DOM by your property type and price band. Under 30 days suggests faster movement, 30 to 60 days is typical, and over 60 days signals slower pace and more negotiation room.
How do I know if it’s a buyer’s or seller’s market in Adel?
- Check months of supply. Under 3 months leans seller-friendly, 3 to 6 is balanced, and over 6 leans buyer-friendly. Compare this to Dallas County for context.
Should I consider new construction or a resale in Adel?
- Compare price-per-square-foot, features, and timelines. A higher share of new-construction listings can expand choices and sometimes bring builder incentives, while resales can offer established lots and quicker move-in.
How close to asking price are Adel homes selling?
- Look at the sale-to-list price ratio in your segment. Ratios at or above 100% suggest strong competition; ratios below 98% point to more room for negotiation.
How should I price my Adel home?
- Anchor pricing to recent comparable sales in your micro-market, the current median for your segment, and observed DOM. Adjust for updates, lot features, and how your home stacks up against new-build options nearby.
How does Adel compare to the rest of Dallas County?
- Run the same metrics for both areas over the same window and property mix. Compare median price, DOM, months of supply, sale-to-list ratio, and new-construction share to see where Adel is faster, slower, or differently priced.
