Rent to own Homes in Ames, IA

Sports and Recreation! There are 36 parks and several places to engage in outdoor activities. Outdoor enthusiasts might want to check out the Ames Running Club or the Ames Departments of Parks and Recreation, which oversees over 1,300 acres of park land.

Ames, IA is a great place for affordable rent-to-own homes! With a median household income of over $50,783 and a median rent of $944, the Ames, IA rent-to-own market is more affordable than the traditional housing market which has shown tremendous growth across the U.S. and with it, aggressive competition for home purchases. With the current housing shortage trend it can make it harder to become a homeowner, including in Ames, IA. This means higher than average down payments for homes and higher qualification standards for conventional home loans. With a rent-to-own property, tenants are also buyers. You can live in the house for a set amount of time before you purchase it, meaning that you get to know the house, your neighbors, and your community before making the final purchase. This enables you and your family to make the right choice based on both information and experience. Rent-to-own is also a great alternative way to get into a home if you have bad credit or don't have enough saved for a down payment.

Check out Ames, IA rent to own homes for sale, which may include auction properties, for sale by owner, and more.
Showing 1 - 44 of 440
Hot
108 NE 6TH CT
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Rent To Own
Grimes
Single Family Home
Grimes, IA 50111
3
1
1088 ft2
1989
919 HENRYSON ST
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Rent To Own
 
Townhouse/Condo
Story City, IA 50248
3
2
1569 ft2
2021
527 MONONA ST
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Rent To Own
 
Townhouse/Condo
Boone, IA 50036
9
6
0 ft2
1900
231 NE 62ND ST
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Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Ankeny, IA 50021
4
3
1410 ft2
2021
1 of 27 7395 NW 100TH ST
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Rent To Own
Johnston
Single Family Home
Johnston, IA 50131
7
7
6004 ft2
2020
3255 EASTON BLVD
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Rent To Own
Accent
Single Family Home
Des Moines, IA 50317
2
1
1816 ft2
1870
7845 DRAKE ST
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Rent To Own
Clive
Single Family Home
Clive, IA 50325
4
1
1339 ft2
1966
Hot
2308 CAPITOL AVE
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Rent To Own
Fairground
Single Family Home
Des Moines, IA 50317
2
1
748 ft2
1905
Hot
2335 E WALNUT ST
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Rent To Own
Fairground
Single Family Home
Des Moines, IA 50317
4
2
1378 ft2
1912
Hot
2415 HIGH ST
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Rent To Own
Woodland Heights
Single Family Home
Des Moines, IA 50312
3
1
1144 ft2
1908
7124 Ridge Rd
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Rent To Own
Arbor Peak
Single Family Home
Des Moines, IA 50312
5
2
1600 ft2
2023
Hot
233 E PARK AVE
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Rent To Own
 
Single Family Home
Des Moines, IA 50315
3
1
960 ft2
1957
2714 N 25TH ST
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Rent To Own
 
Townhouse/Condo
Fort Dodge, IA 50501
3
3
1753 ft2
2003
1 of 10 5211 HARVEST RD
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Auction
 
Single Family Home
Ames, IA 50014
4
3
1906 ft2
2016
2023 KELLOGG AVE
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Pre-Foreclosure (Lis Pendens)
Meeker North
Single Family Home
Ames, IA 50010
3
2
1535 ft2
1956
204 COOPER CT
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REO Foreclosure
 
Townhouse/Condo
Ames, IA 50014
2
1
930 ft2
1980
1 of 6 613 MEADOW PL
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Pre-Foreclosure (Lis Pendens)
Mitchel
Townhouse/Condo
Ames, IA 50010
3
2
630 ft2
1970
1 of 22 5128 SCHUBERT ST
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Pre-Foreclosure (Lis Pendens)
College Creek
Single Family Home
Ames, IA 50014
3
2
1626 ft2
1977
3305 CULLEN DR
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Pre-Foreclosure (Lis Pendens)
 
Single Family Home
Ames, IA 50010
4
4
1862 ft2
2013
4105 PHOENIX ST
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Pre-Foreclosure (Lis Pendens)
Ontario
Single Family Home
Ames, IA 50014
3
2
1082 ft2
1972
Hot
1219 MAXWELL AVE
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REO Foreclosure
Wilson-Beardshear
Single Family Home
Ames, IA 50010
1
1
942 ft2
1940
1411 KELLOGG AVE
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REO Foreclosure
 
Single Family Home
Ames, IA 50010
3
3
1508 ft2
1900
New
1 of 10 6300 PRAIRIE RIDGE RD
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Auction
 
Single Family Home
Ames, IA 50014
3
3
1396 ft2
1977
603 GIDDINGS ST
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Auction
 
Single Family Home
Kelley, IA 50134
3
3
1656 ft2
1915
601 GIDDINGS ST
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Pre-Foreclosure (Lis Pendens)
 
Single Family Home
Kelley, IA 50134
3
2
1547 ft2
1900
209 E 4TH ST
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Pre-Foreclosure (Lis Pendens)
 
Single Family Home
Huxley, IA 50124
3
2
1464 ft2
1910
212 W RAILWAY ST
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Auction
 
Single Family Home
Huxley, IA 50124
3
3
1500 ft2
2002
617 1ST AVE N
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Pre-Foreclosure (Lis Pendens)
 
Single Family Home
Slater, IA 50244
3
2
1056 ft2
1984
814 2ND ST
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Pre-Foreclosure (Lis Pendens)
 
Single Family Home
Nevada, IA 50201
2
2
1042 ft2
1920
330 N AVE
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Pre-Foreclosure (Lis Pendens)
 
Single Family Home
Nevada, IA 50201
3
1
976 ft2
1974
1 of 8 721 8TH ST
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REO Foreclosure
 
Single Family Home
Nevada, IA 50201
2
1
1125 ft2
1880
1204 9TH ST
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REO Foreclosure
 
Single Family Home
Nevada, IA 50201
5
2
2465 ft2
1918
1 of 9 106 HUBBELL ST
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Auction
 
Single Family Home
Sheldahl, IA 50243
5
1
1440 ft2
1890
1205 K AVE
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Auction
 
Single Family Home
Nevada, IA 50201
4
2
1625 ft2
1895
1 of 11 709 BROAD ST, UNIT 1
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Auction
 
Townhouse/Condo
Story City, IA 50248
2
2
1054 ft2
819 ELM AVE
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Pre-Foreclosure (Lis Pendens)
 
Single Family Home
Story City, IA 50248
3
2
1252 ft2
1900
52577 110TH ST
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Pre-Foreclosure (Lis Pendens)
 
Single Family Home
Story City, IA 50248
3
3
1489 ft2
1957
1 of 9 109 N COUNTY LINE RD
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Auction
 
Single Family Home
Madrid, IA 50156
3
2
1944 ft2
1965
501 S UNION ST
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Auction
 
Single Family Home
Madrid, IA 50156
3
4
1596 ft2
1999
606 S WATER ST
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Pre-Foreclosure (Lis Pendens)
 
Single Family Home
Madrid, IA 50156
2
1
1100 ft2
1901
Hot
404 CEDAR ST
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REO Foreclosure
 
Single Family Home
Boone, IA 50036
3
2
1523 ft2
1916
1324 GARST AVE
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Pre-Foreclosure (Lis Pendens)
 
Single Family Home
Boone, IA 50036
2
1
888 ft2
1917
1229 MERIDIAN ST
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Pre-Foreclosure (Lis Pendens)
 
Single Family Home
Boone, IA 50036
3
1
1282 ft2
1900
1 of 33 210 LINN ST
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Pre-Foreclosure (Lis Pendens)
 
Single Family Home
Boone, IA 50036
2
2
1272 ft2
1920
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Buying a Home in Ames, IA

Ames, IA is seeing rapid growth and Ames, IA's' housing market remains optimal with an average home price that is -2% below the 2025 national average. Ames, IA is part of Story county and taxes are an important factor to consider when purchasing a home whether through rent to own or a traditional purchase. The average tax rate as of 2025 for county Story is 1.33% which is above the national average, which is 0.99%.

Median Home Price in Ames, IA

Median Rent in Ames, IA

Rent to own homes offer low monthly payments and flexible terms.

Top 14 Reasons to Live in Ames

Lots of Museums! Ames is proud of its history and has museums and attractions dedicated to it. The Ames Historical Society presents exhibits and artifacts related to local and national history. The Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad and Museum offers train rides around the area as well as information about the history of the railroad in Ames.

Local Produce! The Main Street Farmers Market is open every Saturday during the spring and summer months and Black's Heritage Farms offers local events as well as the opportunity to pick local produce.

Music Lovers Unite! The Central Iowa Symphony offers local musicians the opportunity to play with professionals in live concerts and the Ames Town and Gown Chamber Music Association brings internationally acclaimed musicians to play small, intimate chamber music concerts.

Unique Opportunities! Aspiring artists may want to check out Creative Spirits Ames, a local artists' group that guides people who want to paint. Those who appreciate others' art may want to buy unique hand-blown glass pieces from Ciccotti Art Glass.

Museums and More! The Christian Petersen Art Museum, named after an artist in residence who used to teach at the university, features contemporary art works by a variety of artists. If you are more into history, the Farm House Museum pays homage to the farmers who worked the land before the university was built and the early university heads who lived in the farm house.

Dance, Dance, Dance! The Iowa Youth Ballet offers special performances and events for young talented dancers; aspiring dancers of all ages can take workshops and classes as well as attending performances at the Co'Motion Dance Theatre.

Plenty of rentals! 54% of Ames residents rent their homes. The median rental price in Ames is $635. Look to Downtown Ames and Melrose Park for some of these stellar rental options.

Going green! Ames understands the importance of nature and conservation. Reiman Gardens features live butterfly conservatories as well as 14 acres of preserved land outdoors. Tree, shrub and flower lovers can see hundreds of live plants at the Iowa Arboretum.

Low home costs! Homeowners in Ames pay a median price of approximately $119,000 for their homes. Finding homes for sale or rent to own homes in Little Hollywood or off of Main Street means you're right in the center of all the action!

Culture galore! Ames hosts plenty of cultural events throughout the year. The Main Street Cultural District hosts many of these events, including the annual 4th of July Parade and Oktoberfest. Ames also hosts the Maximum Music Festival every fall, which features acts in multiple venues across the state of Iowa; local musicians and musicians from around the nation and world are featured.

Rent or rent to own! Ames residents can save money by living in a rent to own home and putting their rent towards a down payment on the home they live in. Check out the areas of Suncrest or Somerset for great deals on new rent to own houses!

Low Cost Of Living! The cost of living in Ames is 93.8, less than average in America. This means you can hole up in nice neighborhoods in Ames, like Dayton Park and Country Gables.

Neighborhood Regulations Ames keeps neighborhoods quiet and safe with a variety of regulations about noise and parties. East Hickory Park and Gateway Green HIlls are two particularly peaceful 'hoods.