Neighborhood in Waterloo, Iowa
Black Hawk County 50702, 50703
The Lafnow neighborhood is catching more attention as downtown Waterloo continues to expand. With accessibly priced homes minutes from downtown, Evansdale and Cedar Falls, “It’s all about affordable proximity,” says Gerald Sorensen, realtor with RE/MAX Home Group. “There’s affordable housing, and you’re pretty close to everything.”
Dining options within Lafnow include Cedar Valley Fish Market and La Michoacana, a casual Mexican restaurant known for its street tacos. La Michoacana’s owners also own the adjacent Michoacana Meat Market. The butcher shop offers fresh cuts of meat and a variety of South American groceries. Located about a mile east of Lafnow, All in Grocers is the nearest supermarket. The grocery store is also a laundromat, community center and restaurant. There's also a Fareway about 4 miles east. The Northeast Iowa Food Bank is located at Lafnow’s southern end and does ample for the Cedar Valley. Offering a community garden, a mobile food pantry, hunger education resources, and more, the food bank is dedicated to feeding those in need. Their most prominent program is their backpack giveaway, through which they provide over 100,000 backpacks filled with food to kids across 159 schools.
Proximity to downtown means residents also have easy access to annual events. “There’s always a lot of community events and music events downtown, especially in the summer,” Sorensen says. “You’re always going to see activity.” Waterloo’s summer concerts in Lincoln Park, the Iowa Irish Fest and the 4th Street Cruise are just a few of the largest events. “It’s always a lot of fun,” Sorensen says. “I like being outside, listening to music. They always have a beer tent and vendors and food trucks. It’s just a good time.”
Lafnow’s location and accessibility are among the largest draws. “A lot of people like to live where they can walk to do stuff,” Sorensen says. “One of the houses I sold down there, the buyer had a bike, and that’s where she wanted to be so she could bike to get around.” Bus routes 4, 5L and 5W11 provide more ways to get around, but most residents own at least one car. There’s easy access to West 11th Street Bridge and West 18th Street Bridge, which cross over the Cedar River and merge into Leo P. Rooff Expressway. Evansdale is just a 3-mile drive east of Lafnow, and Cedar Falls is about 9 and a half miles west.
Four Square, minimal traditional, 20th-century traditional and contemporary home styles line the residential roads of Lafnow. While some homes feature detached garages, most residents have to utilize street parking. Extra yard space is a premium that not many people have, but that doesn’t stop residents from putting up mini playscapes, barbeque grills and seating areas. Both investors and homebuyers are drawn to the area’s single-family and multi-family homes. There’s a mix of handyman specials and move-in-ready options, ranging in price from $30,000 to $100,000.
Nearly everything south of Mulberry is an industrial building, so semi-trucks frequently pass through this neighborhood. This can cause noise and air quality concerns, along with disrupting the flow of traffic.
Kindergarten through fifth graders attend the C-minus-rated Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellence, which is about 2 miles north of Lafnow. The next step is the C-minus-rated George Washington Carver Academy, which is Iowa’s first STEM middle school that’s located 3 miles northwest. Waterloo East High is just a mile north and has a C-plus.
Lafayette Park is just east of Lafnow and features a playscape, basketball court and shaded picnic tables. It’s a popular spot for kids to visit after school. The park is also large enough to host gatherings, and the paved walking trail is ideal for morning strolls, runs and bike rides.
Emily O'connell
Foundations Realty
(319) 243-1964
109 Total Sales
1 in Lafnow
$33,500 Price
Chris Fischels
Fischels Commercial Group
(319) 349-2079
318 Total Sales
5 in Lafnow
$2K - $525K Price Range
Melissa Youngblut
Fischels Commercial Group
(319) 429-7551
229 Total Sales
4 in Lafnow
$2K - $525K Price Range
Rick Bauer
RE/MAX Concepts - Waterloo
(319) 349-8738
270 Total Sales
3 in Lafnow
$35K - $80K Price Range
Amy Wienands
AWRE, EXP Realty, LLC
(319) 349-2816
1,338 Total Sales
2 in Lafnow
$79K - $80K Price Range
Josh Bey
Oakridge Real Estate
(319) 505-8623
95 Total Sales
1 in Lafnow
$104,500 Price
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this area.
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Lafnow | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 7 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 6 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 6 | 4 |
| Robbery | 6 | 4 |
| Burglary | 6 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 5 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 6 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
On average, homes in Lafnow, Waterloo sell after 20 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Lafnow, Waterloo over the last 12 months is $60,875, down 1% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Interested in learning more about homes in this neighborhood? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this area.
Bike Score®
Walk Score®
Transit Score®
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.