The Investing in Iowa Show

What happens when a lawyer realizes the courtroom is the wrong room for him? Mark Timmins traded litigation for leases, and over the past decade, has built one of the more active commercial brokerage practices in the Des Moines market. In this episode, he joins his brother Neil to talk through the winding path from the University of Iowa to Ave Maria Law School in Naples, Florida, and eventually t...

What happens when a commercial broker spends years inside venture-backed startups and then brings all of it back to property management? Peter Jaques has worn a lot of hats. He got his start in commercial real estate through a cold call to a broker named Doug Seidenberg, found his footing in retail and restaurant leasing, and then spent seven and a half years running a family office with over a mi...

What does it take to become the only CCIM-designated broker in your entire market? Steve Davis joins Neil Timmins to share how a financial advisor-turned-commercial real estate broker built a thriving practice in Dubuque, Iowa. From his early days at 801 Grand in Des Moines to launching Equity Real Estate Group, Steve's path is a study in patience, specialization, and serving clients first. Steve...

What does it take to keep a 70-year-old mall relevant across three generations of family ownership? Liz Holland is the CEO of Merle Hay Mall and the third generation of her family to lead the business that originally bought the land in 1956. In this episode, she walks Neil Timmins through nearly three decades at the helm, starting with the day her 87-year-old grandfather called her in 1997 and tol...

What does it really take to go from corporate finance to building a dominant real estate business? Jim Tansey shares a grounded, experience-driven look at his path from Waterloo, Iowa, to leading Hawkeye Commercial Real Estate and Hawkeye Real Estate Investment Company. Starting as a financial analyst and rising to CFO, Jim built a strong foundation in understanding numbers, inefficiencies, and bu...

Brent Haverkamp shares how a simple college rental purchase sparked a decades-long journey into multifamily real estate. Starting in Ames, Iowa with no experience and borrowed money, he slowly built a portfolio by focusing on cash flow, value opportunities, and creative financing. Within 15 years, he scaled to roughly 1,000 units. But rapid expansion into retail businesses exposed the risks of ove...

Niki Mason shares a career shaped by early responsibility, long-term growth, and a willingness to keep learning. She reflects on moving to Iowa from the Washington, DC area, working her way through school while staying committed to Hy-Vee, and building a 20-plus-year career in real estate and development at Kum & Go. Over time, she moved from lease administration into executive leadership, helping...

What separates land that looks developable from land that actually is? In this episode, Neil sits down with Nathan Drew and Scott Kelly to break down how experienced land professionals think about development ground, timing, and long-term value in Iowa. Nathan and Scott walk through how they evaluate land beyond the surface. Proximity to city limits, paved roads, or nearby rooftops doesn't guarant...

What does it take to keep building when capital is tight, risk is rising, and patience matters more than ever? Dave Wilson joins the show to share his path from Oak Park, Illinois, to a long career in Iowa commercial real estate. He talks through the move to Dubuque during high school, graduating from Upper Iowa University, and how an early role at a bank led him into brokerage, leasing, and event...

What happens when a corporate career disappears overnight and forces a complete reset? Corey Sedrel joins the show to share the unconventional path that took him from corporate finance at Principal Financial Group to building a landscaping company and ultimately becoming a commercial real estate broker. His journey includes layoffs during the 2009 financial crisis, a personal reset, and the decisi...

What does it really take to build custom homes across rural Iowa? Matt Daniels joins the show to share how he's helping expand housing access across the state as Director of Operations for Origin Homes. The division focuses on building custom homes on private land and delivering workforce housing in smaller communities that often struggle to attract new development. Matt explains how Origin Homes...

What really happens behind the scenes when someone calls a real estate investor to sell their house fast? Paul Hickman joins the show to share how his path from college hockey coach to real estate investor ultimately led him to own multiple HomeVestors franchises across Des Moines, Omaha, and Madison. After 17 years coaching at the University of Wisconsin, Paul realized the cost of living was outp...

What happens when you lose everything, then rebuild with nothing but grit and a plan? Melissa Vine grew up in Altoona, graduated from Johnston, and later earned her degree from Iowa State. Her early life took a sharp turn into a restrictive marriage that limited her freedom, and when she left, she found herself starting over overnight with four young boys and $0. Melissa walks through the realitie...

What happens when a former gym owner bets on herself in commercial real estate? Abi Reiland, President of SH Commercial under Remax Precision, shares how her path from Iowa State diver to entrepreneur shapes her approach to brokerage. After years in project management and sales, Abi and her husband built and scaled a multi-location gym business, eventually purchasing their own building during the...

What does it take to keep swinging when the market slows and the stakes keep getting bigger? Timothy Schutte is a real estate broker at Exit Realty in Urbandale, leading an office of about 15 agents. He grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa and graduated from Drake in 2007 with a double major in economics and politics. He got his real estate license in college, entered the business heading into the...

What does it take to build a real estate program that shapes a generation of real estate leaders? Art Cox joins Neil Timmins to reflect on a career that spans residential sales in the 1970s, insurance, academia, and ultimately building one of Iowa's most influential real estate programs at UNI. Art shares how tough economic conditions pushed him into real estate early, why teaching became an unexp...

What does it take to walk away from a stable corporate career and build a life around real estate on your own terms? Matt McCurdy (aka the Cornfed Millionaire) shares his journey from a decade in corporate supplier management to becoming a full-time real estate investor focused on long-term impact and personal alignment. After earning a finance degree from the University of Iowa, Matt spent ten ye...

Chris Bogenrief, president of NAI United, has been in commercial real estate since 2003 and has seen the Siouxland market from nearly every angle. From development projects to property management and brokerage, he shares how his career evolved and what he has learned along the way. Operating in a tri-state border town brings unique dynamics. Sioux City sits at the intersection of Iowa, Nebraska, a...

What does it take to lead a legacy real estate company through decades of market cycles? Chris Costa joins the show to share his journey to becoming President and CEO of Knapp Properties. Based in West Des Moines, Knapp Properties operates as a full-service real estate firm with brokerage, development, ownership, and property management all under one roof, with nearly all activity focused in Centr...

How does small bay industrial quietly outperform other commercial real estate niches? Alec Wilcox joins the show to break down why small bay industrial and flex space have become some of the most resilient assets in the Des Moines market. Alec walks through his early exposure to commercial real estate at Drake University, the lessons he learned at R&R Realty Group, and why he ultimately transition...

What does it take to go from flipping houses to shaping entire Des Moines neighborhoods? Adam Sieren joins the show to share his journey from growing up on the south side of Des Moines to building Premier Construction and expanding into infill development. Adam walks through his early days flipping houses in the 2000s, learning construction on the fly, and how the '08 downturn pushed him to formal...

What if building a home was about a whole lot more than just a floor plan?  In this episode, Kalen Ludwig opens up about her path in real estate: from discovering her passion at UNI to becoming a partner in Groundbreaker Homes and a key voice behind the Middlebrook Agrihood in Cumming, Iowa.  She reflects on lessons learned during the 2008 downturn, how her business evolved toward custom homes, an...

What can a tough first flip, a move back home, and a decade of experience teach you about resilience in real estate? In this episode, Michael Malone joins Neil Timmins to talk through his journey in real estate, from his early career in Chicago to launching his investment business in Des Moines.  Michael reflects on the lessons from his first flip, his transition between residential and commercial...

What do population growth, construction costs, and classrooms have in common? Mike Macri, CBRE Vice President and Iowa State professor, connects the dots between market trends, development strategy, and the next generation of real estate leaders. Mike unpacks what's really driving commercial real estate in Iowa and why education, economics, and execution matter more than ever. Mike discusses the s...

What makes farmland one of the most overlooked, but resilient, asset classes in today's market? Steve Bruere, President of Peoples Company, shares how his deep roots in agriculture and decades of experience in farmland transactions have positioned him at the forefront of one of America's most essential industries. From market anxiety to tech innovation, Steve breaks down what's happening in farmla...