In-Depth
Featured Stories
-
Reason to Celebrate (June 2022)
-
A Bright Future (May 2022)
-
Trends to Take Outdoors (May 2022)
-
A Reputation for Service (April 2022)
-
In Good Hands (March 2022)
-
Homeowners Splurge on Kitchen Countertops (March 2022)
-
Bridging the Gap (February 2022)
-
Design Trends 2022 Millennials Flexing Their Muscles (February 2022)
-
Riding The Wave 2022 (January 2022)
-
2022 Houzz Home Design Predictions (January 2022)
-
Quietly Leading The Way (December 2021)
-
Pet Ownership Soars Among Home Buyers (December 2021)
-
The Key to Making Dreams Possible (November 2021)
-
Spa-throom Design Trends (November 2021)
-
Extremely Meaningful (October 2021)
-
Top Six Emerging Trends (October 2021)
-
Up For The Challenge (September 2021)
-
The Family Business (August 2021)
-
A Mission to Accomplish (August 2021)
-
Making History (July 2021)
-
Responding to Change (June 2021)
-
‘Cloffices,’ Sweat Rooms, & DIY Determination (June 2021)
-
Doing Amazing Things (May 2021)
-
Moving Up, and Out (May 2021)
-
A Record Year (April 2021)
-
Outdoor Living at Home (March 2021)
-
A Long Strange Trip (March 2021)
-
Developing a Culture of Engagement (February 2021)
-
Kitchen Renovations Spotlight Storage (February 2021)
-
Unprecedented Times (January 2021)
-
2021 Houzz Home Design Predictions (January 2021)
-
Moving Forward (December 2020)
-
Cautious Optimism Continues (November 2020)
-
Conventions Amid a Pandemic (November 2020)
-
Designed to Grow (October 2020)
-
A Worthy Milestone (October 2020)
-
The Hometown of the Future (September 2020)
-
Rhythm of Color (September 2020)
-
Strength in Numbers (August 2020)
-
From 0 to 60 in No Time (July 2020)
-
Baby Boomers Drive Home Renovations (July 2020)
-
Learning to Dance in the Rain (June 2020)
-
2020 Vision (June 2020)
-
Weathering the Crisis (May 2020)
-
A Legacy of Leadership (April 2020)
-
COVID-19 and the Economy (April 2020)
-
Writing A New Story (March 2020)
-
Top Five Landscape Trends of 2020 (March 2020)
-
DMAAR Gala (February 2020)
-
The Hardest Contractor Jobs In America (February 2020)
-
Predictions for 2020 (January 2020)
-
8 Home Design Trends (January 2020)
-
Leading the Way (December 2019)
-
Showers Reign in Master Bathroom Remodels (December 2019)
-
A Growing Family (November 2019)
-
Giving Back (November 2019)
-
Meet Your Winners (October 2019)
-
The Top 4 Landscape Design Trends of Fall 2019 (October 2019)
-
A Decent Place to Live (September 2019)
-
It’s A Lovely Day in the Neighborhood (September 2019)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2019 Winners (August 2019)
-
Making Housing Unaffordable (August 2019)
-
A Reputation for Good Work (July 2019)
-
Aventura—Living An Active Lifestyle (July 2019)
-
Finding A New Home (June 2019)
-
Building A Bridge (May 2019)
-
It’s What’s on the Outside That Matters (May 2019)
-
Reimagining an Ancient Concept (April 2019)
-
Taking an Active Role (March 2019)
-
The Top Landscape Trends of 2019 (March 2019)
-
Advocacy in Action (February 2019)
-
Red-Carpet Celebration (February 2019)
-
Looking Back, Looking Ahead (January 2019)
-
Single Females Remain a Force in the Market (December 2018)
-
Innovating a Solution (December 2018)
-
A Talented Team (November 2018)
-
A Family Kind of Business (November 2018)
-
Color Trends Reflect Human Touch (October 2018)
-
Hammers & Heels (October 2018)
-
Honoring the Past, Building Toward the Future (September 2018)
-
Houzz Survey Finds Home Renovation Boom Continues (September 2018)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2018 Winners (August 2018)
-
Giving Back (August 2018)
-
Creating a Legacy (July 2018)
-
Time Well Spent (July 2018)
-
A Little Bit of Everything (June 2018)
-
Cooking Habits Impact Kitchen Design (June 2018)
-
All They Could Wish For (May 2018)
-
2018 Landscape Trends From the ASLA (May 2018)
-
A Seamless Transition (April 2018)
-
11th Annual Builder & Developer Luncheon (April 2018)
-
The Future of the Industry (March 2018)
-
Spotlight on the Top Design Trends (March 2018)
-
Top 2018 Kitchen Trends from Houzz (February 2018)
-
DMAAR Sells Out “Late Night” (February 2018)
-
Predictions for 2018 (January 2018)
-
Giving Back (January 2018)
-
In The Spotlight (December 2017)
-
The Inventory Crisis Will Drive the Market (December 2017)
-
Surpassing Expectations (November 2017)
-
Master Bathroom 2017 Trends (November 2017)
-
K&V Homes Celebrates 20 Years (October 2017)
-
The Top 5 Landscape Design Trends of Fall 2017 (October 2017)
-
Spreading the Message (September 2017)
-
Pantone’s Hottest Home Trends (September 2017)
-
11 Apps Every Building Professional Should Have (September 2017)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2017 Winners! (August 2017)
-
A Tiny Home Solution (August 2017)
-
Livin’ the Dream (July 2017)
-
There’s No Place Like Home (July 2017)
-
Meet the New Owners of Kline Electric (June 2017)
-
A Deeper Connection (May 2017)
-
Archadeck of Central Iowa Wins Grand Prize Award (April 2017)
-
Smart, Stylish & Sustainable (April 2017)
-
10th Annual Builder & Developer Luncheon (March 2017)
-
The Pro’s Picks for 2017 IBS New Products (March 2017)
-
Late Night with DMAAR (February 2017)
-
Real Estate Outlook for 2017 (January 2017)
-
Zillow’s Top Design Trend Predictions for 2017 (January 2017)
-
A Beautiful Combination (December 2016)
-
Renovating Homeowners Are Split on Smart Tech (December 2016)
-
Growing a Business (November 2016)
-
Making Today’s Homes More Owner-Friendly (November 2016)
-
The Right Tool for the Job (October 2016)
-
Master Bathrooms Going High Tech (October 2016)
-
Happy 40th Anniversary Shirley Bolton (September 2016)
-
Gray Tones in Your Homes (September 2016)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2016 Winners (August 2016)
-
Red House Remodeling Named To Big50 (July 2016)
-
Land for Sale? (July 2016)
-
The Best Kind of Recognition (June 2016)
-
Second Habitat ReStore Opens (June 2016)
-
Building the Next Generation (May 2016)
-
A Home of Its Own (May 2016)
-
Taking It To The Hill (April 2016)
-
Expert Perspective (March 2016)
-
Forward Thinking Design (March 2016)
-
Late Night With DMAAR® (February 2016)
-
Super Kitchen (February 2016)
-
It’s all in the Cards for 2016 (January 2016)
-
Most Home Builders are Small Businesses (January 2016)
-
Mind Your Manners (December 2015)
-
Doing Good (December 2015)
-
Plot Twist (December 2015)
-
Des Moines: Top of The List (November 2015)
-
Inspire Consumers (November 2015)
-
Building the Future (November 2015)
-
AIM Kitchen & Bath Named to Remodeling’s Big 550 (October 2015)
-
Sharing the Vision (October 2015)
-
An Opportunity for Growth (October 2015)
-
Bridging the Communication Gap (September 2015)
-
Americans Are Ready for the Smart Home (September 2015)
-
Who’s in Control? (September 2015)
-
Here Are Your Winners (August 2015)
-
Unified Codes a Distinct Possibility (August 2015)
-
DMAAR Rolls Out Safety Initiative (August 2015)
-
Leading the Old Fashioned Way (July 2015)
-
Built for Speed & Accuracy (July 2015)
-
Classic Builders Named to Builder Next 100 (June 2015)
-
Latest Residential Landscape Design Trends (June 2015)
-
Nicole McGlothlin LLS Woman of the Year (June 2015)
-
Mom’s the Boss (May 2015)
-
Contemporary Kitchens Surge in Popularity (May 2015)
-
Contemporary Spa Bath Leads Preferences (April 2015)
-
Seeing Green (April 2015)
-
Thriving in Wartime Conditions (March 2015)
-
Seeing the Silver Lining (February 2015)
-
Houzz Survey Finds Kitchens Outlast Most Marriages (February 2015)
-
15 Predictions for ’15 (January 2015)
-
How Healthy is your Home? (January 2015)
-
Where the Action Is (December 2014)
-
Move Over Millennials (December 2014)
-
Building a Future (November 2014)
-
Homeowners Looking to Add More Features (November 2014)
-
October Is National Kitchen & Bath Month (October 2014)
-
Sherwin-Williams Predicts Optimistic 2015 (October 2014)
-
Lotsa Lots? (September 2014)
-
Booming Ideas (September 2014)
-
HomeShowExpo Winners (August 2014)
-
Looking Ahead (July 2014)
-
Home Trends in the Metro (July 2014)
-
Builder Design Centers (June 2014)
-
Millennials are Changing the Marketplace (June 2014)
-
The Big Picture (May 2014)
-
The Value of Remodeling (May 2014)
-
Hot Trends: Kitchens & Baths (April 2014)
-
Big is Back (April 2014)
Do You Know
-
Do You Know: Tim Hicklin (September 2014)
-
Do You Know: Korey Beemer (July 2014)
-
Do You Know: Brenden Hannah (June 2014)
-
Do You Know: Jed Finley (May 2014)
A Conversation With
-
A Conversation With Cindy Pelz (August 2017)
-
Jennifer Schumann (June 2017)
-
A Conversation With Matt Ostanik (May 2017)
-
A Conversation With Linda Westergaard (March 2017)
-
A Conversation with Tawnya Neighbour (February 2017)
-
A Conversation with Victoria Veiock (January 2017)
-
A Conversation with Mark Reetz (December 2016)
-
A Conversation with Darius Jackson (November 2016)
-
A Conversation With Bob Burns (October 2016)
-
A Conversation With Marsha Bannister (September 2016)
-
A Conversation With Gavin Blair (August 2016)
-
A Conversation With Jay Iverson (July 2016)
-
A Conversation With Amy Spike (June 2016)
-
A Conversation with John Dunn (May 2016)
-
A Conversation with Sarah Kavalier (April 2016)
-
A Conversation With Kelly Gibson (March 2016)
-
A Conversation With Shannon Nathe (February 2016)
-
A Conversation with Vicki Davis (January 2016)
-
A Conversation With Jessica Terrill (December 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Ken Clark (November 2015)
-
A Conversation With Lindsay Black (October 2015)
-
A Conversation with John Peterson (September 2015)
-
A Conversation With Marshal Tolly (August 2015)
-
A Conversation With Tina Mowry Hadden (July 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Rick Parrino (June 2015)
-
A Conversation With Jenna Ekstrom (May 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Bill Blue (April 2015)
-
A Conversation With Rachel Delzell (February 2015)
-
A Conversation With Robin Polder (January 2015)
-
A Conversation With Reo Menning (December 2014)
-
A Conversation With: Jessica Reinert (November 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Dan Knoup (October 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Don Beal (September 2014)
-
Zak Fleming (August 2014)
-
A Conversation With: Brian Buresh (July 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Brennan Buckley (May 2014)
In-Depth
-
Bee Inspired (June 2022)
-
The Next Step (May 2022)
-
Just the Beginning (April 2022)
-
Proceed With Caution (March 2022)
-
Cross-Generational Housing (February 2022)
-
How Can We Help? (January 2022)
-
EEOC Update (December 2021)
-
Crunching the Numbers (November 2021)
-
Don’t Be SPOOKED (October 2021)
-
Wearing Multiple Hats (September 2021)
-
No End In Sight (August 2021)
-
Making Marshalltown Home (July 2021)
-
Continuing Education (June 2021)
-
Changing Perspective (May 2021)
-
Hard Hats Aren’t Enough (April 2021)
-
A Driving Force (March 2021)
-
A Winning Team (February 2021)
-
Building a Dream (January 2021)
-
The Joy of Reaching Out and Giving Back (December 2020)
-
Employee or Independent Contractor? (November 2020)
-
Contract Protections for Contractors (October 2020)
-
Seller’s Market (September 2020)
-
More Than a Shelter (August 2020)
-
Being the Change (July 2020)
-
All the Right Pieces (June 2020)
-
Contracts & COVID-19 (May 2020)
-
Impact on Unemployment Benefits (April 2020)
-
A Positive Outlook (March 2020)
-
Planning for Future Growth (February 2020)
-
2020 Color Trends (January 2020)
-
Worth Celebrating (December 2019)
-
Signs of Change (November 2019)
-
Sellers Beware (October 2019)
-
Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back (September 2019)
-
It’s A Win/Win (August 2019)
-
Starting From Scratch (July 2019)
-
Everybody Wins (May 2019)
-
Informed Decisions Begin Here (April 2019)
-
ISU to Offer Grad Degree in Real Estate Development (March 2019)
-
Tough Housing Market Ahead (January 2019)
-
Ring Day (December 2018)
-
Giving Back (November 2018)
-
Not Just Talk (October 2018)
-
Checks & Balances (September 2018)
-
550 Remodeling List Announced (July 2018)
-
Reaching Their Stride (June 2018)
-
The Slow Pace of Change (May 2018)
-
In Heels & Hardhats (April 2018)
-
Home Ownership Gets One Step Closer (February 2018)
-
New Year, New Merger (December 2017)
-
Cyber Liability Risks (November 2017)
-
The Significance of the Skilled Trades (October 2017)
-
Digital Design (September 2017)
-
Code Consortium Aims High (July 2017)
-
Builder Magazine’s Top 100 and Next 100 Named (June 2017)
-
Real Advice, Virtual Source (May 2017)
-
Authentic 3-D Printed Landscapes (April 2017)
-
A Win-Win for First-Time Home Buyers (March 2017)
-
Developers’ Dream: Free Land & Incentives in Osceola (February 2017)
-
Visions of Home (January 2017)
-
A Flicker of Hope (December 2016)
-
A Successful Group Effort (November 2016)
-
Finding A Solution (October 2016)
-
Emotional Factors Drive Purchase Decisions (September 2016)
-
Leaving the Paper Trail (August 2016)
-
For New Homes, Women a Tougher Sell (July 2016)
-
A Last Gift (June 2016)
-
Updates in the Affordable Care Act (April 2016)
-
Dreaming Big (February 2016)
-
New Study Suggests Strong Outlook for Green Homes (January 2016)
-
Majoring in Real Estate (May 2015)
-
Safety by the Numbers (April 2015)
-
Late Night with DMAAR® (March 2015)
-
Getting the Most from Your Exhibiting Experience (January 2015)
-
MJ Properties Is True to Ankeny’s Schools (December 2014)
-
A Deadly Threat in Iowa’s Homes (November 2014)
-
Copyright Infringement and the Internet (September 2014)
-
A Lasting Tribute (August 2014)
-
A Code is Born (July 2014)
-
Environmental Impact Awards (June 2014)
-
When a House Becomes a Home (June 2014)
-
Panelization: Advancing to Meet the Market (May 2014)
-
Leading the Field (April 2014)
Giving Back
-
A Lesson in Giving (January 2016)
-
Greenland Homes Pays it Forward to Children’s Cancer Connection (February 2015)
-
Habitat for Humanity Key Awards (October 2014)
-
A Long Road Home (August 2014)
-
Businesses Pay It Forward for Special Cause (July 2014)
-
A Decent Place to Live (April 2014)
In Remembrance
-
Terry Doling ()
-
Pat Mashek (August 2014)
Observations
-
Why Should You See a Financial Advisor? (June 2022)
-
Look Past These Life Insurance Myths (May 2022)
-
Housing Bubble or Buyer Bubble? (April 2022)
-
How Can You Improve Your Financial Fitness? (April 2022)
-
10 Ways To Market Your Construction Business (April 2022)
-
Should Inflation Affect Your Investment Moves? (March 2022)
-
Ten Tips On Writing Compelling Copy (March 2022)
-
2021 State of the Market for Real Estate (February 2022)
-
Overview of 2021 New Construction/Land Development (February 2022)
-
Financial Tips for the Self-Employed (February 2022)
-
What Negative Reviews Can Do to Ruin Your Business (February 2022)
-
Surviving 2021 Des Moines Real Estate (January 2022)
-
What Are Your Financial Resolutions For 2022? (January 2022)
-
Online Reputation Management Strategies (January 2022)
-
The Effects of an Extreme Seller’s Market (December 2021)
-
Use Year-End Bonus (or Gift) Wisely (December 2021)
-
Your Business Needs an Enemy (December 2021)
-
5 Ways to Build Trust Across the Digital Landscape (November 2021)
-
Ideas for Thanking Your Family (November 2021)
-
Six Year End Predictions for Des Moines Real Estate (November 2021)
-
Three Quarters Down—One To Go! (October 2021)
-
Open Enrollment Choices Can Have Big Financial Impact (October 2021)
-
Get a Jump-Start On 2022 Now (October 2021)
-
Have 2021 Homebuyers and Sellers Missed the Boat? (September 2021)
-
Labor Day: Make Investments Work as Hard as You Do (September 2021)
-
Words Are Still What Sell (September 2021)
-
Lessons From Experienced Investors (August 2021)
-
Social Media Versus Traditional Marketing Strategies (August 2021)
-
What A Difference A Year Makes (July 2021)
-
Work to Achieve Your Financial Independence (July 2021)
-
It’s Not A Real Estate Bubble (June 2021)
-
Governor Signs Mechanic’s Lien Bill (June 2021)
-
Plan Ahead for Generational Generosity (June 2021)
-
Taking Care of Business (May 2021)
-
March “Real Estate” Madness (April 2021)
-
Earth Day—Time to “Go Green” With Your Investments? (April 2021)
-
Construction Websites—What’s The Minimum? (April 2021)
-
Record High Sales and Record Low Inventory (March 2021)
-
Business Owners: Plan for Next Phase of Life (March 2021)
-
Des Moines Real Estate—2020 Annual Market Review (February 2021)
-
Financial Protection Can Be a Great Valentine’s Day Gift (February 2021)
-
Iowa Construction Industry Bills to Watch (February 2021)
-
Seven Tips to Get 2021 Off to a Great Start (February 2021)
-
The DOL Revisits Compensable Travel Time (January 2021)
-
Des Moines 2021 Housing Forecast (January 2021)
-
Investment Lessons from 2020 (January 2021)
-
You Had Me At Hello (January 2021)
-
To Post or Not to Post Progress Photos (December 2020)
-
Time for Some New Year’s Financial Resolutions (December 2020)
-
Where Are Des Moines Record Home Sales Coming From? (December 2020)
-
Fire Up the Crystal Ball (November 2020)
-
What Can Investors Learn from Veterans? (November 2020)
-
How to Keep Your Clients Long Term (November 2020)
-
What Will Real Estate Look Like After COVID-19? (October 2020)
-
Sustainable Investing Can Pay Off—in Several Ways (October 2020)
-
Eliminate the Tire Kickers (October 2020)
-
The Place Is Here, The Time is Now (September 2020)
-
Opportunities When Preparing for College Costs (September 2020)
-
How to Get Your Point Across Today (September 2020)
-
First Half of 2020 Unlike Any Other Year for Real Estate (August 2020)
-
Are Women Better Investors Than Men? (August 2020)
-
Form Follows Function (August 2020)
-
What the Titanic Can Teach You About Business (July 2020)
-
Year of the Relationship (June 2020)
-
2020 Iowa Legislative Session Recap (May 2020)
-
Unprecedented Times For Des Moines Real Estate (April 2020)
-
Use This Time to Build Better Systems (April 2020)
-
Don’t Let Fears Drive Your Investment Choices (April 2020)
-
Off To A Strong Start! (March 2020)
-
Time for Some Financial Spring Cleaning (March 2020)
-
How to Write Blog Content (March 2020)
-
What Can Investors Learn From “Big Game” Teams? (February 2020)
-
Build a Low Maintenance WordPress Website (February 2020)
-
Des Moines Real Estate—2019 Market Review (February 2020)
-
2019 New Construction Market Rallied Its Way Back (January 2020)
-
Change By Stopping the “Stupid Stuff” (January 2020)
-
Financial Tips for Snowbirds… Present and Future (January 2020)
-
Things Are Better Off Now Than This Time A Year Ago (December 2019)
-
Stay On Top Of Your Marketing Plan (December 2019)
-
Three Factors to Consider When Making Charitable Gifts (December 2019)
-
Compete All Four Quarters If You Want To Win (November 2019)
-
Know Your Numbers (November 2019)
-
Fed Lowers Target Rate for Third Time in 2019 (November 2019)
-
Share Your Financial Abundance with Your Family (November 2019)
-
Comparing to Your Neighbors’ Can Lead to Dissatisfaction (October 2019)
-
Make a Good First Impression With Your Website (October 2019)
-
Residential Real Estate: 3 Quarters Down, 1 To Go (October 2019)
-
Not Too Soon for End-of-Year Financial Moves (October 2019)
-
Will Market Outperform to Overcome the Slow Start? (September 2019)
-
Take a Break (You Deserve It) (September 2019)
-
You Can Work to Become a Better Investor (September 2019)
-
Home Sale Strategy—Proper Pricing is Crucial This Summer (August 2019)
-
Find New Business in What is Trending (August 2019)
-
Women: Don’t Forget About Your Retirement Plan (August 2019)
-
New Construction Year-Over-Year Numbers (July 2019)
-
Something Terrible This Way Comes (July 2019)
-
Work Toward Your Own Financial Independence Day (July 2019)
-
Another Way to Get Referrals (June 2019)
-
Don’t Let Your Investments Go on “Vacation” (June 2019)
-
New Construction Market Data (May 2019)
-
Contractors Must Proceed Cautiously (May 2019)
-
First Quarter Real Estate Sales Off To A Slow Start (April 2019)
-
Responding to Negative Social Media Comments (April 2019)
-
Are You One of These Bosses? (April 2019)
-
New Construction Market Data (March 2019)
-
4 Types of Facebook Ads that Will Help You (March 2019)
-
Hiring Checklist (March 2019)
-
How to Handle Employee Complaints (February 2019)
-
Today I’m Going to Talk About Doing it All (February 2019)
-
One Year Ends, Another One Begins in Real Estate (February 2019)
-
Let’s Talk Websites (January 2019)
-
End of the Year Projections (January 2019)
-
Transition from Employee to Effective Owner-Leader (January 2019)
-
2018 Des Moines Real Estate Year End Predictions (December 2018)
-
Your Business End of the Year Legal Checklist (December 2018)
-
Boundaries and Defined Responsibilities (December 2018)
-
Why People Don’t Always Buy the Lowest Price (November 2018)
-
Fall Brings Market Slowdown (November 2018)
-
Why Your Business Needs Proper Succession Planning (November 2018)
-
September Sneak Peek at Des Moines Home Sales (October 2018)
-
Former Employees And Your Right To Disclose (October 2018)
-
5 Steps to Achieve This Year’s Goals…This Year! (October 2018)
-
Closing Out the Summer New Construction Market (September 2018)
-
BYOD: Should Your Business Adopt This Policy? (September 2018)
-
Tips For Building a Great Website That Works (September 2018)
-
July 2018 Des Moines Real Estate Market Update (August 2018)
-
Your Best Advice Might Come from a Marriage Counselor (August 2018)
-
Five Website Mistakes to Fix This Summer (August 2018)
-
Non-Compete Agreements in Iowa (July 2018)
-
Summary Iowa Construction Industry Legislation (July 2018)
-
New Construction Market Segmentations (July 2018)
-
First Five Months is in the Books (June 2018)
-
Take it Down a Notch, Will Ya? (June 2018)
-
Spring Selling Season Picks Up (May 2018)
-
Misclassification Of Iowa Workers (May 2018)
-
A Snowy Start To 2018 Kept Des Moines Buyers Inside (April 2018)
-
How Long Should You Keep Business Records? (April 2018)
-
It’s Time to Grow (April 2018)
-
Construction Inventory on Track for 2018 (March 2018)
-
Staying on Track in the New Year (March 2018)
-
Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace (March 2018)
-
The 2017 Year in Review for Residential Real Estate (February 2018)
-
Common Pitfalls When Running a Family Business (February 2018)
-
Free Marketing Tips You Can Use Now (February 2018)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong as the Year Ends (January 2018)
-
Pay Attention to These Things to Make it To Next Year! (January 2018)
-
Discrimination In The Hiring Process (January 2018)
-
Should An Unpaid Subcontractor Ever Walk Off The Job? (December 2017)
-
Why You Should Consider Facebook Advertisements (December 2017)
-
Des Moines 2017 Real Estate Sales Coming To A Close (December 2017)
-
Third Quarter Results Are Now In (November 2017)
-
Do I Need an Employee Handbook? (November 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Home Inventory On The Rebound (October 2017)
-
Trademarks and Business Protection (October 2017)
-
Unstuck Your Website (October 2017)
-
Rights Amongst Shareholders on Sale of Corporations (September 2017)
-
What is an Individual 401(k) Plan? (September 2017)
-
Does Your Website Pass the Smell Test? (September 2017)
-
Third Quarter Draws to an End (September 2017)
-
Are Home Values Rising in the Des Moines Market? (August 2017)
-
Obtaining and Conducting Business Using A DBA (August 2017)
-
The Underdog vs. The Big Fish (August 2017)
-
Considering an Employment Contract? (July 2017)
-
Old-School Context for a 21st-Century World (July 2017)
-
What are SEP IRAs? (July 2017)
-
Construction Branding (June 2017)
-
HBA of Iowa Legislative Recap 2017 (May 2017)
-
To Sign or Not to Sign (May 2017)
-
What is a SIMPLE? (May 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Market Softens a Bit (April 2017)
-
We Need to Talk (April 2017)
-
Barriers Holding Back Prospective Homebuyers (April 2017)
-
New Construction Market Starts Out Strong in 2017 (March 2017)
-
Radon—An Invisible Issue (March 2017)
-
Nine Great Ways To Turn Coffee Into A Job Interview (March 2017)
-
SEO Is Dead, Stop Chasing! (March 2017)
-
Boomerangs: Should You Rehire A Former Employee? (March 2017)
-
2016—The Residential Real Estate Year of Records (February 2017)
-
Important Terms in Construction Agreements (February 2017)
-
Five Social Media Tips For A Focused Marketing Strategy (February 2017)
-
Want More From Workers? Tell ’em to Take a Break (February 2017)
-
New Year, New Threats—Cyberattack Concerns (January 2017)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong (January 2017)
-
Business Leaders Need to Watch Out for Woodpeckers (January 2017)
-
What’s Your Data Backup Plan? (January 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Market Enters “The Zen Zone” (December 2016)
-
Should Employers Postpone Overtime Overhaul? (December 2016)
-
Are You Still Asking Those Weird Interview Questions? (December 2016)
-
Is Your Password One Of These Phrases? Change It Now (December 2016)
-
Fourth Quarter Market Progresses Nicely (November 2016)
-
Non-Compete Agreements: Enforceable if Reasonable (November 2016)
-
How to Handle Angry Clients or Customers (November 2016)
-
Lazy Employees? 6 Workplace Issues to Blame (November 2016)
-
Why Your Marketing Isn’t Working (November 2016)
-
Milestones in Des Moines Residential Real Estate (October 2016)
-
Legal Essentials for Starting a New Business (October 2016)
-
Maintaining Commitment to Your Business (October 2016)
-
How To Build and Better Client Relationships (October 2016)
-
This Year’s Four Hottest Kitchen Trends (October 2016)
-
New Construction Market Still Strong in 3rd Quarter! (September 2016)
-
Drug Testing in the Workplace (September 2016)
-
The One Trait Truly Exceptional Salespeople Possess (September 2016)
-
Video Quality Matters: 5 Tips for Better Web Video (September 2016)
-
Is Your Board Exercising Its Fiduciary Duty? (August 2016)
-
Des Moines Home Sales—2016 Past, Present & Future (August 2016)
-
Start Being a Leader at Work (August 2016)
-
Social Media Cheat Sheet (August 2016)
-
When LLC Owners Are Personally Liable (July 2016)
-
Market Progresses Nicely in the Second Quarter (July 2016)
-
What Does Your Online Profile Say About You? (July 2016)
-
Regulation: 24.3% of the Average New Home Price (June 2016)
-
Managing Personal Use of Company Vehicles (June 2016)
-
9 Ways to Have Better Vacations (June 2016)
-
What’s Your Website Say About You? (June 2016)
-
Lawsuits in Iowa (May 2016)
-
3 Differences Between an Iowa LLC and a Corporation (April 2016)
-
A Gentleman’s Agreement (April 2016)
-
15 Home Builder Marketing Tips You Should Be Using! (April 2016)
-
How to Avoid Paying 4 Huge Taxes (April 2016)
-
How to Recruit a Great Salesperson (March 2016)
-
The New Construction Market Sees Robust Gains! (March 2016)
-
Tips to Getting Paid As a Subcontractor (February 2016)
-
Morning Habits to Recharge You And Your Business (February 2016)
-
On August 1, OSHA Penalties Are Going Up, Up, Up (February 2016)
-
The 7 Ways Most People Ruin Their Own Success (February 2016)
-
How to Measure Business Maturity (January 2016)
-
More Gains in Commercial Sector Next Year (January 2016)
-
It Will Cost You $5 to Fly Your Drone (January 2016)
-
Real Estate Des Moines Style—A Year To Remember (January 2016)
-
2015 New Construction Market To Finish Strong (January 2016)
-
Contractor Marketing in 2016? Instagram FTW! (December 2015)
-
Don’t Forget About Year-End Investment Planning (December 2015)
-
You’re a Better Boss When You’re a Better Teacher (December 2015)
-
Face-to-Face Selling Is Still Effective (December 2015)
-
Legal and Ethical Duties on a Construction Project (November 2015)
-
Making Team Meetings More Productive for the Workplace (November 2015)
-
10 Traits of Successful Salespeople (November 2015)
-
New Construction Market Still Remains Strong (November 2015)
-
5 Hidden Costs of Running a Business (October 2015)
-
10 Signs of a Really Scary Boss (October 2015)
-
The Big Picture of Des Moines Real Estate (October 2015)
-
7 Bad Habits That Stand in the Way of Your Success (October 2015)
-
Leaders Vs. Managers: What’s the Difference? (September 2015)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong (September 2015)
-
Dealing with Client Conflict (September 2015)
-
Marketing a Construction Business—The Ante (September 2015)
-
Money & Happiness: It’s Complicated (August 2015)
-
Is Criticism More Effective Than Praise? (August 2014)
-
Construction Marketing is About Know, Like, & Trust (August 2015)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong (July 2015)
-
I’m Here To Save Your Company Money (July 2015)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Second Quarter 2015 Recap (July 2015)
-
Non-Competes in the Construction Industry (June 2015)
-
Why Being a Workaholic is Actually a Bad Thing (June 2015)
-
10 Reasons to Update Your Website (June 2015)
-
7 Baby Boomer Housing Trends to Watch (June 2015)
-
Attract Buyers With Social Media (May 2015)
-
Des Moines Real Estate First Quarter 2015 Recap (April 2015)
-
Marketing Your Blog (April 2015)
-
Dos and Don’ts to Keep You Out of Court (April 2015)
-
It Pays to Own a Home (March 2015)
-
What Do Today’s Homebuyers Really Want? (March 2015)
-
2014 New Home Market Recap and Start of 2015 Numbers (March 2015)
-
Roof Colors Gravitating to Gray (February 2015)
-
Why Contractors Need to Create Powerful Testimonials (February 2015)
-
Consider the Real Rate of Return on Your Money (February 2015)
-
The Real Cost of Employee Turnover in Des Moines (February 2015)
-
2014 Des Moines Real Estate Sales—It’s a Wrap (January 2015)
-
Cities Build Too: Getting Paid On Public Improvements (January 2015)
-
How To Think About Marketing Going Into 2015 (December 2014)
-
5 Success Limiting Actions Contractors Should Avoid (December 2014)
-
Should You Hire for Skills or for Personality? (December 2014)
-
Trade Secret and Patents (December 2014)
-
Consider These 10 Basic Tax To-Dos for the Rest of 2014 (November 2014)
-
11 Things Your Employees Want You to Tell Them Every Day (November 2014)
-
Content Marketing Versus Traditional Advertising (November 2014)
-
Handshakes are Nice… But Contracts Are Legal (November 2014)
-
Is it Time for Electronic Filings of Legal Documents? (October 2014)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Recovery Confirmed (October 2014)
-
Iowa Insurers Wrongfully Deny Coverage for Defective Construction (September 2014)
-
Networking Mistakes to Avoid (August 2014)
-
Review Your Life Insurance Needs (August 2014)
-
Drones: Will They Fly in Iowa? (August 2014)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Supply & Demand (July 2014)
-
Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate (July 2014)
-
Transferring Your Business to Your Children (June 2014)
-
Like-Kind Exchanges (June 2014)
-
Four Ways to Establish a Leadership Style (June 2014)
-
Subcontractors Can’t Be Sued—For Now (May 2014)
-
HBAI Recap: 2014 Iowa Legislative Session (May 2014)
-
Revised Mechanic Lien Law (April 2014)
-
100 Graduates Ready To Work For You (April 2014)
-
Don’t Neglect Your Own Retirement Plan (April 2014)
-
How to Gain Respect in the Workplace as a Manager (April 2014)
New coloring book highlights careers in architecture.
Numerous programs and theories have arisen over the past few years in an attempt to address the growing need for young people in the skilled trades. The majority of those efforts target high school students (through programs like that at Des Moines’ Central Campus and the Build My Future events across the state) and young adults looking for an alternative to the traditional four-year degree (through apprenticeships and on-the-job training programs offered by many employers).
The Iowa Chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA Iowa) is targeting an even younger audience—elementary students—with a new coloring book the group recently introduced. “We want to inspire the next generation by fostering, educating, and helping to spark interest in a career in architecture for young readers,” says AIA Iowa’s Executive Director Jessica Reinert.
She says the original concept for the project began last summer. The first copies of the book were released in April. “We realized there was a need for more outreach to young readers, highlighting the great things architects do for our community. I’ve always loved the books my boys received in elementary school that taught them about what a firefighter or a police officer does, and I thought, ‘We can do that for architects!’”
The book, Bee an Architect Activity & Coloring Book, highlights the important skills and interests an architect needs, following Bee through different activities. “There are a variety of fun interactive puzzles, activities, and illustrations designed for preschool, kindergarten, and elementary children,” Reinert explains. “It’s important for children to know what an architect does and how architecture affects all of us in our daily lives, from our house to our school and to the local grocery store or hospital in our community.”
The book is available through libraries and classrooms across the state. Reinert says the Iowa Chapter has made it a priority to reach underserved neighborhoods throughout the state, including rural and urban areas. To help with accessibility, the book is available in both print and digital formats through aiaiowa.org/page/FutureArchitects, the group’s website.
The group began distributing promotional materials, including bookmarks and posters, in advance of the print release, which clearly served its purpose. “All 7,500 printed copies of the book and 5,000 bookmarks are already earmarked for distribution to public libraries across Iowa, to elementary school educators, sponsoring architectural firms, the Boys and Girls Club, and a number of other kid-friendly community events over the summer,” says Reinert.
As with any Association project, Reinert says the Bee an Architect book was a group effort from initial concept to finished product. “The character itself was designed by Azusa Allard, AIA, an architect at FEH Associates. The ideas for activities within the book came from Gladys Petersen, Associate AIA, who’s an intern architect from Hy-Vee Corporation. And Emily Lyon, AIA Iowa Communications and Outreach Coordinator, handled the printing and promotion of the piece.”
Reinert herself formulated and wrote the story for the book. “It’s so important for children to be exposed to resources like this. It helps them visualize themselves as an architect one day, just the way my boys used to do with books about police officers and firemen,” she says.
Activities in the book include word searches, mazes, and shape identification and offer glimpses into the tools used and tasks performed by an architect throughout the day.
The first of its kind in the country, Bee an Architect has already spurred interest from other AIA chapters that have inquired about the project. Reinert says the Iowa chapter plans to release more books in the future, possibly creating new characters to highlight different aspects of the architecture world. “We hope this will inspire other AIA chapters across the country to build upon the impact this book is having and to meet the needs of the young readers in their respective states,” she says.
Whether it’s designing the structures, constructing them, or playing a part somewhere along the way, the future of the architecture, engineering, and construction industries depends on young people who are inspired to pursue careers in these fields.
Maybe any child in the United States can grow up to be President. But a lot more are needed in other roles. Those are dreams worth inspiring, too.
In-Depth
Featured Stories
-
Reason to Celebrate (June 2022)
-
A Bright Future (May 2022)
-
Trends to Take Outdoors (May 2022)
-
A Reputation for Service (April 2022)
-
In Good Hands (March 2022)
-
Homeowners Splurge on Kitchen Countertops (March 2022)
-
Bridging the Gap (February 2022)
-
Design Trends 2022 Millennials Flexing Their Muscles (February 2022)
-
Riding The Wave 2022 (January 2022)
-
2022 Houzz Home Design Predictions (January 2022)
-
Quietly Leading The Way (December 2021)
-
Pet Ownership Soars Among Home Buyers (December 2021)
-
The Key to Making Dreams Possible (November 2021)
-
Spa-throom Design Trends (November 2021)
-
Extremely Meaningful (October 2021)
-
Top Six Emerging Trends (October 2021)
-
Up For The Challenge (September 2021)
-
The Family Business (August 2021)
-
A Mission to Accomplish (August 2021)
-
Making History (July 2021)
-
Responding to Change (June 2021)
-
‘Cloffices,’ Sweat Rooms, & DIY Determination (June 2021)
-
Doing Amazing Things (May 2021)
-
Moving Up, and Out (May 2021)
-
A Record Year (April 2021)
-
Outdoor Living at Home (March 2021)
-
A Long Strange Trip (March 2021)
-
Developing a Culture of Engagement (February 2021)
-
Kitchen Renovations Spotlight Storage (February 2021)
-
Unprecedented Times (January 2021)
-
2021 Houzz Home Design Predictions (January 2021)
-
Moving Forward (December 2020)
-
Cautious Optimism Continues (November 2020)
-
Conventions Amid a Pandemic (November 2020)
-
Designed to Grow (October 2020)
-
A Worthy Milestone (October 2020)
-
The Hometown of the Future (September 2020)
-
Rhythm of Color (September 2020)
-
Strength in Numbers (August 2020)
-
From 0 to 60 in No Time (July 2020)
-
Baby Boomers Drive Home Renovations (July 2020)
-
Learning to Dance in the Rain (June 2020)
-
2020 Vision (June 2020)
-
Weathering the Crisis (May 2020)
-
A Legacy of Leadership (April 2020)
-
COVID-19 and the Economy (April 2020)
-
Writing A New Story (March 2020)
-
Top Five Landscape Trends of 2020 (March 2020)
-
DMAAR Gala (February 2020)
-
The Hardest Contractor Jobs In America (February 2020)
-
Predictions for 2020 (January 2020)
-
8 Home Design Trends (January 2020)
-
Leading the Way (December 2019)
-
Showers Reign in Master Bathroom Remodels (December 2019)
-
A Growing Family (November 2019)
-
Giving Back (November 2019)
-
Meet Your Winners (October 2019)
-
The Top 4 Landscape Design Trends of Fall 2019 (October 2019)
-
A Decent Place to Live (September 2019)
-
It’s A Lovely Day in the Neighborhood (September 2019)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2019 Winners (August 2019)
-
Making Housing Unaffordable (August 2019)
-
A Reputation for Good Work (July 2019)
-
Aventura—Living An Active Lifestyle (July 2019)
-
Finding A New Home (June 2019)
-
Building A Bridge (May 2019)
-
It’s What’s on the Outside That Matters (May 2019)
-
Reimagining an Ancient Concept (April 2019)
-
Taking an Active Role (March 2019)
-
The Top Landscape Trends of 2019 (March 2019)
-
Advocacy in Action (February 2019)
-
Red-Carpet Celebration (February 2019)
-
Looking Back, Looking Ahead (January 2019)
-
Single Females Remain a Force in the Market (December 2018)
-
Innovating a Solution (December 2018)
-
A Talented Team (November 2018)
-
A Family Kind of Business (November 2018)
-
Color Trends Reflect Human Touch (October 2018)
-
Hammers & Heels (October 2018)
-
Honoring the Past, Building Toward the Future (September 2018)
-
Houzz Survey Finds Home Renovation Boom Continues (September 2018)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2018 Winners (August 2018)
-
Giving Back (August 2018)
-
Creating a Legacy (July 2018)
-
Time Well Spent (July 2018)
-
A Little Bit of Everything (June 2018)
-
Cooking Habits Impact Kitchen Design (June 2018)
-
All They Could Wish For (May 2018)
-
2018 Landscape Trends From the ASLA (May 2018)
-
A Seamless Transition (April 2018)
-
11th Annual Builder & Developer Luncheon (April 2018)
-
The Future of the Industry (March 2018)
-
Spotlight on the Top Design Trends (March 2018)
-
Top 2018 Kitchen Trends from Houzz (February 2018)
-
DMAAR Sells Out “Late Night” (February 2018)
-
Predictions for 2018 (January 2018)
-
Giving Back (January 2018)
-
In The Spotlight (December 2017)
-
The Inventory Crisis Will Drive the Market (December 2017)
-
Surpassing Expectations (November 2017)
-
Master Bathroom 2017 Trends (November 2017)
-
K&V Homes Celebrates 20 Years (October 2017)
-
The Top 5 Landscape Design Trends of Fall 2017 (October 2017)
-
Spreading the Message (September 2017)
-
Pantone’s Hottest Home Trends (September 2017)
-
11 Apps Every Building Professional Should Have (September 2017)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2017 Winners! (August 2017)
-
A Tiny Home Solution (August 2017)
-
Livin’ the Dream (July 2017)
-
There’s No Place Like Home (July 2017)
-
Meet the New Owners of Kline Electric (June 2017)
-
A Deeper Connection (May 2017)
-
Archadeck of Central Iowa Wins Grand Prize Award (April 2017)
-
Smart, Stylish & Sustainable (April 2017)
-
10th Annual Builder & Developer Luncheon (March 2017)
-
The Pro’s Picks for 2017 IBS New Products (March 2017)
-
Late Night with DMAAR (February 2017)
-
Real Estate Outlook for 2017 (January 2017)
-
Zillow’s Top Design Trend Predictions for 2017 (January 2017)
-
A Beautiful Combination (December 2016)
-
Renovating Homeowners Are Split on Smart Tech (December 2016)
-
Growing a Business (November 2016)
-
Making Today’s Homes More Owner-Friendly (November 2016)
-
The Right Tool for the Job (October 2016)
-
Master Bathrooms Going High Tech (October 2016)
-
Happy 40th Anniversary Shirley Bolton (September 2016)
-
Gray Tones in Your Homes (September 2016)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2016 Winners (August 2016)
-
Red House Remodeling Named To Big50 (July 2016)
-
Land for Sale? (July 2016)
-
The Best Kind of Recognition (June 2016)
-
Second Habitat ReStore Opens (June 2016)
-
Building the Next Generation (May 2016)
-
A Home of Its Own (May 2016)
-
Taking It To The Hill (April 2016)
-
Expert Perspective (March 2016)
-
Forward Thinking Design (March 2016)
-
Late Night With DMAAR® (February 2016)
-
Super Kitchen (February 2016)
-
It’s all in the Cards for 2016 (January 2016)
-
Most Home Builders are Small Businesses (January 2016)
-
Mind Your Manners (December 2015)
-
Doing Good (December 2015)
-
Plot Twist (December 2015)
-
Des Moines: Top of The List (November 2015)
-
Inspire Consumers (November 2015)
-
Building the Future (November 2015)
-
AIM Kitchen & Bath Named to Remodeling’s Big 550 (October 2015)
-
Sharing the Vision (October 2015)
-
An Opportunity for Growth (October 2015)
-
Bridging the Communication Gap (September 2015)
-
Americans Are Ready for the Smart Home (September 2015)
-
Who’s in Control? (September 2015)
-
Here Are Your Winners (August 2015)
-
Unified Codes a Distinct Possibility (August 2015)
-
DMAAR Rolls Out Safety Initiative (August 2015)
-
Leading the Old Fashioned Way (July 2015)
-
Built for Speed & Accuracy (July 2015)
-
Classic Builders Named to Builder Next 100 (June 2015)
-
Latest Residential Landscape Design Trends (June 2015)
-
Nicole McGlothlin LLS Woman of the Year (June 2015)
-
Mom’s the Boss (May 2015)
-
Contemporary Kitchens Surge in Popularity (May 2015)
-
Contemporary Spa Bath Leads Preferences (April 2015)
-
Seeing Green (April 2015)
-
Thriving in Wartime Conditions (March 2015)
-
Seeing the Silver Lining (February 2015)
-
Houzz Survey Finds Kitchens Outlast Most Marriages (February 2015)
-
15 Predictions for ’15 (January 2015)
-
How Healthy is your Home? (January 2015)
-
Where the Action Is (December 2014)
-
Move Over Millennials (December 2014)
-
Building a Future (November 2014)
-
Homeowners Looking to Add More Features (November 2014)
-
October Is National Kitchen & Bath Month (October 2014)
-
Sherwin-Williams Predicts Optimistic 2015 (October 2014)
-
Lotsa Lots? (September 2014)
-
Booming Ideas (September 2014)
-
HomeShowExpo Winners (August 2014)
-
Looking Ahead (July 2014)
-
Home Trends in the Metro (July 2014)
-
Builder Design Centers (June 2014)
-
Millennials are Changing the Marketplace (June 2014)
-
The Big Picture (May 2014)
-
The Value of Remodeling (May 2014)
-
Hot Trends: Kitchens & Baths (April 2014)
-
Big is Back (April 2014)
Do You Know
-
Do You Know: Tim Hicklin (September 2014)
-
Do You Know: Korey Beemer (July 2014)
-
Do You Know: Brenden Hannah (June 2014)
-
Do You Know: Jed Finley (May 2014)
A Conversation With
-
A Conversation With Cindy Pelz (August 2017)
-
Jennifer Schumann (June 2017)
-
A Conversation With Matt Ostanik (May 2017)
-
A Conversation With Linda Westergaard (March 2017)
-
A Conversation with Tawnya Neighbour (February 2017)
-
A Conversation with Victoria Veiock (January 2017)
-
A Conversation with Mark Reetz (December 2016)
-
A Conversation with Darius Jackson (November 2016)
-
A Conversation With Bob Burns (October 2016)
-
A Conversation With Marsha Bannister (September 2016)
-
A Conversation With Gavin Blair (August 2016)
-
A Conversation With Jay Iverson (July 2016)
-
A Conversation With Amy Spike (June 2016)
-
A Conversation with John Dunn (May 2016)
-
A Conversation with Sarah Kavalier (April 2016)
-
A Conversation With Kelly Gibson (March 2016)
-
A Conversation With Shannon Nathe (February 2016)
-
A Conversation with Vicki Davis (January 2016)
-
A Conversation With Jessica Terrill (December 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Ken Clark (November 2015)
-
A Conversation With Lindsay Black (October 2015)
-
A Conversation with John Peterson (September 2015)
-
A Conversation With Marshal Tolly (August 2015)
-
A Conversation With Tina Mowry Hadden (July 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Rick Parrino (June 2015)
-
A Conversation With Jenna Ekstrom (May 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Bill Blue (April 2015)
-
A Conversation With Rachel Delzell (February 2015)
-
A Conversation With Robin Polder (January 2015)
-
A Conversation With Reo Menning (December 2014)
-
A Conversation With: Jessica Reinert (November 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Dan Knoup (October 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Don Beal (September 2014)
-
Zak Fleming (August 2014)
-
A Conversation With: Brian Buresh (July 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Brennan Buckley (May 2014)
In-Depth
-
Bee Inspired (June 2022)
-
The Next Step (May 2022)
-
Just the Beginning (April 2022)
-
Proceed With Caution (March 2022)
-
Cross-Generational Housing (February 2022)
-
How Can We Help? (January 2022)
-
EEOC Update (December 2021)
-
Crunching the Numbers (November 2021)
-
Don’t Be SPOOKED (October 2021)
-
Wearing Multiple Hats (September 2021)
-
No End In Sight (August 2021)
-
Making Marshalltown Home (July 2021)
-
Continuing Education (June 2021)
-
Changing Perspective (May 2021)
-
Hard Hats Aren’t Enough (April 2021)
-
A Driving Force (March 2021)
-
A Winning Team (February 2021)
-
Building a Dream (January 2021)
-
The Joy of Reaching Out and Giving Back (December 2020)
-
Employee or Independent Contractor? (November 2020)
-
Contract Protections for Contractors (October 2020)
-
Seller’s Market (September 2020)
-
More Than a Shelter (August 2020)
-
Being the Change (July 2020)
-
All the Right Pieces (June 2020)
-
Contracts & COVID-19 (May 2020)
-
Impact on Unemployment Benefits (April 2020)
-
A Positive Outlook (March 2020)
-
Planning for Future Growth (February 2020)
-
2020 Color Trends (January 2020)
-
Worth Celebrating (December 2019)
-
Signs of Change (November 2019)
-
Sellers Beware (October 2019)
-
Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back (September 2019)
-
It’s A Win/Win (August 2019)
-
Starting From Scratch (July 2019)
-
Everybody Wins (May 2019)
-
Informed Decisions Begin Here (April 2019)
-
ISU to Offer Grad Degree in Real Estate Development (March 2019)
-
Tough Housing Market Ahead (January 2019)
-
Ring Day (December 2018)
-
Giving Back (November 2018)
-
Not Just Talk (October 2018)
-
Checks & Balances (September 2018)
-
550 Remodeling List Announced (July 2018)
-
Reaching Their Stride (June 2018)
-
The Slow Pace of Change (May 2018)
-
In Heels & Hardhats (April 2018)
-
Home Ownership Gets One Step Closer (February 2018)
-
New Year, New Merger (December 2017)
-
Cyber Liability Risks (November 2017)
-
The Significance of the Skilled Trades (October 2017)
-
Digital Design (September 2017)
-
Code Consortium Aims High (July 2017)
-
Builder Magazine’s Top 100 and Next 100 Named (June 2017)
-
Real Advice, Virtual Source (May 2017)
-
Authentic 3-D Printed Landscapes (April 2017)
-
A Win-Win for First-Time Home Buyers (March 2017)
-
Developers’ Dream: Free Land & Incentives in Osceola (February 2017)
-
Visions of Home (January 2017)
-
A Flicker of Hope (December 2016)
-
A Successful Group Effort (November 2016)
-
Finding A Solution (October 2016)
-
Emotional Factors Drive Purchase Decisions (September 2016)
-
Leaving the Paper Trail (August 2016)
-
For New Homes, Women a Tougher Sell (July 2016)
-
A Last Gift (June 2016)
-
Updates in the Affordable Care Act (April 2016)
-
Dreaming Big (February 2016)
-
New Study Suggests Strong Outlook for Green Homes (January 2016)
-
Majoring in Real Estate (May 2015)
-
Safety by the Numbers (April 2015)
-
Late Night with DMAAR® (March 2015)
-
Getting the Most from Your Exhibiting Experience (January 2015)
-
MJ Properties Is True to Ankeny’s Schools (December 2014)
-
A Deadly Threat in Iowa’s Homes (November 2014)
-
Copyright Infringement and the Internet (September 2014)
-
A Lasting Tribute (August 2014)
-
A Code is Born (July 2014)
-
Environmental Impact Awards (June 2014)
-
When a House Becomes a Home (June 2014)
-
Panelization: Advancing to Meet the Market (May 2014)
-
Leading the Field (April 2014)
Giving Back
-
A Lesson in Giving (January 2016)
-
Greenland Homes Pays it Forward to Children’s Cancer Connection (February 2015)
-
Habitat for Humanity Key Awards (October 2014)
-
A Long Road Home (August 2014)
-
Businesses Pay It Forward for Special Cause (July 2014)
-
A Decent Place to Live (April 2014)
In Remembrance
-
Terry Doling ()
-
Pat Mashek (August 2014)
Observations
-
Why Should You See a Financial Advisor? (June 2022)
-
Look Past These Life Insurance Myths (May 2022)
-
Housing Bubble or Buyer Bubble? (April 2022)
-
How Can You Improve Your Financial Fitness? (April 2022)
-
10 Ways To Market Your Construction Business (April 2022)
-
Should Inflation Affect Your Investment Moves? (March 2022)
-
Ten Tips On Writing Compelling Copy (March 2022)
-
2021 State of the Market for Real Estate (February 2022)
-
Overview of 2021 New Construction/Land Development (February 2022)
-
Financial Tips for the Self-Employed (February 2022)
-
What Negative Reviews Can Do to Ruin Your Business (February 2022)
-
Surviving 2021 Des Moines Real Estate (January 2022)
-
What Are Your Financial Resolutions For 2022? (January 2022)
-
Online Reputation Management Strategies (January 2022)
-
The Effects of an Extreme Seller’s Market (December 2021)
-
Use Year-End Bonus (or Gift) Wisely (December 2021)
-
Your Business Needs an Enemy (December 2021)
-
5 Ways to Build Trust Across the Digital Landscape (November 2021)
-
Ideas for Thanking Your Family (November 2021)
-
Six Year End Predictions for Des Moines Real Estate (November 2021)
-
Three Quarters Down—One To Go! (October 2021)
-
Open Enrollment Choices Can Have Big Financial Impact (October 2021)
-
Get a Jump-Start On 2022 Now (October 2021)
-
Have 2021 Homebuyers and Sellers Missed the Boat? (September 2021)
-
Labor Day: Make Investments Work as Hard as You Do (September 2021)
-
Words Are Still What Sell (September 2021)
-
Lessons From Experienced Investors (August 2021)
-
Social Media Versus Traditional Marketing Strategies (August 2021)
-
What A Difference A Year Makes (July 2021)
-
Work to Achieve Your Financial Independence (July 2021)
-
It’s Not A Real Estate Bubble (June 2021)
-
Governor Signs Mechanic’s Lien Bill (June 2021)
-
Plan Ahead for Generational Generosity (June 2021)
-
Taking Care of Business (May 2021)
-
March “Real Estate” Madness (April 2021)
-
Earth Day—Time to “Go Green” With Your Investments? (April 2021)
-
Construction Websites—What’s The Minimum? (April 2021)
-
Record High Sales and Record Low Inventory (March 2021)
-
Business Owners: Plan for Next Phase of Life (March 2021)
-
Des Moines Real Estate—2020 Annual Market Review (February 2021)
-
Financial Protection Can Be a Great Valentine’s Day Gift (February 2021)
-
Iowa Construction Industry Bills to Watch (February 2021)
-
Seven Tips to Get 2021 Off to a Great Start (February 2021)
-
The DOL Revisits Compensable Travel Time (January 2021)
-
Des Moines 2021 Housing Forecast (January 2021)
-
Investment Lessons from 2020 (January 2021)
-
You Had Me At Hello (January 2021)
-
To Post or Not to Post Progress Photos (December 2020)
-
Time for Some New Year’s Financial Resolutions (December 2020)
-
Where Are Des Moines Record Home Sales Coming From? (December 2020)
-
Fire Up the Crystal Ball (November 2020)
-
What Can Investors Learn from Veterans? (November 2020)
-
How to Keep Your Clients Long Term (November 2020)
-
What Will Real Estate Look Like After COVID-19? (October 2020)
-
Sustainable Investing Can Pay Off—in Several Ways (October 2020)
-
Eliminate the Tire Kickers (October 2020)
-
The Place Is Here, The Time is Now (September 2020)
-
Opportunities When Preparing for College Costs (September 2020)
-
How to Get Your Point Across Today (September 2020)
-
First Half of 2020 Unlike Any Other Year for Real Estate (August 2020)
-
Are Women Better Investors Than Men? (August 2020)
-
Form Follows Function (August 2020)
-
What the Titanic Can Teach You About Business (July 2020)
-
Year of the Relationship (June 2020)
-
2020 Iowa Legislative Session Recap (May 2020)
-
Unprecedented Times For Des Moines Real Estate (April 2020)
-
Use This Time to Build Better Systems (April 2020)
-
Don’t Let Fears Drive Your Investment Choices (April 2020)
-
Off To A Strong Start! (March 2020)
-
Time for Some Financial Spring Cleaning (March 2020)
-
How to Write Blog Content (March 2020)
-
What Can Investors Learn From “Big Game” Teams? (February 2020)
-
Build a Low Maintenance WordPress Website (February 2020)
-
Des Moines Real Estate—2019 Market Review (February 2020)
-
2019 New Construction Market Rallied Its Way Back (January 2020)
-
Change By Stopping the “Stupid Stuff” (January 2020)
-
Financial Tips for Snowbirds… Present and Future (January 2020)
-
Things Are Better Off Now Than This Time A Year Ago (December 2019)
-
Stay On Top Of Your Marketing Plan (December 2019)
-
Three Factors to Consider When Making Charitable Gifts (December 2019)
-
Compete All Four Quarters If You Want To Win (November 2019)
-
Know Your Numbers (November 2019)
-
Fed Lowers Target Rate for Third Time in 2019 (November 2019)
-
Share Your Financial Abundance with Your Family (November 2019)
-
Comparing to Your Neighbors’ Can Lead to Dissatisfaction (October 2019)
-
Make a Good First Impression With Your Website (October 2019)
-
Residential Real Estate: 3 Quarters Down, 1 To Go (October 2019)
-
Not Too Soon for End-of-Year Financial Moves (October 2019)
-
Will Market Outperform to Overcome the Slow Start? (September 2019)
-
Take a Break (You Deserve It) (September 2019)
-
You Can Work to Become a Better Investor (September 2019)
-
Home Sale Strategy—Proper Pricing is Crucial This Summer (August 2019)
-
Find New Business in What is Trending (August 2019)
-
Women: Don’t Forget About Your Retirement Plan (August 2019)
-
New Construction Year-Over-Year Numbers (July 2019)
-
Something Terrible This Way Comes (July 2019)
-
Work Toward Your Own Financial Independence Day (July 2019)
-
Another Way to Get Referrals (June 2019)
-
Don’t Let Your Investments Go on “Vacation” (June 2019)
-
New Construction Market Data (May 2019)
-
Contractors Must Proceed Cautiously (May 2019)
-
First Quarter Real Estate Sales Off To A Slow Start (April 2019)
-
Responding to Negative Social Media Comments (April 2019)
-
Are You One of These Bosses? (April 2019)
-
New Construction Market Data (March 2019)
-
4 Types of Facebook Ads that Will Help You (March 2019)
-
Hiring Checklist (March 2019)
-
How to Handle Employee Complaints (February 2019)
-
Today I’m Going to Talk About Doing it All (February 2019)
-
One Year Ends, Another One Begins in Real Estate (February 2019)
-
Let’s Talk Websites (January 2019)
-
End of the Year Projections (January 2019)
-
Transition from Employee to Effective Owner-Leader (January 2019)
-
2018 Des Moines Real Estate Year End Predictions (December 2018)
-
Your Business End of the Year Legal Checklist (December 2018)
-
Boundaries and Defined Responsibilities (December 2018)
-
Why People Don’t Always Buy the Lowest Price (November 2018)
-
Fall Brings Market Slowdown (November 2018)
-
Why Your Business Needs Proper Succession Planning (November 2018)
-
September Sneak Peek at Des Moines Home Sales (October 2018)
-
Former Employees And Your Right To Disclose (October 2018)
-
5 Steps to Achieve This Year’s Goals…This Year! (October 2018)
-
Closing Out the Summer New Construction Market (September 2018)
-
BYOD: Should Your Business Adopt This Policy? (September 2018)
-
Tips For Building a Great Website That Works (September 2018)
-
July 2018 Des Moines Real Estate Market Update (August 2018)
-
Your Best Advice Might Come from a Marriage Counselor (August 2018)
-
Five Website Mistakes to Fix This Summer (August 2018)
-
Non-Compete Agreements in Iowa (July 2018)
-
Summary Iowa Construction Industry Legislation (July 2018)
-
New Construction Market Segmentations (July 2018)
-
First Five Months is in the Books (June 2018)
-
Take it Down a Notch, Will Ya? (June 2018)
-
Spring Selling Season Picks Up (May 2018)
-
Misclassification Of Iowa Workers (May 2018)
-
A Snowy Start To 2018 Kept Des Moines Buyers Inside (April 2018)
-
How Long Should You Keep Business Records? (April 2018)
-
It’s Time to Grow (April 2018)
-
Construction Inventory on Track for 2018 (March 2018)
-
Staying on Track in the New Year (March 2018)
-
Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace (March 2018)
-
The 2017 Year in Review for Residential Real Estate (February 2018)
-
Common Pitfalls When Running a Family Business (February 2018)
-
Free Marketing Tips You Can Use Now (February 2018)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong as the Year Ends (January 2018)
-
Pay Attention to These Things to Make it To Next Year! (January 2018)
-
Discrimination In The Hiring Process (January 2018)
-
Should An Unpaid Subcontractor Ever Walk Off The Job? (December 2017)
-
Why You Should Consider Facebook Advertisements (December 2017)
-
Des Moines 2017 Real Estate Sales Coming To A Close (December 2017)
-
Third Quarter Results Are Now In (November 2017)
-
Do I Need an Employee Handbook? (November 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Home Inventory On The Rebound (October 2017)
-
Trademarks and Business Protection (October 2017)
-
Unstuck Your Website (October 2017)
-
Rights Amongst Shareholders on Sale of Corporations (September 2017)
-
What is an Individual 401(k) Plan? (September 2017)
-
Does Your Website Pass the Smell Test? (September 2017)
-
Third Quarter Draws to an End (September 2017)
-
Are Home Values Rising in the Des Moines Market? (August 2017)
-
Obtaining and Conducting Business Using A DBA (August 2017)
-
The Underdog vs. The Big Fish (August 2017)
-
Considering an Employment Contract? (July 2017)
-
Old-School Context for a 21st-Century World (July 2017)
-
What are SEP IRAs? (July 2017)
-
Construction Branding (June 2017)
-
HBA of Iowa Legislative Recap 2017 (May 2017)
-
To Sign or Not to Sign (May 2017)
-
What is a SIMPLE? (May 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Market Softens a Bit (April 2017)
-
We Need to Talk (April 2017)
-
Barriers Holding Back Prospective Homebuyers (April 2017)
-
New Construction Market Starts Out Strong in 2017 (March 2017)
-
Radon—An Invisible Issue (March 2017)
-
Nine Great Ways To Turn Coffee Into A Job Interview (March 2017)
-
SEO Is Dead, Stop Chasing! (March 2017)
-
Boomerangs: Should You Rehire A Former Employee? (March 2017)
-
2016—The Residential Real Estate Year of Records (February 2017)
-
Important Terms in Construction Agreements (February 2017)
-
Five Social Media Tips For A Focused Marketing Strategy (February 2017)
-
Want More From Workers? Tell ’em to Take a Break (February 2017)
-
New Year, New Threats—Cyberattack Concerns (January 2017)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong (January 2017)
-
Business Leaders Need to Watch Out for Woodpeckers (January 2017)
-
What’s Your Data Backup Plan? (January 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Market Enters “The Zen Zone” (December 2016)
-
Should Employers Postpone Overtime Overhaul? (December 2016)
-
Are You Still Asking Those Weird Interview Questions? (December 2016)
-
Is Your Password One Of These Phrases? Change It Now (December 2016)
-
Fourth Quarter Market Progresses Nicely (November 2016)
-
Non-Compete Agreements: Enforceable if Reasonable (November 2016)
-
How to Handle Angry Clients or Customers (November 2016)
-
Lazy Employees? 6 Workplace Issues to Blame (November 2016)
-
Why Your Marketing Isn’t Working (November 2016)
-
Milestones in Des Moines Residential Real Estate (October 2016)
-
Legal Essentials for Starting a New Business (October 2016)
-
Maintaining Commitment to Your Business (October 2016)
-
How To Build and Better Client Relationships (October 2016)
-
This Year’s Four Hottest Kitchen Trends (October 2016)
-
New Construction Market Still Strong in 3rd Quarter! (September 2016)
-
Drug Testing in the Workplace (September 2016)
-
The One Trait Truly Exceptional Salespeople Possess (September 2016)
-
Video Quality Matters: 5 Tips for Better Web Video (September 2016)
-
Is Your Board Exercising Its Fiduciary Duty? (August 2016)
-
Des Moines Home Sales—2016 Past, Present & Future (August 2016)
-
Start Being a Leader at Work (August 2016)
-
Social Media Cheat Sheet (August 2016)
-
When LLC Owners Are Personally Liable (July 2016)
-
Market Progresses Nicely in the Second Quarter (July 2016)
-
What Does Your Online Profile Say About You? (July 2016)
-
Regulation: 24.3% of the Average New Home Price (June 2016)
-
Managing Personal Use of Company Vehicles (June 2016)
-
9 Ways to Have Better Vacations (June 2016)
-
What’s Your Website Say About You? (June 2016)
-
Lawsuits in Iowa (May 2016)
-
3 Differences Between an Iowa LLC and a Corporation (April 2016)
-
A Gentleman’s Agreement (April 2016)
-
15 Home Builder Marketing Tips You Should Be Using! (April 2016)
-
How to Avoid Paying 4 Huge Taxes (April 2016)
-
How to Recruit a Great Salesperson (March 2016)
-
The New Construction Market Sees Robust Gains! (March 2016)
-
Tips to Getting Paid As a Subcontractor (February 2016)
-
Morning Habits to Recharge You And Your Business (February 2016)
-
On August 1, OSHA Penalties Are Going Up, Up, Up (February 2016)
-
The 7 Ways Most People Ruin Their Own Success (February 2016)
-
How to Measure Business Maturity (January 2016)
-
More Gains in Commercial Sector Next Year (January 2016)
-
It Will Cost You $5 to Fly Your Drone (January 2016)
-
Real Estate Des Moines Style—A Year To Remember (January 2016)
-
2015 New Construction Market To Finish Strong (January 2016)
-
Contractor Marketing in 2016? Instagram FTW! (December 2015)
-
Don’t Forget About Year-End Investment Planning (December 2015)
-
You’re a Better Boss When You’re a Better Teacher (December 2015)
-
Face-to-Face Selling Is Still Effective (December 2015)
-
Legal and Ethical Duties on a Construction Project (November 2015)
-
Making Team Meetings More Productive for the Workplace (November 2015)
-
10 Traits of Successful Salespeople (November 2015)
-
New Construction Market Still Remains Strong (November 2015)
-
5 Hidden Costs of Running a Business (October 2015)
-
10 Signs of a Really Scary Boss (October 2015)
-
The Big Picture of Des Moines Real Estate (October 2015)
-
7 Bad Habits That Stand in the Way of Your Success (October 2015)
-
Leaders Vs. Managers: What’s the Difference? (September 2015)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong (September 2015)
-
Dealing with Client Conflict (September 2015)
-
Marketing a Construction Business—The Ante (September 2015)
-
Money & Happiness: It’s Complicated (August 2015)
-
Is Criticism More Effective Than Praise? (August 2014)
-
Construction Marketing is About Know, Like, & Trust (August 2015)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong (July 2015)
-
I’m Here To Save Your Company Money (July 2015)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Second Quarter 2015 Recap (July 2015)
-
Non-Competes in the Construction Industry (June 2015)
-
Why Being a Workaholic is Actually a Bad Thing (June 2015)
-
10 Reasons to Update Your Website (June 2015)
-
7 Baby Boomer Housing Trends to Watch (June 2015)
-
Attract Buyers With Social Media (May 2015)
-
Des Moines Real Estate First Quarter 2015 Recap (April 2015)
-
Marketing Your Blog (April 2015)
-
Dos and Don’ts to Keep You Out of Court (April 2015)
-
It Pays to Own a Home (March 2015)
-
What Do Today’s Homebuyers Really Want? (March 2015)
-
2014 New Home Market Recap and Start of 2015 Numbers (March 2015)
-
Roof Colors Gravitating to Gray (February 2015)
-
Why Contractors Need to Create Powerful Testimonials (February 2015)
-
Consider the Real Rate of Return on Your Money (February 2015)
-
The Real Cost of Employee Turnover in Des Moines (February 2015)
-
2014 Des Moines Real Estate Sales—It’s a Wrap (January 2015)
-
Cities Build Too: Getting Paid On Public Improvements (January 2015)
-
How To Think About Marketing Going Into 2015 (December 2014)
-
5 Success Limiting Actions Contractors Should Avoid (December 2014)
-
Should You Hire for Skills or for Personality? (December 2014)
-
Trade Secret and Patents (December 2014)
-
Consider These 10 Basic Tax To-Dos for the Rest of 2014 (November 2014)
-
11 Things Your Employees Want You to Tell Them Every Day (November 2014)
-
Content Marketing Versus Traditional Advertising (November 2014)
-
Handshakes are Nice… But Contracts Are Legal (November 2014)
-
Is it Time for Electronic Filings of Legal Documents? (October 2014)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Recovery Confirmed (October 2014)
-
Iowa Insurers Wrongfully Deny Coverage for Defective Construction (September 2014)
-
Networking Mistakes to Avoid (August 2014)
-
Review Your Life Insurance Needs (August 2014)
-
Drones: Will They Fly in Iowa? (August 2014)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Supply & Demand (July 2014)
-
Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate (July 2014)
-
Transferring Your Business to Your Children (June 2014)
-
Like-Kind Exchanges (June 2014)
-
Four Ways to Establish a Leadership Style (June 2014)
-
Subcontractors Can’t Be Sued—For Now (May 2014)
-
HBAI Recap: 2014 Iowa Legislative Session (May 2014)
-
Revised Mechanic Lien Law (April 2014)
-
100 Graduates Ready To Work For You (April 2014)
-
Don’t Neglect Your Own Retirement Plan (April 2014)
-
How to Gain Respect in the Workplace as a Manager (April 2014)
Iowa State University’s unique Master of Real Estate Development program.
If the first rule of real estate is “location, location, location,” then Iowa State University’s Master of Real Estate Development (MRED) program has taken the next step with that concept: The location is as unique as the students enrolled in the program.
“From the outset, the program was designed for working professionals,” says James Spiller, director of the program. “Courses are mostly online, some with synchronous components to encourage dialogue between the students. But we wanted the program to be flexible to suit the students’ needs.”
In addition, two in-person courses are required, one at the beginning and one at the end of the program, to establish and develop networking opportunities and relationships. Past and present students from the growing program have said this has been key for them.
Nathan Drew, a Des Moines real estate broker and developer who was part of the inaugural graduating class last spring, says, “I wouldn’t have enrolled if it had not been online. It just wouldn’t have been possible with my schedule otherwise. But it was a perfect fit.”
“I had been doing marketing for a civil engineering company, and I was sort of reevaluating the direction I wanted to go,” says current student Anna Eldridge, an Iowa native now living in Minnesota. “Real estate development was one of the areas that interested me. I got my undergrad degree at Iowa State and heard about the program from one of its alumni publications, so I decided to enroll.”
Eldridge began her coursework last fall, and having that on her résumé has already resulted in a new job with Ryan Companies. “My marketing experience and degree qualified me for the job,” she says. “But the MRED program caught Ryan’s eye because that interest in development adds value for them.”
Spiller says it was similar industry feedback that spurred the program’s development in the first place. “The program launched in 2019, but it was probably five years earlier that a task force was organized in response to input from industry professionals in the business and design fields,” he says. “They indicated that there was a gap in recent college graduates’ knowledge and training in real estate development.”
The resulting MRED curriculum is unique in the marketplace. It pulls coursework from three distinct, interrelated areas: the College of Design, the Ivy College of Business, and the College of Engineering.
“The core courses come from each of these areas, covering architectural planning, finance and management, and construction,” Spiller says. “That trifecta isn’t present in any other program, and it brings together all the key moments along that chain of action in a real estate development project.”
Although the curriculum and the program requirements have continued to evolve since that first semester, all those involved say the model with which Iowa State started has been integral to its growth.
“Even with COVID hitting that second semester, we really didn’t skip a beat. Courses went on as planned. We wore masks and social distanced when we were on campus, but it didn’t really affect anything,” Drew says.
Despite the distance-learning approach, Drew says it was the relationships and the interaction between students, professors, and mentors that meant the most to him. During that initial in-person setting at the program’s outset, students are introduced to industry professionals who serve as mentors throughout the students’ time in the program.
“The networking aspect during the program as well as with the graduates of the program has already been such an asset for me,” he says. “My mentor met with me once a month throughout the program, and he continues to reach out to me regularly just to check in.”
Whether students are local to Iowa or not, Spiller says one of his ongoing objectives is to continue building that mentor network across the country. “We currently have students in Arizona, Florida, Minnesota,” he says. “So it’s important to have that national network in order to serve students across the country. The amount of one-on-one curation [individual customization] that’s a key element in the program is naturally time-consuming from an administrative standpoint, but it’s so important to how the program was designed.”
Eldridge says, “I initially questioned the need to be on campus for that initial week, but I loved that in-person experience. The networking conversations, meeting the different people in the program, it really helped kick off the program and connect everyone from the beginning.”
Both Eldridge and Drew say that balance of broad coursework and flexibility attracted them to the MRED at ISU.
For Eldridge, it’s helped her narrow her professional focus in just the first year. “Starting a new job in the midst of this, the courses I’ve been taking have really helped me understand the work my employer does. I’m constantly doing things in class that come up every day on the job,” she says. “I saw the program as something that would expose me to as many different aspects of development as possible. I could narrow my focus to where I wanted to go professionally. It’s doing that, but it’s also helping me understand my current role even better.”
Drew says his biggest takeaway has been the confidence the program gave him. “I learned a lot in my undergrad and in my MBA, but the MRED has given me more confidence,” he says. “I’ve wanted to be in land development for a long time, and now I have the confidence to go out and do it. It’s not a someday anymore. I’m doing it.”
The MRED program at Iowa State may be unique because of its hybrid learning approach and its three-pronged course focus, but Spiller says there’s more to it than that. “What really makes us unique is our students. They’re creating that unique network of resources that continues to build back into what we offer. The students and the graduates are the program.”
In-Depth
Featured Stories
-
Reason to Celebrate (June 2022)
-
A Bright Future (May 2022)
-
Trends to Take Outdoors (May 2022)
-
A Reputation for Service (April 2022)
-
In Good Hands (March 2022)
-
Homeowners Splurge on Kitchen Countertops (March 2022)
-
Bridging the Gap (February 2022)
-
Design Trends 2022 Millennials Flexing Their Muscles (February 2022)
-
Riding The Wave 2022 (January 2022)
-
2022 Houzz Home Design Predictions (January 2022)
-
Quietly Leading The Way (December 2021)
-
Pet Ownership Soars Among Home Buyers (December 2021)
-
The Key to Making Dreams Possible (November 2021)
-
Spa-throom Design Trends (November 2021)
-
Extremely Meaningful (October 2021)
-
Top Six Emerging Trends (October 2021)
-
Up For The Challenge (September 2021)
-
The Family Business (August 2021)
-
A Mission to Accomplish (August 2021)
-
Making History (July 2021)
-
Responding to Change (June 2021)
-
‘Cloffices,’ Sweat Rooms, & DIY Determination (June 2021)
-
Doing Amazing Things (May 2021)
-
Moving Up, and Out (May 2021)
-
A Record Year (April 2021)
-
Outdoor Living at Home (March 2021)
-
A Long Strange Trip (March 2021)
-
Developing a Culture of Engagement (February 2021)
-
Kitchen Renovations Spotlight Storage (February 2021)
-
Unprecedented Times (January 2021)
-
2021 Houzz Home Design Predictions (January 2021)
-
Moving Forward (December 2020)
-
Cautious Optimism Continues (November 2020)
-
Conventions Amid a Pandemic (November 2020)
-
Designed to Grow (October 2020)
-
A Worthy Milestone (October 2020)
-
The Hometown of the Future (September 2020)
-
Rhythm of Color (September 2020)
-
Strength in Numbers (August 2020)
-
From 0 to 60 in No Time (July 2020)
-
Baby Boomers Drive Home Renovations (July 2020)
-
Learning to Dance in the Rain (June 2020)
-
2020 Vision (June 2020)
-
Weathering the Crisis (May 2020)
-
A Legacy of Leadership (April 2020)
-
COVID-19 and the Economy (April 2020)
-
Writing A New Story (March 2020)
-
Top Five Landscape Trends of 2020 (March 2020)
-
DMAAR Gala (February 2020)
-
The Hardest Contractor Jobs In America (February 2020)
-
Predictions for 2020 (January 2020)
-
8 Home Design Trends (January 2020)
-
Leading the Way (December 2019)
-
Showers Reign in Master Bathroom Remodels (December 2019)
-
A Growing Family (November 2019)
-
Giving Back (November 2019)
-
Meet Your Winners (October 2019)
-
The Top 4 Landscape Design Trends of Fall 2019 (October 2019)
-
A Decent Place to Live (September 2019)
-
It’s A Lovely Day in the Neighborhood (September 2019)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2019 Winners (August 2019)
-
Making Housing Unaffordable (August 2019)
-
A Reputation for Good Work (July 2019)
-
Aventura—Living An Active Lifestyle (July 2019)
-
Finding A New Home (June 2019)
-
Building A Bridge (May 2019)
-
It’s What’s on the Outside That Matters (May 2019)
-
Reimagining an Ancient Concept (April 2019)
-
Taking an Active Role (March 2019)
-
The Top Landscape Trends of 2019 (March 2019)
-
Advocacy in Action (February 2019)
-
Red-Carpet Celebration (February 2019)
-
Looking Back, Looking Ahead (January 2019)
-
Single Females Remain a Force in the Market (December 2018)
-
Innovating a Solution (December 2018)
-
A Talented Team (November 2018)
-
A Family Kind of Business (November 2018)
-
Color Trends Reflect Human Touch (October 2018)
-
Hammers & Heels (October 2018)
-
Honoring the Past, Building Toward the Future (September 2018)
-
Houzz Survey Finds Home Renovation Boom Continues (September 2018)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2018 Winners (August 2018)
-
Giving Back (August 2018)
-
Creating a Legacy (July 2018)
-
Time Well Spent (July 2018)
-
A Little Bit of Everything (June 2018)
-
Cooking Habits Impact Kitchen Design (June 2018)
-
All They Could Wish For (May 2018)
-
2018 Landscape Trends From the ASLA (May 2018)
-
A Seamless Transition (April 2018)
-
11th Annual Builder & Developer Luncheon (April 2018)
-
The Future of the Industry (March 2018)
-
Spotlight on the Top Design Trends (March 2018)
-
Top 2018 Kitchen Trends from Houzz (February 2018)
-
DMAAR Sells Out “Late Night” (February 2018)
-
Predictions for 2018 (January 2018)
-
Giving Back (January 2018)
-
In The Spotlight (December 2017)
-
The Inventory Crisis Will Drive the Market (December 2017)
-
Surpassing Expectations (November 2017)
-
Master Bathroom 2017 Trends (November 2017)
-
K&V Homes Celebrates 20 Years (October 2017)
-
The Top 5 Landscape Design Trends of Fall 2017 (October 2017)
-
Spreading the Message (September 2017)
-
Pantone’s Hottest Home Trends (September 2017)
-
11 Apps Every Building Professional Should Have (September 2017)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2017 Winners! (August 2017)
-
A Tiny Home Solution (August 2017)
-
Livin’ the Dream (July 2017)
-
There’s No Place Like Home (July 2017)
-
Meet the New Owners of Kline Electric (June 2017)
-
A Deeper Connection (May 2017)
-
Archadeck of Central Iowa Wins Grand Prize Award (April 2017)
-
Smart, Stylish & Sustainable (April 2017)
-
10th Annual Builder & Developer Luncheon (March 2017)
-
The Pro’s Picks for 2017 IBS New Products (March 2017)
-
Late Night with DMAAR (February 2017)
-
Real Estate Outlook for 2017 (January 2017)
-
Zillow’s Top Design Trend Predictions for 2017 (January 2017)
-
A Beautiful Combination (December 2016)
-
Renovating Homeowners Are Split on Smart Tech (December 2016)
-
Growing a Business (November 2016)
-
Making Today’s Homes More Owner-Friendly (November 2016)
-
The Right Tool for the Job (October 2016)
-
Master Bathrooms Going High Tech (October 2016)
-
Happy 40th Anniversary Shirley Bolton (September 2016)
-
Gray Tones in Your Homes (September 2016)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2016 Winners (August 2016)
-
Red House Remodeling Named To Big50 (July 2016)
-
Land for Sale? (July 2016)
-
The Best Kind of Recognition (June 2016)
-
Second Habitat ReStore Opens (June 2016)
-
Building the Next Generation (May 2016)
-
A Home of Its Own (May 2016)
-
Taking It To The Hill (April 2016)
-
Expert Perspective (March 2016)
-
Forward Thinking Design (March 2016)
-
Late Night With DMAAR® (February 2016)
-
Super Kitchen (February 2016)
-
It’s all in the Cards for 2016 (January 2016)
-
Most Home Builders are Small Businesses (January 2016)
-
Mind Your Manners (December 2015)
-
Doing Good (December 2015)
-
Plot Twist (December 2015)
-
Des Moines: Top of The List (November 2015)
-
Inspire Consumers (November 2015)
-
Building the Future (November 2015)
-
AIM Kitchen & Bath Named to Remodeling’s Big 550 (October 2015)
-
Sharing the Vision (October 2015)
-
An Opportunity for Growth (October 2015)
-
Bridging the Communication Gap (September 2015)
-
Americans Are Ready for the Smart Home (September 2015)
-
Who’s in Control? (September 2015)
-
Here Are Your Winners (August 2015)
-
Unified Codes a Distinct Possibility (August 2015)
-
DMAAR Rolls Out Safety Initiative (August 2015)
-
Leading the Old Fashioned Way (July 2015)
-
Built for Speed & Accuracy (July 2015)
-
Classic Builders Named to Builder Next 100 (June 2015)
-
Latest Residential Landscape Design Trends (June 2015)
-
Nicole McGlothlin LLS Woman of the Year (June 2015)
-
Mom’s the Boss (May 2015)
-
Contemporary Kitchens Surge in Popularity (May 2015)
-
Contemporary Spa Bath Leads Preferences (April 2015)
-
Seeing Green (April 2015)
-
Thriving in Wartime Conditions (March 2015)
-
Seeing the Silver Lining (February 2015)
-
Houzz Survey Finds Kitchens Outlast Most Marriages (February 2015)
-
15 Predictions for ’15 (January 2015)
-
How Healthy is your Home? (January 2015)
-
Where the Action Is (December 2014)
-
Move Over Millennials (December 2014)
-
Building a Future (November 2014)
-
Homeowners Looking to Add More Features (November 2014)
-
October Is National Kitchen & Bath Month (October 2014)
-
Sherwin-Williams Predicts Optimistic 2015 (October 2014)
-
Lotsa Lots? (September 2014)
-
Booming Ideas (September 2014)
-
HomeShowExpo Winners (August 2014)
-
Looking Ahead (July 2014)
-
Home Trends in the Metro (July 2014)
-
Builder Design Centers (June 2014)
-
Millennials are Changing the Marketplace (June 2014)
-
The Big Picture (May 2014)
-
The Value of Remodeling (May 2014)
-
Hot Trends: Kitchens & Baths (April 2014)
-
Big is Back (April 2014)
Do You Know
-
Do You Know: Tim Hicklin (September 2014)
-
Do You Know: Korey Beemer (July 2014)
-
Do You Know: Brenden Hannah (June 2014)
-
Do You Know: Jed Finley (May 2014)
A Conversation With
-
A Conversation With Cindy Pelz (August 2017)
-
Jennifer Schumann (June 2017)
-
A Conversation With Matt Ostanik (May 2017)
-
A Conversation With Linda Westergaard (March 2017)
-
A Conversation with Tawnya Neighbour (February 2017)
-
A Conversation with Victoria Veiock (January 2017)
-
A Conversation with Mark Reetz (December 2016)
-
A Conversation with Darius Jackson (November 2016)
-
A Conversation With Bob Burns (October 2016)
-
A Conversation With Marsha Bannister (September 2016)
-
A Conversation With Gavin Blair (August 2016)
-
A Conversation With Jay Iverson (July 2016)
-
A Conversation With Amy Spike (June 2016)
-
A Conversation with John Dunn (May 2016)
-
A Conversation with Sarah Kavalier (April 2016)
-
A Conversation With Kelly Gibson (March 2016)
-
A Conversation With Shannon Nathe (February 2016)
-
A Conversation with Vicki Davis (January 2016)
-
A Conversation With Jessica Terrill (December 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Ken Clark (November 2015)
-
A Conversation With Lindsay Black (October 2015)
-
A Conversation with John Peterson (September 2015)
-
A Conversation With Marshal Tolly (August 2015)
-
A Conversation With Tina Mowry Hadden (July 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Rick Parrino (June 2015)
-
A Conversation With Jenna Ekstrom (May 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Bill Blue (April 2015)
-
A Conversation With Rachel Delzell (February 2015)
-
A Conversation With Robin Polder (January 2015)
-
A Conversation With Reo Menning (December 2014)
-
A Conversation With: Jessica Reinert (November 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Dan Knoup (October 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Don Beal (September 2014)
-
Zak Fleming (August 2014)
-
A Conversation With: Brian Buresh (July 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Brennan Buckley (May 2014)
In-Depth
-
Bee Inspired (June 2022)
-
The Next Step (May 2022)
-
Just the Beginning (April 2022)
-
Proceed With Caution (March 2022)
-
Cross-Generational Housing (February 2022)
-
How Can We Help? (January 2022)
-
EEOC Update (December 2021)
-
Crunching the Numbers (November 2021)
-
Don’t Be SPOOKED (October 2021)
-
Wearing Multiple Hats (September 2021)
-
No End In Sight (August 2021)
-
Making Marshalltown Home (July 2021)
-
Continuing Education (June 2021)
-
Changing Perspective (May 2021)
-
Hard Hats Aren’t Enough (April 2021)
-
A Driving Force (March 2021)
-
A Winning Team (February 2021)
-
Building a Dream (January 2021)
-
The Joy of Reaching Out and Giving Back (December 2020)
-
Employee or Independent Contractor? (November 2020)
-
Contract Protections for Contractors (October 2020)
-
Seller’s Market (September 2020)
-
More Than a Shelter (August 2020)
-
Being the Change (July 2020)
-
All the Right Pieces (June 2020)
-
Contracts & COVID-19 (May 2020)
-
Impact on Unemployment Benefits (April 2020)
-
A Positive Outlook (March 2020)
-
Planning for Future Growth (February 2020)
-
2020 Color Trends (January 2020)
-
Worth Celebrating (December 2019)
-
Signs of Change (November 2019)
-
Sellers Beware (October 2019)
-
Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back (September 2019)
-
It’s A Win/Win (August 2019)
-
Starting From Scratch (July 2019)
-
Everybody Wins (May 2019)
-
Informed Decisions Begin Here (April 2019)
-
ISU to Offer Grad Degree in Real Estate Development (March 2019)
-
Tough Housing Market Ahead (January 2019)
-
Ring Day (December 2018)
-
Giving Back (November 2018)
-
Not Just Talk (October 2018)
-
Checks & Balances (September 2018)
-
550 Remodeling List Announced (July 2018)
-
Reaching Their Stride (June 2018)
-
The Slow Pace of Change (May 2018)
-
In Heels & Hardhats (April 2018)
-
Home Ownership Gets One Step Closer (February 2018)
-
New Year, New Merger (December 2017)
-
Cyber Liability Risks (November 2017)
-
The Significance of the Skilled Trades (October 2017)
-
Digital Design (September 2017)
-
Code Consortium Aims High (July 2017)
-
Builder Magazine’s Top 100 and Next 100 Named (June 2017)
-
Real Advice, Virtual Source (May 2017)
-
Authentic 3-D Printed Landscapes (April 2017)
-
A Win-Win for First-Time Home Buyers (March 2017)
-
Developers’ Dream: Free Land & Incentives in Osceola (February 2017)
-
Visions of Home (January 2017)
-
A Flicker of Hope (December 2016)
-
A Successful Group Effort (November 2016)
-
Finding A Solution (October 2016)
-
Emotional Factors Drive Purchase Decisions (September 2016)
-
Leaving the Paper Trail (August 2016)
-
For New Homes, Women a Tougher Sell (July 2016)
-
A Last Gift (June 2016)
-
Updates in the Affordable Care Act (April 2016)
-
Dreaming Big (February 2016)
-
New Study Suggests Strong Outlook for Green Homes (January 2016)
-
Majoring in Real Estate (May 2015)
-
Safety by the Numbers (April 2015)
-
Late Night with DMAAR® (March 2015)
-
Getting the Most from Your Exhibiting Experience (January 2015)
-
MJ Properties Is True to Ankeny’s Schools (December 2014)
-
A Deadly Threat in Iowa’s Homes (November 2014)
-
Copyright Infringement and the Internet (September 2014)
-
A Lasting Tribute (August 2014)
-
A Code is Born (July 2014)
-
Environmental Impact Awards (June 2014)
-
When a House Becomes a Home (June 2014)
-
Panelization: Advancing to Meet the Market (May 2014)
-
Leading the Field (April 2014)
Giving Back
-
A Lesson in Giving (January 2016)
-
Greenland Homes Pays it Forward to Children’s Cancer Connection (February 2015)
-
Habitat for Humanity Key Awards (October 2014)
-
A Long Road Home (August 2014)
-
Businesses Pay It Forward for Special Cause (July 2014)
-
A Decent Place to Live (April 2014)
In Remembrance
-
Terry Doling ()
-
Pat Mashek (August 2014)
Observations
-
Why Should You See a Financial Advisor? (June 2022)
-
Look Past These Life Insurance Myths (May 2022)
-
Housing Bubble or Buyer Bubble? (April 2022)
-
How Can You Improve Your Financial Fitness? (April 2022)
-
10 Ways To Market Your Construction Business (April 2022)
-
Should Inflation Affect Your Investment Moves? (March 2022)
-
Ten Tips On Writing Compelling Copy (March 2022)
-
2021 State of the Market for Real Estate (February 2022)
-
Overview of 2021 New Construction/Land Development (February 2022)
-
Financial Tips for the Self-Employed (February 2022)
-
What Negative Reviews Can Do to Ruin Your Business (February 2022)
-
Surviving 2021 Des Moines Real Estate (January 2022)
-
What Are Your Financial Resolutions For 2022? (January 2022)
-
Online Reputation Management Strategies (January 2022)
-
The Effects of an Extreme Seller’s Market (December 2021)
-
Use Year-End Bonus (or Gift) Wisely (December 2021)
-
Your Business Needs an Enemy (December 2021)
-
5 Ways to Build Trust Across the Digital Landscape (November 2021)
-
Ideas for Thanking Your Family (November 2021)
-
Six Year End Predictions for Des Moines Real Estate (November 2021)
-
Three Quarters Down—One To Go! (October 2021)
-
Open Enrollment Choices Can Have Big Financial Impact (October 2021)
-
Get a Jump-Start On 2022 Now (October 2021)
-
Have 2021 Homebuyers and Sellers Missed the Boat? (September 2021)
-
Labor Day: Make Investments Work as Hard as You Do (September 2021)
-
Words Are Still What Sell (September 2021)
-
Lessons From Experienced Investors (August 2021)
-
Social Media Versus Traditional Marketing Strategies (August 2021)
-
What A Difference A Year Makes (July 2021)
-
Work to Achieve Your Financial Independence (July 2021)
-
It’s Not A Real Estate Bubble (June 2021)
-
Governor Signs Mechanic’s Lien Bill (June 2021)
-
Plan Ahead for Generational Generosity (June 2021)
-
Taking Care of Business (May 2021)
-
March “Real Estate” Madness (April 2021)
-
Earth Day—Time to “Go Green” With Your Investments? (April 2021)
-
Construction Websites—What’s The Minimum? (April 2021)
-
Record High Sales and Record Low Inventory (March 2021)
-
Business Owners: Plan for Next Phase of Life (March 2021)
-
Des Moines Real Estate—2020 Annual Market Review (February 2021)
-
Financial Protection Can Be a Great Valentine’s Day Gift (February 2021)
-
Iowa Construction Industry Bills to Watch (February 2021)
-
Seven Tips to Get 2021 Off to a Great Start (February 2021)
-
The DOL Revisits Compensable Travel Time (January 2021)
-
Des Moines 2021 Housing Forecast (January 2021)
-
Investment Lessons from 2020 (January 2021)
-
You Had Me At Hello (January 2021)
-
To Post or Not to Post Progress Photos (December 2020)
-
Time for Some New Year’s Financial Resolutions (December 2020)
-
Where Are Des Moines Record Home Sales Coming From? (December 2020)
-
Fire Up the Crystal Ball (November 2020)
-
What Can Investors Learn from Veterans? (November 2020)
-
How to Keep Your Clients Long Term (November 2020)
-
What Will Real Estate Look Like After COVID-19? (October 2020)
-
Sustainable Investing Can Pay Off—in Several Ways (October 2020)
-
Eliminate the Tire Kickers (October 2020)
-
The Place Is Here, The Time is Now (September 2020)
-
Opportunities When Preparing for College Costs (September 2020)
-
How to Get Your Point Across Today (September 2020)
-
First Half of 2020 Unlike Any Other Year for Real Estate (August 2020)
-
Are Women Better Investors Than Men? (August 2020)
-
Form Follows Function (August 2020)
-
What the Titanic Can Teach You About Business (July 2020)
-
Year of the Relationship (June 2020)
-
2020 Iowa Legislative Session Recap (May 2020)
-
Unprecedented Times For Des Moines Real Estate (April 2020)
-
Use This Time to Build Better Systems (April 2020)
-
Don’t Let Fears Drive Your Investment Choices (April 2020)
-
Off To A Strong Start! (March 2020)
-
Time for Some Financial Spring Cleaning (March 2020)
-
How to Write Blog Content (March 2020)
-
What Can Investors Learn From “Big Game” Teams? (February 2020)
-
Build a Low Maintenance WordPress Website (February 2020)
-
Des Moines Real Estate—2019 Market Review (February 2020)
-
2019 New Construction Market Rallied Its Way Back (January 2020)
-
Change By Stopping the “Stupid Stuff” (January 2020)
-
Financial Tips for Snowbirds… Present and Future (January 2020)
-
Things Are Better Off Now Than This Time A Year Ago (December 2019)
-
Stay On Top Of Your Marketing Plan (December 2019)
-
Three Factors to Consider When Making Charitable Gifts (December 2019)
-
Compete All Four Quarters If You Want To Win (November 2019)
-
Know Your Numbers (November 2019)
-
Fed Lowers Target Rate for Third Time in 2019 (November 2019)
-
Share Your Financial Abundance with Your Family (November 2019)
-
Comparing to Your Neighbors’ Can Lead to Dissatisfaction (October 2019)
-
Make a Good First Impression With Your Website (October 2019)
-
Residential Real Estate: 3 Quarters Down, 1 To Go (October 2019)
-
Not Too Soon for End-of-Year Financial Moves (October 2019)
-
Will Market Outperform to Overcome the Slow Start? (September 2019)
-
Take a Break (You Deserve It) (September 2019)
-
You Can Work to Become a Better Investor (September 2019)
-
Home Sale Strategy—Proper Pricing is Crucial This Summer (August 2019)
-
Find New Business in What is Trending (August 2019)
-
Women: Don’t Forget About Your Retirement Plan (August 2019)
-
New Construction Year-Over-Year Numbers (July 2019)
-
Something Terrible This Way Comes (July 2019)
-
Work Toward Your Own Financial Independence Day (July 2019)
-
Another Way to Get Referrals (June 2019)
-
Don’t Let Your Investments Go on “Vacation” (June 2019)
-
New Construction Market Data (May 2019)
-
Contractors Must Proceed Cautiously (May 2019)
-
First Quarter Real Estate Sales Off To A Slow Start (April 2019)
-
Responding to Negative Social Media Comments (April 2019)
-
Are You One of These Bosses? (April 2019)
-
New Construction Market Data (March 2019)
-
4 Types of Facebook Ads that Will Help You (March 2019)
-
Hiring Checklist (March 2019)
-
How to Handle Employee Complaints (February 2019)
-
Today I’m Going to Talk About Doing it All (February 2019)
-
One Year Ends, Another One Begins in Real Estate (February 2019)
-
Let’s Talk Websites (January 2019)
-
End of the Year Projections (January 2019)
-
Transition from Employee to Effective Owner-Leader (January 2019)
-
2018 Des Moines Real Estate Year End Predictions (December 2018)
-
Your Business End of the Year Legal Checklist (December 2018)
-
Boundaries and Defined Responsibilities (December 2018)
-
Why People Don’t Always Buy the Lowest Price (November 2018)
-
Fall Brings Market Slowdown (November 2018)
-
Why Your Business Needs Proper Succession Planning (November 2018)
-
September Sneak Peek at Des Moines Home Sales (October 2018)
-
Former Employees And Your Right To Disclose (October 2018)
-
5 Steps to Achieve This Year’s Goals…This Year! (October 2018)
-
Closing Out the Summer New Construction Market (September 2018)
-
BYOD: Should Your Business Adopt This Policy? (September 2018)
-
Tips For Building a Great Website That Works (September 2018)
-
July 2018 Des Moines Real Estate Market Update (August 2018)
-
Your Best Advice Might Come from a Marriage Counselor (August 2018)
-
Five Website Mistakes to Fix This Summer (August 2018)
-
Non-Compete Agreements in Iowa (July 2018)
-
Summary Iowa Construction Industry Legislation (July 2018)
-
New Construction Market Segmentations (July 2018)
-
First Five Months is in the Books (June 2018)
-
Take it Down a Notch, Will Ya? (June 2018)
-
Spring Selling Season Picks Up (May 2018)
-
Misclassification Of Iowa Workers (May 2018)
-
A Snowy Start To 2018 Kept Des Moines Buyers Inside (April 2018)
-
How Long Should You Keep Business Records? (April 2018)
-
It’s Time to Grow (April 2018)
-
Construction Inventory on Track for 2018 (March 2018)
-
Staying on Track in the New Year (March 2018)
-
Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace (March 2018)
-
The 2017 Year in Review for Residential Real Estate (February 2018)
-
Common Pitfalls When Running a Family Business (February 2018)
-
Free Marketing Tips You Can Use Now (February 2018)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong as the Year Ends (January 2018)
-
Pay Attention to These Things to Make it To Next Year! (January 2018)
-
Discrimination In The Hiring Process (January 2018)
-
Should An Unpaid Subcontractor Ever Walk Off The Job? (December 2017)
-
Why You Should Consider Facebook Advertisements (December 2017)
-
Des Moines 2017 Real Estate Sales Coming To A Close (December 2017)
-
Third Quarter Results Are Now In (November 2017)
-
Do I Need an Employee Handbook? (November 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Home Inventory On The Rebound (October 2017)
-
Trademarks and Business Protection (October 2017)
-
Unstuck Your Website (October 2017)
-
Rights Amongst Shareholders on Sale of Corporations (September 2017)
-
What is an Individual 401(k) Plan? (September 2017)
-
Does Your Website Pass the Smell Test? (September 2017)
-
Third Quarter Draws to an End (September 2017)
-
Are Home Values Rising in the Des Moines Market? (August 2017)
-
Obtaining and Conducting Business Using A DBA (August 2017)
-
The Underdog vs. The Big Fish (August 2017)
-
Considering an Employment Contract? (July 2017)
-
Old-School Context for a 21st-Century World (July 2017)
-
What are SEP IRAs? (July 2017)
-
Construction Branding (June 2017)
-
HBA of Iowa Legislative Recap 2017 (May 2017)
-
To Sign or Not to Sign (May 2017)
-
What is a SIMPLE? (May 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Market Softens a Bit (April 2017)
-
We Need to Talk (April 2017)
-
Barriers Holding Back Prospective Homebuyers (April 2017)
-
New Construction Market Starts Out Strong in 2017 (March 2017)
-
Radon—An Invisible Issue (March 2017)
-
Nine Great Ways To Turn Coffee Into A Job Interview (March 2017)
-
SEO Is Dead, Stop Chasing! (March 2017)
-
Boomerangs: Should You Rehire A Former Employee? (March 2017)
-
2016—The Residential Real Estate Year of Records (February 2017)
-
Important Terms in Construction Agreements (February 2017)
-
Five Social Media Tips For A Focused Marketing Strategy (February 2017)
-
Want More From Workers? Tell ’em to Take a Break (February 2017)
-
New Year, New Threats—Cyberattack Concerns (January 2017)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong (January 2017)
-
Business Leaders Need to Watch Out for Woodpeckers (January 2017)
-
What’s Your Data Backup Plan? (January 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Market Enters “The Zen Zone” (December 2016)
-
Should Employers Postpone Overtime Overhaul? (December 2016)
-
Are You Still Asking Those Weird Interview Questions? (December 2016)
-
Is Your Password One Of These Phrases? Change It Now (December 2016)
-
Fourth Quarter Market Progresses Nicely (November 2016)
-
Non-Compete Agreements: Enforceable if Reasonable (November 2016)
-
How to Handle Angry Clients or Customers (November 2016)
-
Lazy Employees? 6 Workplace Issues to Blame (November 2016)
-
Why Your Marketing Isn’t Working (November 2016)
-
Milestones in Des Moines Residential Real Estate (October 2016)
-
Legal Essentials for Starting a New Business (October 2016)
-
Maintaining Commitment to Your Business (October 2016)
-
How To Build and Better Client Relationships (October 2016)
-
This Year’s Four Hottest Kitchen Trends (October 2016)
-
New Construction Market Still Strong in 3rd Quarter! (September 2016)
-
Drug Testing in the Workplace (September 2016)
-
The One Trait Truly Exceptional Salespeople Possess (September 2016)
-
Video Quality Matters: 5 Tips for Better Web Video (September 2016)
-
Is Your Board Exercising Its Fiduciary Duty? (August 2016)
-
Des Moines Home Sales—2016 Past, Present & Future (August 2016)
-
Start Being a Leader at Work (August 2016)
-
Social Media Cheat Sheet (August 2016)
-
When LLC Owners Are Personally Liable (July 2016)
-
Market Progresses Nicely in the Second Quarter (July 2016)
-
What Does Your Online Profile Say About You? (July 2016)
-
Regulation: 24.3% of the Average New Home Price (June 2016)
-
Managing Personal Use of Company Vehicles (June 2016)
-
9 Ways to Have Better Vacations (June 2016)
-
What’s Your Website Say About You? (June 2016)
-
Lawsuits in Iowa (May 2016)
-
3 Differences Between an Iowa LLC and a Corporation (April 2016)
-
A Gentleman’s Agreement (April 2016)
-
15 Home Builder Marketing Tips You Should Be Using! (April 2016)
-
How to Avoid Paying 4 Huge Taxes (April 2016)
-
How to Recruit a Great Salesperson (March 2016)
-
The New Construction Market Sees Robust Gains! (March 2016)
-
Tips to Getting Paid As a Subcontractor (February 2016)
-
Morning Habits to Recharge You And Your Business (February 2016)
-
On August 1, OSHA Penalties Are Going Up, Up, Up (February 2016)
-
The 7 Ways Most People Ruin Their Own Success (February 2016)
-
How to Measure Business Maturity (January 2016)
-
More Gains in Commercial Sector Next Year (January 2016)
-
It Will Cost You $5 to Fly Your Drone (January 2016)
-
Real Estate Des Moines Style—A Year To Remember (January 2016)
-
2015 New Construction Market To Finish Strong (January 2016)
-
Contractor Marketing in 2016? Instagram FTW! (December 2015)
-
Don’t Forget About Year-End Investment Planning (December 2015)
-
You’re a Better Boss When You’re a Better Teacher (December 2015)
-
Face-to-Face Selling Is Still Effective (December 2015)
-
Legal and Ethical Duties on a Construction Project (November 2015)
-
Making Team Meetings More Productive for the Workplace (November 2015)
-
10 Traits of Successful Salespeople (November 2015)
-
New Construction Market Still Remains Strong (November 2015)
-
5 Hidden Costs of Running a Business (October 2015)
-
10 Signs of a Really Scary Boss (October 2015)
-
The Big Picture of Des Moines Real Estate (October 2015)
-
7 Bad Habits That Stand in the Way of Your Success (October 2015)
-
Leaders Vs. Managers: What’s the Difference? (September 2015)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong (September 2015)
-
Dealing with Client Conflict (September 2015)
-
Marketing a Construction Business—The Ante (September 2015)
-
Money & Happiness: It’s Complicated (August 2015)
-
Is Criticism More Effective Than Praise? (August 2014)
-
Construction Marketing is About Know, Like, & Trust (August 2015)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong (July 2015)
-
I’m Here To Save Your Company Money (July 2015)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Second Quarter 2015 Recap (July 2015)
-
Non-Competes in the Construction Industry (June 2015)
-
Why Being a Workaholic is Actually a Bad Thing (June 2015)
-
10 Reasons to Update Your Website (June 2015)
-
7 Baby Boomer Housing Trends to Watch (June 2015)
-
Attract Buyers With Social Media (May 2015)
-
Des Moines Real Estate First Quarter 2015 Recap (April 2015)
-
Marketing Your Blog (April 2015)
-
Dos and Don’ts to Keep You Out of Court (April 2015)
-
It Pays to Own a Home (March 2015)
-
What Do Today’s Homebuyers Really Want? (March 2015)
-
2014 New Home Market Recap and Start of 2015 Numbers (March 2015)
-
Roof Colors Gravitating to Gray (February 2015)
-
Why Contractors Need to Create Powerful Testimonials (February 2015)
-
Consider the Real Rate of Return on Your Money (February 2015)
-
The Real Cost of Employee Turnover in Des Moines (February 2015)
-
2014 Des Moines Real Estate Sales—It’s a Wrap (January 2015)
-
Cities Build Too: Getting Paid On Public Improvements (January 2015)
-
How To Think About Marketing Going Into 2015 (December 2014)
-
5 Success Limiting Actions Contractors Should Avoid (December 2014)
-
Should You Hire for Skills or for Personality? (December 2014)
-
Trade Secret and Patents (December 2014)
-
Consider These 10 Basic Tax To-Dos for the Rest of 2014 (November 2014)
-
11 Things Your Employees Want You to Tell Them Every Day (November 2014)
-
Content Marketing Versus Traditional Advertising (November 2014)
-
Handshakes are Nice… But Contracts Are Legal (November 2014)
-
Is it Time for Electronic Filings of Legal Documents? (October 2014)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Recovery Confirmed (October 2014)
-
Iowa Insurers Wrongfully Deny Coverage for Defective Construction (September 2014)
-
Networking Mistakes to Avoid (August 2014)
-
Review Your Life Insurance Needs (August 2014)
-
Drones: Will They Fly in Iowa? (August 2014)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Supply & Demand (July 2014)
-
Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate (July 2014)
-
Transferring Your Business to Your Children (June 2014)
-
Like-Kind Exchanges (June 2014)
-
Four Ways to Establish a Leadership Style (June 2014)
-
Subcontractors Can’t Be Sued—For Now (May 2014)
-
HBAI Recap: 2014 Iowa Legislative Session (May 2014)
-
Revised Mechanic Lien Law (April 2014)
-
100 Graduates Ready To Work For You (April 2014)
-
Don’t Neglect Your Own Retirement Plan (April 2014)
-
How to Gain Respect in the Workplace as a Manager (April 2014)
West Des Moines designer named to National Kitchen & Bath Association’s Thirty Under 30.
For more than half a century, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) has sought “to inspire, lead and empower the kitchen and bath design industry through the creation of marketplaces, networks and certifications.”
One way the association does that is through its annual Thirty Under 30 award program. The program was established in 2013 to recognize an elite group of young designers at the beginning of their careers who represent the future of the industry.
This year, Becky Leu of West Des Moines’ Leu Interiors was included in this prestigious group. She says the award was as much of a surprise as the nomination. “I wasn’t really that familiar with the award,” Leu says. “I was contacted by an established designer and friend of mine in Florida who had been following my work as an industry professional online, and she told me she was nominating me for the award.”
Cheryl Kees Clendenon, owner and lead designer of In Detail in Pensacola, Florida, told Leu she had been “blown away by her expertise and wisdom beyond her years.”
Only seven years into her career, Leu has been owner and lead designer of her own company for six of those years. “I’d always planned to start my own business someday, but hadn’t really thought I’d start that soon,” she says.
After attending Iowa State University’s College of Design, Leu got a job designing residential remodels for a design/build firm in Des Moines and moved into the role of the lead designer quickly. “After about one year in, I started thinking more about going out on my own,” Leu says. “But I wasn’t sure if I was ready to take that leap at such a young age.”
When she ran the idea by her employer of transitioning to part-time so she could start a furnishing and decor business on the side, he was wonderful, Leu says. “He obviously had an entrepreneurial mindset, having started his own company. He said, ‘Your heart won’t be in it if you try to do it on the side. I think you should go for it.’”
Leu says that he encouraged her ambitions, and his firm even installed the built-in shelves for the first design job that Leu Interiors completed. “I will always remember how I felt when I saw that first project completed exactly how I intended, and it was even more wonderful in person than in my mind,” she says.
Six years later, Leu is in the final phase of another unique design challenge—a long-distance project for which she has yet to see the finished results in person. “I’m doing a large custom remodel and addition in Fort Madison. Everything I’ve contributed, other than the initial site measure, has been done remotely,” she says. “I have to give credit to the client for how well the project has gone. They saw my work online. We connected via my website and just hit it off, so they’ve been willing to make the distance work.”
Leu says, “I can’t wait to take my photographer to Fort Madison with me once it’s finished, hopefully this summer, to see how it has all come together.” She’s sure this is not her first and will certainly not be her last long-distance renovation project. “There are amazing potential clients all over the world,” she says.
Although it’s challenging not being on site, Leu says it just requires more of what she considers good practice for every project—plenty of clear communication, highly detailed drawings, and strong working relationships.
Having just celebrated her firm’s sixth anniversary, Leu sees the Thirty Under 30 award as an opportunity to reinforce the objectives she’s already defined for her business. “I see it as a launching point, and I hope it keeps fueling me to push my own boundaries and that past and potential clients will appreciate that drive to always be striving to grow and to learn,” she says.
The designer has already had her work featured in the Des Moines Home Builders Association’s Tour of Remodeled Homes (where her collaborations have received several awards) as well as a number of design publications. She’s also returned to Iowa State’s College of Design to teach two residential design courses and to serve as a guest juror for student projects.
She is active in the industry through the Home Builders Association’s Remodelers Council and Professional Women in Building, the NKBA Iowa Chapter, as well as DSM Biz Ladies, a women’s networking group she founded in 2016.
“Awards and recognition are certainly always gratifying,” Leu says. “But this isn’t where it ends. It’s where it begins.”
In-Depth
Featured Stories
-
Reason to Celebrate (June 2022)
-
A Bright Future (May 2022)
-
Trends to Take Outdoors (May 2022)
-
A Reputation for Service (April 2022)
-
In Good Hands (March 2022)
-
Homeowners Splurge on Kitchen Countertops (March 2022)
-
Bridging the Gap (February 2022)
-
Design Trends 2022 Millennials Flexing Their Muscles (February 2022)
-
Riding The Wave 2022 (January 2022)
-
2022 Houzz Home Design Predictions (January 2022)
-
Quietly Leading The Way (December 2021)
-
Pet Ownership Soars Among Home Buyers (December 2021)
-
The Key to Making Dreams Possible (November 2021)
-
Spa-throom Design Trends (November 2021)
-
Extremely Meaningful (October 2021)
-
Top Six Emerging Trends (October 2021)
-
Up For The Challenge (September 2021)
-
The Family Business (August 2021)
-
A Mission to Accomplish (August 2021)
-
Making History (July 2021)
-
Responding to Change (June 2021)
-
‘Cloffices,’ Sweat Rooms, & DIY Determination (June 2021)
-
Doing Amazing Things (May 2021)
-
Moving Up, and Out (May 2021)
-
A Record Year (April 2021)
-
Outdoor Living at Home (March 2021)
-
A Long Strange Trip (March 2021)
-
Developing a Culture of Engagement (February 2021)
-
Kitchen Renovations Spotlight Storage (February 2021)
-
Unprecedented Times (January 2021)
-
2021 Houzz Home Design Predictions (January 2021)
-
Moving Forward (December 2020)
-
Cautious Optimism Continues (November 2020)
-
Conventions Amid a Pandemic (November 2020)
-
Designed to Grow (October 2020)
-
A Worthy Milestone (October 2020)
-
The Hometown of the Future (September 2020)
-
Rhythm of Color (September 2020)
-
Strength in Numbers (August 2020)
-
From 0 to 60 in No Time (July 2020)
-
Baby Boomers Drive Home Renovations (July 2020)
-
Learning to Dance in the Rain (June 2020)
-
2020 Vision (June 2020)
-
Weathering the Crisis (May 2020)
-
A Legacy of Leadership (April 2020)
-
COVID-19 and the Economy (April 2020)
-
Writing A New Story (March 2020)
-
Top Five Landscape Trends of 2020 (March 2020)
-
DMAAR Gala (February 2020)
-
The Hardest Contractor Jobs In America (February 2020)
-
Predictions for 2020 (January 2020)
-
8 Home Design Trends (January 2020)
-
Leading the Way (December 2019)
-
Showers Reign in Master Bathroom Remodels (December 2019)
-
A Growing Family (November 2019)
-
Giving Back (November 2019)
-
Meet Your Winners (October 2019)
-
The Top 4 Landscape Design Trends of Fall 2019 (October 2019)
-
A Decent Place to Live (September 2019)
-
It’s A Lovely Day in the Neighborhood (September 2019)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2019 Winners (August 2019)
-
Making Housing Unaffordable (August 2019)
-
A Reputation for Good Work (July 2019)
-
Aventura—Living An Active Lifestyle (July 2019)
-
Finding A New Home (June 2019)
-
Building A Bridge (May 2019)
-
It’s What’s on the Outside That Matters (May 2019)
-
Reimagining an Ancient Concept (April 2019)
-
Taking an Active Role (March 2019)
-
The Top Landscape Trends of 2019 (March 2019)
-
Advocacy in Action (February 2019)
-
Red-Carpet Celebration (February 2019)
-
Looking Back, Looking Ahead (January 2019)
-
Single Females Remain a Force in the Market (December 2018)
-
Innovating a Solution (December 2018)
-
A Talented Team (November 2018)
-
A Family Kind of Business (November 2018)
-
Color Trends Reflect Human Touch (October 2018)
-
Hammers & Heels (October 2018)
-
Honoring the Past, Building Toward the Future (September 2018)
-
Houzz Survey Finds Home Renovation Boom Continues (September 2018)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2018 Winners (August 2018)
-
Giving Back (August 2018)
-
Creating a Legacy (July 2018)
-
Time Well Spent (July 2018)
-
A Little Bit of Everything (June 2018)
-
Cooking Habits Impact Kitchen Design (June 2018)
-
All They Could Wish For (May 2018)
-
2018 Landscape Trends From the ASLA (May 2018)
-
A Seamless Transition (April 2018)
-
11th Annual Builder & Developer Luncheon (April 2018)
-
The Future of the Industry (March 2018)
-
Spotlight on the Top Design Trends (March 2018)
-
Top 2018 Kitchen Trends from Houzz (February 2018)
-
DMAAR Sells Out “Late Night” (February 2018)
-
Predictions for 2018 (January 2018)
-
Giving Back (January 2018)
-
In The Spotlight (December 2017)
-
The Inventory Crisis Will Drive the Market (December 2017)
-
Surpassing Expectations (November 2017)
-
Master Bathroom 2017 Trends (November 2017)
-
K&V Homes Celebrates 20 Years (October 2017)
-
The Top 5 Landscape Design Trends of Fall 2017 (October 2017)
-
Spreading the Message (September 2017)
-
Pantone’s Hottest Home Trends (September 2017)
-
11 Apps Every Building Professional Should Have (September 2017)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2017 Winners! (August 2017)
-
A Tiny Home Solution (August 2017)
-
Livin’ the Dream (July 2017)
-
There’s No Place Like Home (July 2017)
-
Meet the New Owners of Kline Electric (June 2017)
-
A Deeper Connection (May 2017)
-
Archadeck of Central Iowa Wins Grand Prize Award (April 2017)
-
Smart, Stylish & Sustainable (April 2017)
-
10th Annual Builder & Developer Luncheon (March 2017)
-
The Pro’s Picks for 2017 IBS New Products (March 2017)
-
Late Night with DMAAR (February 2017)
-
Real Estate Outlook for 2017 (January 2017)
-
Zillow’s Top Design Trend Predictions for 2017 (January 2017)
-
A Beautiful Combination (December 2016)
-
Renovating Homeowners Are Split on Smart Tech (December 2016)
-
Growing a Business (November 2016)
-
Making Today’s Homes More Owner-Friendly (November 2016)
-
The Right Tool for the Job (October 2016)
-
Master Bathrooms Going High Tech (October 2016)
-
Happy 40th Anniversary Shirley Bolton (September 2016)
-
Gray Tones in Your Homes (September 2016)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2016 Winners (August 2016)
-
Red House Remodeling Named To Big50 (July 2016)
-
Land for Sale? (July 2016)
-
The Best Kind of Recognition (June 2016)
-
Second Habitat ReStore Opens (June 2016)
-
Building the Next Generation (May 2016)
-
A Home of Its Own (May 2016)
-
Taking It To The Hill (April 2016)
-
Expert Perspective (March 2016)
-
Forward Thinking Design (March 2016)
-
Late Night With DMAAR® (February 2016)
-
Super Kitchen (February 2016)
-
It’s all in the Cards for 2016 (January 2016)
-
Most Home Builders are Small Businesses (January 2016)
-
Mind Your Manners (December 2015)
-
Doing Good (December 2015)
-
Plot Twist (December 2015)
-
Des Moines: Top of The List (November 2015)
-
Inspire Consumers (November 2015)
-
Building the Future (November 2015)
-
AIM Kitchen & Bath Named to Remodeling’s Big 550 (October 2015)
-
Sharing the Vision (October 2015)
-
An Opportunity for Growth (October 2015)
-
Bridging the Communication Gap (September 2015)
-
Americans Are Ready for the Smart Home (September 2015)
-
Who’s in Control? (September 2015)
-
Here Are Your Winners (August 2015)
-
Unified Codes a Distinct Possibility (August 2015)
-
DMAAR Rolls Out Safety Initiative (August 2015)
-
Leading the Old Fashioned Way (July 2015)
-
Built for Speed & Accuracy (July 2015)
-
Classic Builders Named to Builder Next 100 (June 2015)
-
Latest Residential Landscape Design Trends (June 2015)
-
Nicole McGlothlin LLS Woman of the Year (June 2015)
-
Mom’s the Boss (May 2015)
-
Contemporary Kitchens Surge in Popularity (May 2015)
-
Contemporary Spa Bath Leads Preferences (April 2015)
-
Seeing Green (April 2015)
-
Thriving in Wartime Conditions (March 2015)
-
Seeing the Silver Lining (February 2015)
-
Houzz Survey Finds Kitchens Outlast Most Marriages (February 2015)
-
15 Predictions for ’15 (January 2015)
-
How Healthy is your Home? (January 2015)
-
Where the Action Is (December 2014)
-
Move Over Millennials (December 2014)
-
Building a Future (November 2014)
-
Homeowners Looking to Add More Features (November 2014)
-
October Is National Kitchen & Bath Month (October 2014)
-
Sherwin-Williams Predicts Optimistic 2015 (October 2014)
-
Lotsa Lots? (September 2014)
-
Booming Ideas (September 2014)
-
HomeShowExpo Winners (August 2014)
-
Looking Ahead (July 2014)
-
Home Trends in the Metro (July 2014)
-
Builder Design Centers (June 2014)
-
Millennials are Changing the Marketplace (June 2014)
-
The Big Picture (May 2014)
-
The Value of Remodeling (May 2014)
-
Hot Trends: Kitchens & Baths (April 2014)
-
Big is Back (April 2014)
Do You Know
-
Do You Know: Tim Hicklin (September 2014)
-
Do You Know: Korey Beemer (July 2014)
-
Do You Know: Brenden Hannah (June 2014)
-
Do You Know: Jed Finley (May 2014)
A Conversation With
-
A Conversation With Cindy Pelz (August 2017)
-
Jennifer Schumann (June 2017)
-
A Conversation With Matt Ostanik (May 2017)
-
A Conversation With Linda Westergaard (March 2017)
-
A Conversation with Tawnya Neighbour (February 2017)
-
A Conversation with Victoria Veiock (January 2017)
-
A Conversation with Mark Reetz (December 2016)
-
A Conversation with Darius Jackson (November 2016)
-
A Conversation With Bob Burns (October 2016)
-
A Conversation With Marsha Bannister (September 2016)
-
A Conversation With Gavin Blair (August 2016)
-
A Conversation With Jay Iverson (July 2016)
-
A Conversation With Amy Spike (June 2016)
-
A Conversation with John Dunn (May 2016)
-
A Conversation with Sarah Kavalier (April 2016)
-
A Conversation With Kelly Gibson (March 2016)
-
A Conversation With Shannon Nathe (February 2016)
-
A Conversation with Vicki Davis (January 2016)
-
A Conversation With Jessica Terrill (December 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Ken Clark (November 2015)
-
A Conversation With Lindsay Black (October 2015)
-
A Conversation with John Peterson (September 2015)
-
A Conversation With Marshal Tolly (August 2015)
-
A Conversation With Tina Mowry Hadden (July 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Rick Parrino (June 2015)
-
A Conversation With Jenna Ekstrom (May 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Bill Blue (April 2015)
-
A Conversation With Rachel Delzell (February 2015)
-
A Conversation With Robin Polder (January 2015)
-
A Conversation With Reo Menning (December 2014)
-
A Conversation With: Jessica Reinert (November 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Dan Knoup (October 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Don Beal (September 2014)
-
Zak Fleming (August 2014)
-
A Conversation With: Brian Buresh (July 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Brennan Buckley (May 2014)
In-Depth
-
Bee Inspired (June 2022)
-
The Next Step (May 2022)
-
Just the Beginning (April 2022)
-
Proceed With Caution (March 2022)
-
Cross-Generational Housing (February 2022)
-
How Can We Help? (January 2022)
-
EEOC Update (December 2021)
-
Crunching the Numbers (November 2021)
-
Don’t Be SPOOKED (October 2021)
-
Wearing Multiple Hats (September 2021)
-
No End In Sight (August 2021)
-
Making Marshalltown Home (July 2021)
-
Continuing Education (June 2021)
-
Changing Perspective (May 2021)
-
Hard Hats Aren’t Enough (April 2021)
-
A Driving Force (March 2021)
-
A Winning Team (February 2021)
-
Building a Dream (January 2021)
-
The Joy of Reaching Out and Giving Back (December 2020)
-
Employee or Independent Contractor? (November 2020)
-
Contract Protections for Contractors (October 2020)
-
Seller’s Market (September 2020)
-
More Than a Shelter (August 2020)
-
Being the Change (July 2020)
-
All the Right Pieces (June 2020)
-
Contracts & COVID-19 (May 2020)
-
Impact on Unemployment Benefits (April 2020)
-
A Positive Outlook (March 2020)
-
Planning for Future Growth (February 2020)
-
2020 Color Trends (January 2020)
-
Worth Celebrating (December 2019)
-
Signs of Change (November 2019)
-
Sellers Beware (October 2019)
-
Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back (September 2019)
-
It’s A Win/Win (August 2019)
-
Starting From Scratch (July 2019)
-
Everybody Wins (May 2019)
-
Informed Decisions Begin Here (April 2019)
-
ISU to Offer Grad Degree in Real Estate Development (March 2019)
-
Tough Housing Market Ahead (January 2019)
-
Ring Day (December 2018)
-
Giving Back (November 2018)
-
Not Just Talk (October 2018)
-
Checks & Balances (September 2018)
-
550 Remodeling List Announced (July 2018)
-
Reaching Their Stride (June 2018)
-
The Slow Pace of Change (May 2018)
-
In Heels & Hardhats (April 2018)
-
Home Ownership Gets One Step Closer (February 2018)
-
New Year, New Merger (December 2017)
-
Cyber Liability Risks (November 2017)
-
The Significance of the Skilled Trades (October 2017)
-
Digital Design (September 2017)
-
Code Consortium Aims High (July 2017)
-
Builder Magazine’s Top 100 and Next 100 Named (June 2017)
-
Real Advice, Virtual Source (May 2017)
-
Authentic 3-D Printed Landscapes (April 2017)
-
A Win-Win for First-Time Home Buyers (March 2017)
-
Developers’ Dream: Free Land & Incentives in Osceola (February 2017)
-
Visions of Home (January 2017)
-
A Flicker of Hope (December 2016)
-
A Successful Group Effort (November 2016)
-
Finding A Solution (October 2016)
-
Emotional Factors Drive Purchase Decisions (September 2016)
-
Leaving the Paper Trail (August 2016)
-
For New Homes, Women a Tougher Sell (July 2016)
-
A Last Gift (June 2016)
-
Updates in the Affordable Care Act (April 2016)
-
Dreaming Big (February 2016)
-
New Study Suggests Strong Outlook for Green Homes (January 2016)
-
Majoring in Real Estate (May 2015)
-
Safety by the Numbers (April 2015)
-
Late Night with DMAAR® (March 2015)
-
Getting the Most from Your Exhibiting Experience (January 2015)
-
MJ Properties Is True to Ankeny’s Schools (December 2014)
-
A Deadly Threat in Iowa’s Homes (November 2014)
-
Copyright Infringement and the Internet (September 2014)
-
A Lasting Tribute (August 2014)
-
A Code is Born (July 2014)
-
Environmental Impact Awards (June 2014)
-
When a House Becomes a Home (June 2014)
-
Panelization: Advancing to Meet the Market (May 2014)
-
Leading the Field (April 2014)
Giving Back
-
A Lesson in Giving (January 2016)
-
Greenland Homes Pays it Forward to Children’s Cancer Connection (February 2015)
-
Habitat for Humanity Key Awards (October 2014)
-
A Long Road Home (August 2014)
-
Businesses Pay It Forward for Special Cause (July 2014)
-
A Decent Place to Live (April 2014)
In Remembrance
-
Terry Doling ()
-
Pat Mashek (August 2014)
Observations
-
Why Should You See a Financial Advisor? (June 2022)
-
Look Past These Life Insurance Myths (May 2022)
-
Housing Bubble or Buyer Bubble? (April 2022)
-
How Can You Improve Your Financial Fitness? (April 2022)
-
10 Ways To Market Your Construction Business (April 2022)
-
Should Inflation Affect Your Investment Moves? (March 2022)
-
Ten Tips On Writing Compelling Copy (March 2022)
-
2021 State of the Market for Real Estate (February 2022)
-
Overview of 2021 New Construction/Land Development (February 2022)
-
Financial Tips for the Self-Employed (February 2022)
-
What Negative Reviews Can Do to Ruin Your Business (February 2022)
-
Surviving 2021 Des Moines Real Estate (January 2022)
-
What Are Your Financial Resolutions For 2022? (January 2022)
-
Online Reputation Management Strategies (January 2022)
-
The Effects of an Extreme Seller’s Market (December 2021)
-
Use Year-End Bonus (or Gift) Wisely (December 2021)
-
Your Business Needs an Enemy (December 2021)
-
5 Ways to Build Trust Across the Digital Landscape (November 2021)
-
Ideas for Thanking Your Family (November 2021)
-
Six Year End Predictions for Des Moines Real Estate (November 2021)
-
Three Quarters Down—One To Go! (October 2021)
-
Open Enrollment Choices Can Have Big Financial Impact (October 2021)
-
Get a Jump-Start On 2022 Now (October 2021)
-
Have 2021 Homebuyers and Sellers Missed the Boat? (September 2021)
-
Labor Day: Make Investments Work as Hard as You Do (September 2021)
-
Words Are Still What Sell (September 2021)
-
Lessons From Experienced Investors (August 2021)
-
Social Media Versus Traditional Marketing Strategies (August 2021)
-
What A Difference A Year Makes (July 2021)
-
Work to Achieve Your Financial Independence (July 2021)
-
It’s Not A Real Estate Bubble (June 2021)
-
Governor Signs Mechanic’s Lien Bill (June 2021)
-
Plan Ahead for Generational Generosity (June 2021)
-
Taking Care of Business (May 2021)
-
March “Real Estate” Madness (April 2021)
-
Earth Day—Time to “Go Green” With Your Investments? (April 2021)
-
Construction Websites—What’s The Minimum? (April 2021)
-
Record High Sales and Record Low Inventory (March 2021)
-
Business Owners: Plan for Next Phase of Life (March 2021)
-
Des Moines Real Estate—2020 Annual Market Review (February 2021)
-
Financial Protection Can Be a Great Valentine’s Day Gift (February 2021)
-
Iowa Construction Industry Bills to Watch (February 2021)
-
Seven Tips to Get 2021 Off to a Great Start (February 2021)
-
The DOL Revisits Compensable Travel Time (January 2021)
-
Des Moines 2021 Housing Forecast (January 2021)
-
Investment Lessons from 2020 (January 2021)
-
You Had Me At Hello (January 2021)
-
To Post or Not to Post Progress Photos (December 2020)
-
Time for Some New Year’s Financial Resolutions (December 2020)
-
Where Are Des Moines Record Home Sales Coming From? (December 2020)
-
Fire Up the Crystal Ball (November 2020)
-
What Can Investors Learn from Veterans? (November 2020)
-
How to Keep Your Clients Long Term (November 2020)
-
What Will Real Estate Look Like After COVID-19? (October 2020)
-
Sustainable Investing Can Pay Off—in Several Ways (October 2020)
-
Eliminate the Tire Kickers (October 2020)
-
The Place Is Here, The Time is Now (September 2020)
-
Opportunities When Preparing for College Costs (September 2020)
-
How to Get Your Point Across Today (September 2020)
-
First Half of 2020 Unlike Any Other Year for Real Estate (August 2020)
-
Are Women Better Investors Than Men? (August 2020)
-
Form Follows Function (August 2020)
-
What the Titanic Can Teach You About Business (July 2020)
-
Year of the Relationship (June 2020)
-
2020 Iowa Legislative Session Recap (May 2020)
-
Unprecedented Times For Des Moines Real Estate (April 2020)
-
Use This Time to Build Better Systems (April 2020)
-
Don’t Let Fears Drive Your Investment Choices (April 2020)
-
Off To A Strong Start! (March 2020)
-
Time for Some Financial Spring Cleaning (March 2020)
-
How to Write Blog Content (March 2020)
-
What Can Investors Learn From “Big Game” Teams? (February 2020)
-
Build a Low Maintenance WordPress Website (February 2020)
-
Des Moines Real Estate—2019 Market Review (February 2020)
-
2019 New Construction Market Rallied Its Way Back (January 2020)
-
Change By Stopping the “Stupid Stuff” (January 2020)
-
Financial Tips for Snowbirds… Present and Future (January 2020)
-
Things Are Better Off Now Than This Time A Year Ago (December 2019)
-
Stay On Top Of Your Marketing Plan (December 2019)
-
Three Factors to Consider When Making Charitable Gifts (December 2019)
-
Compete All Four Quarters If You Want To Win (November 2019)
-
Know Your Numbers (November 2019)
-
Fed Lowers Target Rate for Third Time in 2019 (November 2019)
-
Share Your Financial Abundance with Your Family (November 2019)
-
Comparing to Your Neighbors’ Can Lead to Dissatisfaction (October 2019)
-
Make a Good First Impression With Your Website (October 2019)
-
Residential Real Estate: 3 Quarters Down, 1 To Go (October 2019)
-
Not Too Soon for End-of-Year Financial Moves (October 2019)
-
Will Market Outperform to Overcome the Slow Start? (September 2019)
-
Take a Break (You Deserve It) (September 2019)
-
You Can Work to Become a Better Investor (September 2019)
-
Home Sale Strategy—Proper Pricing is Crucial This Summer (August 2019)
-
Find New Business in What is Trending (August 2019)
-
Women: Don’t Forget About Your Retirement Plan (August 2019)
-
New Construction Year-Over-Year Numbers (July 2019)
-
Something Terrible This Way Comes (July 2019)
-
Work Toward Your Own Financial Independence Day (July 2019)
-
Another Way to Get Referrals (June 2019)
-
Don’t Let Your Investments Go on “Vacation” (June 2019)
-
New Construction Market Data (May 2019)
-
Contractors Must Proceed Cautiously (May 2019)
-
First Quarter Real Estate Sales Off To A Slow Start (April 2019)
-
Responding to Negative Social Media Comments (April 2019)
-
Are You One of These Bosses? (April 2019)
-
New Construction Market Data (March 2019)
-
4 Types of Facebook Ads that Will Help You (March 2019)
-
Hiring Checklist (March 2019)
-
How to Handle Employee Complaints (February 2019)
-
Today I’m Going to Talk About Doing it All (February 2019)
-
One Year Ends, Another One Begins in Real Estate (February 2019)
-
Let’s Talk Websites (January 2019)
-
End of the Year Projections (January 2019)
-
Transition from Employee to Effective Owner-Leader (January 2019)
-
2018 Des Moines Real Estate Year End Predictions (December 2018)
-
Your Business End of the Year Legal Checklist (December 2018)
-
Boundaries and Defined Responsibilities (December 2018)
-
Why People Don’t Always Buy the Lowest Price (November 2018)
-
Fall Brings Market Slowdown (November 2018)
-
Why Your Business Needs Proper Succession Planning (November 2018)
-
September Sneak Peek at Des Moines Home Sales (October 2018)
-
Former Employees And Your Right To Disclose (October 2018)
-
5 Steps to Achieve This Year’s Goals…This Year! (October 2018)
-
Closing Out the Summer New Construction Market (September 2018)
-
BYOD: Should Your Business Adopt This Policy? (September 2018)
-
Tips For Building a Great Website That Works (September 2018)
-
July 2018 Des Moines Real Estate Market Update (August 2018)
-
Your Best Advice Might Come from a Marriage Counselor (August 2018)
-
Five Website Mistakes to Fix This Summer (August 2018)
-
Non-Compete Agreements in Iowa (July 2018)
-
Summary Iowa Construction Industry Legislation (July 2018)
-
New Construction Market Segmentations (July 2018)
-
First Five Months is in the Books (June 2018)
-
Take it Down a Notch, Will Ya? (June 2018)
-
Spring Selling Season Picks Up (May 2018)
-
Misclassification Of Iowa Workers (May 2018)
-
A Snowy Start To 2018 Kept Des Moines Buyers Inside (April 2018)
-
How Long Should You Keep Business Records? (April 2018)
-
It’s Time to Grow (April 2018)
-
Construction Inventory on Track for 2018 (March 2018)
-
Staying on Track in the New Year (March 2018)
-
Iowa Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Workplace (March 2018)
-
The 2017 Year in Review for Residential Real Estate (February 2018)
-
Common Pitfalls When Running a Family Business (February 2018)
-
Free Marketing Tips You Can Use Now (February 2018)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong as the Year Ends (January 2018)
-
Pay Attention to These Things to Make it To Next Year! (January 2018)
-
Discrimination In The Hiring Process (January 2018)
-
Should An Unpaid Subcontractor Ever Walk Off The Job? (December 2017)
-
Why You Should Consider Facebook Advertisements (December 2017)
-
Des Moines 2017 Real Estate Sales Coming To A Close (December 2017)
-
Third Quarter Results Are Now In (November 2017)
-
Do I Need an Employee Handbook? (November 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Home Inventory On The Rebound (October 2017)
-
Trademarks and Business Protection (October 2017)
-
Unstuck Your Website (October 2017)
-
Rights Amongst Shareholders on Sale of Corporations (September 2017)
-
What is an Individual 401(k) Plan? (September 2017)
-
Does Your Website Pass the Smell Test? (September 2017)
-
Third Quarter Draws to an End (September 2017)
-
Are Home Values Rising in the Des Moines Market? (August 2017)
-
Obtaining and Conducting Business Using A DBA (August 2017)
-
The Underdog vs. The Big Fish (August 2017)
-
Considering an Employment Contract? (July 2017)
-
Old-School Context for a 21st-Century World (July 2017)
-
What are SEP IRAs? (July 2017)
-
Construction Branding (June 2017)
-
HBA of Iowa Legislative Recap 2017 (May 2017)
-
To Sign or Not to Sign (May 2017)
-
What is a SIMPLE? (May 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Market Softens a Bit (April 2017)
-
We Need to Talk (April 2017)
-
Barriers Holding Back Prospective Homebuyers (April 2017)
-
New Construction Market Starts Out Strong in 2017 (March 2017)
-
Radon—An Invisible Issue (March 2017)
-
Nine Great Ways To Turn Coffee Into A Job Interview (March 2017)
-
SEO Is Dead, Stop Chasing! (March 2017)
-
Boomerangs: Should You Rehire A Former Employee? (March 2017)
-
2016—The Residential Real Estate Year of Records (February 2017)
-
Important Terms in Construction Agreements (February 2017)
-
Five Social Media Tips For A Focused Marketing Strategy (February 2017)
-
Want More From Workers? Tell ’em to Take a Break (February 2017)
-
New Year, New Threats—Cyberattack Concerns (January 2017)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong (January 2017)
-
Business Leaders Need to Watch Out for Woodpeckers (January 2017)
-
What’s Your Data Backup Plan? (January 2017)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Market Enters “The Zen Zone” (December 2016)
-
Should Employers Postpone Overtime Overhaul? (December 2016)
-
Are You Still Asking Those Weird Interview Questions? (December 2016)
-
Is Your Password One Of These Phrases? Change It Now (December 2016)
-
Fourth Quarter Market Progresses Nicely (November 2016)
-
Non-Compete Agreements: Enforceable if Reasonable (November 2016)
-
How to Handle Angry Clients or Customers (November 2016)
-
Lazy Employees? 6 Workplace Issues to Blame (November 2016)
-
Why Your Marketing Isn’t Working (November 2016)
-
Milestones in Des Moines Residential Real Estate (October 2016)
-
Legal Essentials for Starting a New Business (October 2016)
-
Maintaining Commitment to Your Business (October 2016)
-
How To Build and Better Client Relationships (October 2016)
-
This Year’s Four Hottest Kitchen Trends (October 2016)
-
New Construction Market Still Strong in 3rd Quarter! (September 2016)
-
Drug Testing in the Workplace (September 2016)
-
The One Trait Truly Exceptional Salespeople Possess (September 2016)
-
Video Quality Matters: 5 Tips for Better Web Video (September 2016)
-
Is Your Board Exercising Its Fiduciary Duty? (August 2016)
-
Des Moines Home Sales—2016 Past, Present & Future (August 2016)
-
Start Being a Leader at Work (August 2016)
-
Social Media Cheat Sheet (August 2016)
-
When LLC Owners Are Personally Liable (July 2016)
-
Market Progresses Nicely in the Second Quarter (July 2016)
-
What Does Your Online Profile Say About You? (July 2016)
-
Regulation: 24.3% of the Average New Home Price (June 2016)
-
Managing Personal Use of Company Vehicles (June 2016)
-
9 Ways to Have Better Vacations (June 2016)
-
What’s Your Website Say About You? (June 2016)
-
Lawsuits in Iowa (May 2016)
-
3 Differences Between an Iowa LLC and a Corporation (April 2016)
-
A Gentleman’s Agreement (April 2016)
-
15 Home Builder Marketing Tips You Should Be Using! (April 2016)
-
How to Avoid Paying 4 Huge Taxes (April 2016)
-
How to Recruit a Great Salesperson (March 2016)
-
The New Construction Market Sees Robust Gains! (March 2016)
-
Tips to Getting Paid As a Subcontractor (February 2016)
-
Morning Habits to Recharge You And Your Business (February 2016)
-
On August 1, OSHA Penalties Are Going Up, Up, Up (February 2016)
-
The 7 Ways Most People Ruin Their Own Success (February 2016)
-
How to Measure Business Maturity (January 2016)
-
More Gains in Commercial Sector Next Year (January 2016)
-
It Will Cost You $5 to Fly Your Drone (January 2016)
-
Real Estate Des Moines Style—A Year To Remember (January 2016)
-
2015 New Construction Market To Finish Strong (January 2016)
-
Contractor Marketing in 2016? Instagram FTW! (December 2015)
-
Don’t Forget About Year-End Investment Planning (December 2015)
-
You’re a Better Boss When You’re a Better Teacher (December 2015)
-
Face-to-Face Selling Is Still Effective (December 2015)
-
Legal and Ethical Duties on a Construction Project (November 2015)
-
Making Team Meetings More Productive for the Workplace (November 2015)
-
10 Traits of Successful Salespeople (November 2015)
-
New Construction Market Still Remains Strong (November 2015)
-
5 Hidden Costs of Running a Business (October 2015)
-
10 Signs of a Really Scary Boss (October 2015)
-
The Big Picture of Des Moines Real Estate (October 2015)
-
7 Bad Habits That Stand in the Way of Your Success (October 2015)
-
Leaders Vs. Managers: What’s the Difference? (September 2015)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong (September 2015)
-
Dealing with Client Conflict (September 2015)
-
Marketing a Construction Business—The Ante (September 2015)
-
Money & Happiness: It’s Complicated (August 2015)
-
Is Criticism More Effective Than Praise? (August 2014)
-
Construction Marketing is About Know, Like, & Trust (August 2015)
-
New Construction Market Remains Strong (July 2015)
-
I’m Here To Save Your Company Money (July 2015)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Second Quarter 2015 Recap (July 2015)
-
Non-Competes in the Construction Industry (June 2015)
-
Why Being a Workaholic is Actually a Bad Thing (June 2015)
-
10 Reasons to Update Your Website (June 2015)
-
7 Baby Boomer Housing Trends to Watch (June 2015)
-
Attract Buyers With Social Media (May 2015)
-
Des Moines Real Estate First Quarter 2015 Recap (April 2015)
-
Marketing Your Blog (April 2015)
-
Dos and Don’ts to Keep You Out of Court (April 2015)
-
It Pays to Own a Home (March 2015)
-
What Do Today’s Homebuyers Really Want? (March 2015)
-
2014 New Home Market Recap and Start of 2015 Numbers (March 2015)
-
Roof Colors Gravitating to Gray (February 2015)
-
Why Contractors Need to Create Powerful Testimonials (February 2015)
-
Consider the Real Rate of Return on Your Money (February 2015)
-
The Real Cost of Employee Turnover in Des Moines (February 2015)
-
2014 Des Moines Real Estate Sales—It’s a Wrap (January 2015)
-
Cities Build Too: Getting Paid On Public Improvements (January 2015)
-
How To Think About Marketing Going Into 2015 (December 2014)
-
5 Success Limiting Actions Contractors Should Avoid (December 2014)
-
Should You Hire for Skills or for Personality? (December 2014)
-
Trade Secret and Patents (December 2014)
-
Consider These 10 Basic Tax To-Dos for the Rest of 2014 (November 2014)
-
11 Things Your Employees Want You to Tell Them Every Day (November 2014)
-
Content Marketing Versus Traditional Advertising (November 2014)
-
Handshakes are Nice… But Contracts Are Legal (November 2014)
-
Is it Time for Electronic Filings of Legal Documents? (October 2014)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Recovery Confirmed (October 2014)
-
Iowa Insurers Wrongfully Deny Coverage for Defective Construction (September 2014)
-
Networking Mistakes to Avoid (August 2014)
-
Review Your Life Insurance Needs (August 2014)
-
Drones: Will They Fly in Iowa? (August 2014)
-
Des Moines Real Estate Supply & Demand (July 2014)
-
Top Ten Issues Affecting Real Estate (July 2014)
-
Transferring Your Business to Your Children (June 2014)
-
Like-Kind Exchanges (June 2014)
-
Four Ways to Establish a Leadership Style (June 2014)
-
Subcontractors Can’t Be Sued—For Now (May 2014)
-
HBAI Recap: 2014 Iowa Legislative Session (May 2014)
-
Revised Mechanic Lien Law (April 2014)
-
100 Graduates Ready To Work For You (April 2014)
-
Don’t Neglect Your Own Retirement Plan (April 2014)
-
How to Gain Respect in the Workplace as a Manager (April 2014)
Outlook from the 15th-Annual Builder & Developer Luncheon.
On Thursday, February 24, Peoples Company and Diligent Development hosted their 15th-Annual Builder & Developer Luncheon in West Des Moines. As usual, three speakers addressed the audience of local construction industry professionals, offering national and local perspectives on the economic outlook for 2022.
With two years of pandemic effects in the rear-view mirror and international unrest around every corner, Kalen Ludwig’s analogy to a high-speed auto race was an appropriate comparison.
As you’ll read below, the consensus from each of the experts seems to be “We’re moving forward steadily, but proceed with caution.”
Michael Neal: The long-range view
Michael Neal, a principal research associate with the Urban Institute in Washington, D.C., in the Housing Finance Policy Center, presented a macro view of the current economy and its potential impact on the local construction market.
Although it comes as no surprise to anyone who’s been involved in the home construction or real estate market in central Iowa over the past several years, Neal said that the strong demand that is expected to continue this year is putting additional strain on supply issues.
In addition, he says other national indicators raise caution flags as well. “Productivity, which is a measure of output per hour, hasn’t recovered as well. Labor-force participation rate is actually trending downward, which affects business capacity.”
Wages for those who are working are trending upward, however, which could support continued activity in both home sales and remodeling if concerns over inflation and interest rates don’t create buyer hesitation.“Categories like food and energy prices are both high right now, which are two of the most volatile markets for consumers. Even typically nonvolatile markets are rising drastically,” Neal says.
Because interest rates tend to follow the 10-year Treasury, which is currently climbing, Neal anticipates bank prime rates to rise and affect the cost of borrowing for both consumers and businesses. One potential effect for which economists are watching is the possibility of a recession a year or so down the road.
As Neal says, predicting the future is always a delicate business. “Nuance is needed,” he says. “Yes, there’s uncertainty as always. But knowing the worst and best possible outcomes, as well as their likelihood, helps balance perspective.”
Neal’s balanced perspective indicates single-family construction will flatten over the course of 2022, with multifamily construction and remodeling both increasing slightly.
Jay Byers: The central Iowa region
Jay Byers, President and CEO of the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the regional economic development organization that serves 10 central Iowa counties, highlighted projects in the works as well as reasons for optimism moving forward.
Central Iowa was already on numerous Top 10 lists, Byers says, and the pandemic has just reinforced that ranking. “Des Moines was named one of the top 10 cities in the country postpandemic because it has big-city amenities but is small enough to offer a lifestyle that allows residents to connect with their neighbors and their community.”
Another advantage Des Moines offers is its cost of living. Byers says, “Affordability remains a long-term advantage. Cost of living and the cost of doing business are both well below the national average,” which draws companies here as well as employees.
Over the past two decades, both population and employer growth have outstripped that of other Midwestern cities, with population growing 40% in just the past 10 years. “We were poised well with a number of economic development projects in the works prepandemic, which set us up for continued growth,” Byers says.
Despite COVID, those projects didn’t stall. Among them are the largest open skateboard park in the country; the Des Moines Industrial Transload Facility, connecting two interstates and multiple railroad lines; a water trails project that connects over 100 miles of water trails; a professional soccer stadium that will host Iowa’s first United Soccer League team; and a new, modern airport terminal.
Byers says an uncertain economy doesn’t have to result in an uncertain future. As Peter Drucker said in one of Byers’ favorite quotes, “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
Kalen Ludwig: Metro Housing Stats
Peoples Company REALTOR® Kalen Ludwig concluded the luncheon with a presentation of the latest new-construction and housing statistics for the metro area, likening the current market to a high-speed auto race.
She says, “Everything is moving so very fast that one cannot help but wonder how long can it last. Eventually the home prices will have to meet the rising interest rates. Should you pump your brakes or keep your foot on the gas?”
Reviewing statistics from 19 communities around the metro, Ludwig says one of the most striking numbers is the percentage of resale properties on the MLS. “Typically, about 30% of listings are new construction,” she says. “That percentage is flipped right now, with 71% of active listings new construction.” That means the current listings provide just one month’s supply of resale properties compared to a decade ago, when inventory typically reflected six months’ supply.
Over the past year, that high-speed market has resulted in more than a 10% increase in home prices. “Low interest rates have kept payments level, but that could be changing as interest rates rise and income levels flatten,” Ludwig says.
Comparing numbers from metro communities, Ankeny, Waukee, Urbandale, and West Des Moines remained at the top in permits pulled in 2021. Rural communities, however, saw the greatest percentage growth, with Cumming leading that category with 89% growth.
Another statistic that’s changed dramatically in the past two years is townhome sales, which have rebounded since the pandemic, when those properties typically sat on the market much longer than single-family properties.
Ludwig’s slide presentation, comparing listings and sales for 2021 and also statistics such as lots in development and permits pulled, provides an indication of what to expect for 2022.
“Looking at these numbers, there are questions I’ll be considering going forward,” says Ludwig (see her website). “But one other question remains: Does one put the pedal to the metal or brake for a cautionary turn ahead? One thing can be certain, no road is smooth forever.”
In-Depth
Featured Stories
-
Reason to Celebrate (June 2022)
-
A Bright Future (May 2022)
-
Trends to Take Outdoors (May 2022)
-
A Reputation for Service (April 2022)
-
In Good Hands (March 2022)
-
Homeowners Splurge on Kitchen Countertops (March 2022)
-
Bridging the Gap (February 2022)
-
Design Trends 2022 Millennials Flexing Their Muscles (February 2022)
-
Riding The Wave 2022 (January 2022)
-
2022 Houzz Home Design Predictions (January 2022)
-
Quietly Leading The Way (December 2021)
-
Pet Ownership Soars Among Home Buyers (December 2021)
-
The Key to Making Dreams Possible (November 2021)
-
Spa-throom Design Trends (November 2021)
-
Extremely Meaningful (October 2021)
-
Top Six Emerging Trends (October 2021)
-
Up For The Challenge (September 2021)
-
The Family Business (August 2021)
-
A Mission to Accomplish (August 2021)
-
Making History (July 2021)
-
Responding to Change (June 2021)
-
‘Cloffices,’ Sweat Rooms, & DIY Determination (June 2021)
-
Doing Amazing Things (May 2021)
-
Moving Up, and Out (May 2021)
-
A Record Year (April 2021)
-
Outdoor Living at Home (March 2021)
-
A Long Strange Trip (March 2021)
-
Developing a Culture of Engagement (February 2021)
-
Kitchen Renovations Spotlight Storage (February 2021)
-
Unprecedented Times (January 2021)
-
2021 Houzz Home Design Predictions (January 2021)
-
Moving Forward (December 2020)
-
Cautious Optimism Continues (November 2020)
-
Conventions Amid a Pandemic (November 2020)
-
Designed to Grow (October 2020)
-
A Worthy Milestone (October 2020)
-
The Hometown of the Future (September 2020)
-
Rhythm of Color (September 2020)
-
Strength in Numbers (August 2020)
-
From 0 to 60 in No Time (July 2020)
-
Baby Boomers Drive Home Renovations (July 2020)
-
Learning to Dance in the Rain (June 2020)
-
2020 Vision (June 2020)
-
Weathering the Crisis (May 2020)
-
A Legacy of Leadership (April 2020)
-
COVID-19 and the Economy (April 2020)
-
Writing A New Story (March 2020)
-
Top Five Landscape Trends of 2020 (March 2020)
-
DMAAR Gala (February 2020)
-
The Hardest Contractor Jobs In America (February 2020)
-
Predictions for 2020 (January 2020)
-
8 Home Design Trends (January 2020)
-
Leading the Way (December 2019)
-
Showers Reign in Master Bathroom Remodels (December 2019)
-
A Growing Family (November 2019)
-
Giving Back (November 2019)
-
Meet Your Winners (October 2019)
-
The Top 4 Landscape Design Trends of Fall 2019 (October 2019)
-
A Decent Place to Live (September 2019)
-
It’s A Lovely Day in the Neighborhood (September 2019)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2019 Winners (August 2019)
-
Making Housing Unaffordable (August 2019)
-
A Reputation for Good Work (July 2019)
-
Aventura—Living An Active Lifestyle (July 2019)
-
Finding A New Home (June 2019)
-
Building A Bridge (May 2019)
-
It’s What’s on the Outside That Matters (May 2019)
-
Reimagining an Ancient Concept (April 2019)
-
Taking an Active Role (March 2019)
-
The Top Landscape Trends of 2019 (March 2019)
-
Advocacy in Action (February 2019)
-
Red-Carpet Celebration (February 2019)
-
Looking Back, Looking Ahead (January 2019)
-
Single Females Remain a Force in the Market (December 2018)
-
Innovating a Solution (December 2018)
-
A Talented Team (November 2018)
-
A Family Kind of Business (November 2018)
-
Color Trends Reflect Human Touch (October 2018)
-
Hammers & Heels (October 2018)
-
Honoring the Past, Building Toward the Future (September 2018)
-
Houzz Survey Finds Home Renovation Boom Continues (September 2018)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2018 Winners (August 2018)
-
Giving Back (August 2018)
-
Creating a Legacy (July 2018)
-
Time Well Spent (July 2018)
-
A Little Bit of Everything (June 2018)
-
Cooking Habits Impact Kitchen Design (June 2018)
-
All They Could Wish For (May 2018)
-
2018 Landscape Trends From the ASLA (May 2018)
-
A Seamless Transition (April 2018)
-
11th Annual Builder & Developer Luncheon (April 2018)
-
The Future of the Industry (March 2018)
-
Spotlight on the Top Design Trends (March 2018)
-
Top 2018 Kitchen Trends from Houzz (February 2018)
-
DMAAR Sells Out “Late Night” (February 2018)
-
Predictions for 2018 (January 2018)
-
Giving Back (January 2018)
-
In The Spotlight (December 2017)
-
The Inventory Crisis Will Drive the Market (December 2017)
-
Surpassing Expectations (November 2017)
-
Master Bathroom 2017 Trends (November 2017)
-
K&V Homes Celebrates 20 Years (October 2017)
-
The Top 5 Landscape Design Trends of Fall 2017 (October 2017)
-
Spreading the Message (September 2017)
-
Pantone’s Hottest Home Trends (September 2017)
-
11 Apps Every Building Professional Should Have (September 2017)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2017 Winners! (August 2017)
-
A Tiny Home Solution (August 2017)
-
Livin’ the Dream (July 2017)
-
There’s No Place Like Home (July 2017)
-
Meet the New Owners of Kline Electric (June 2017)
-
A Deeper Connection (May 2017)
-
Archadeck of Central Iowa Wins Grand Prize Award (April 2017)
-
Smart, Stylish & Sustainable (April 2017)
-
10th Annual Builder & Developer Luncheon (March 2017)
-
The Pro’s Picks for 2017 IBS New Products (March 2017)
-
Late Night with DMAAR (February 2017)
-
Real Estate Outlook for 2017 (January 2017)
-
Zillow’s Top Design Trend Predictions for 2017 (January 2017)
-
A Beautiful Combination (December 2016)
-
Renovating Homeowners Are Split on Smart Tech (December 2016)
-
Growing a Business (November 2016)
-
Making Today’s Homes More Owner-Friendly (November 2016)
-
The Right Tool for the Job (October 2016)
-
Master Bathrooms Going High Tech (October 2016)
-
Happy 40th Anniversary Shirley Bolton (September 2016)
-
Gray Tones in Your Homes (September 2016)
-
Meet Your HomeShowExpo 2016 Winners (August 2016)
-
Red House Remodeling Named To Big50 (July 2016)
-
Land for Sale? (July 2016)
-
The Best Kind of Recognition (June 2016)
-
Second Habitat ReStore Opens (June 2016)
-
Building the Next Generation (May 2016)
-
A Home of Its Own (May 2016)
-
Taking It To The Hill (April 2016)
-
Expert Perspective (March 2016)
-
Forward Thinking Design (March 2016)
-
Late Night With DMAAR® (February 2016)
-
Super Kitchen (February 2016)
-
It’s all in the Cards for 2016 (January 2016)
-
Most Home Builders are Small Businesses (January 2016)
-
Mind Your Manners (December 2015)
-
Doing Good (December 2015)
-
Plot Twist (December 2015)
-
Des Moines: Top of The List (November 2015)
-
Inspire Consumers (November 2015)
-
Building the Future (November 2015)
-
AIM Kitchen & Bath Named to Remodeling’s Big 550 (October 2015)
-
Sharing the Vision (October 2015)
-
An Opportunity for Growth (October 2015)
-
Bridging the Communication Gap (September 2015)
-
Americans Are Ready for the Smart Home (September 2015)
-
Who’s in Control? (September 2015)
-
Here Are Your Winners (August 2015)
-
Unified Codes a Distinct Possibility (August 2015)
-
DMAAR Rolls Out Safety Initiative (August 2015)
-
Leading the Old Fashioned Way (July 2015)
-
Built for Speed & Accuracy (July 2015)
-
Classic Builders Named to Builder Next 100 (June 2015)
-
Latest Residential Landscape Design Trends (June 2015)
-
Nicole McGlothlin LLS Woman of the Year (June 2015)
-
Mom’s the Boss (May 2015)
-
Contemporary Kitchens Surge in Popularity (May 2015)
-
Contemporary Spa Bath Leads Preferences (April 2015)
-
Seeing Green (April 2015)
-
Thriving in Wartime Conditions (March 2015)
-
Seeing the Silver Lining (February 2015)
-
Houzz Survey Finds Kitchens Outlast Most Marriages (February 2015)
-
15 Predictions for ’15 (January 2015)
-
How Healthy is your Home? (January 2015)
-
Where the Action Is (December 2014)
-
Move Over Millennials (December 2014)
-
Building a Future (November 2014)
-
Homeowners Looking to Add More Features (November 2014)
-
October Is National Kitchen & Bath Month (October 2014)
-
Sherwin-Williams Predicts Optimistic 2015 (October 2014)
-
Lotsa Lots? (September 2014)
-
Booming Ideas (September 2014)
-
HomeShowExpo Winners (August 2014)
-
Looking Ahead (July 2014)
-
Home Trends in the Metro (July 2014)
-
Builder Design Centers (June 2014)
-
Millennials are Changing the Marketplace (June 2014)
-
The Big Picture (May 2014)
-
The Value of Remodeling (May 2014)
-
Hot Trends: Kitchens & Baths (April 2014)
-
Big is Back (April 2014)
Do You Know
-
Do You Know: Tim Hicklin (September 2014)
-
Do You Know: Korey Beemer (July 2014)
-
Do You Know: Brenden Hannah (June 2014)
-
Do You Know: Jed Finley (May 2014)
A Conversation With
-
A Conversation With Cindy Pelz (August 2017)
-
Jennifer Schumann (June 2017)
-
A Conversation With Matt Ostanik (May 2017)
-
A Conversation With Linda Westergaard (March 2017)
-
A Conversation with Tawnya Neighbour (February 2017)
-
A Conversation with Victoria Veiock (January 2017)
-
A Conversation with Mark Reetz (December 2016)
-
A Conversation with Darius Jackson (November 2016)
-
A Conversation With Bob Burns (October 2016)
-
A Conversation With Marsha Bannister (September 2016)
-
A Conversation With Gavin Blair (August 2016)
-
A Conversation With Jay Iverson (July 2016)
-
A Conversation With Amy Spike (June 2016)
-
A Conversation with John Dunn (May 2016)
-
A Conversation with Sarah Kavalier (April 2016)
-
A Conversation With Kelly Gibson (March 2016)
-
A Conversation With Shannon Nathe (February 2016)
-
A Conversation with Vicki Davis (January 2016)
-
A Conversation With Jessica Terrill (December 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Ken Clark (November 2015)
-
A Conversation With Lindsay Black (October 2015)
-
A Conversation with John Peterson (September 2015)
-
A Conversation With Marshal Tolly (August 2015)
-
A Conversation With Tina Mowry Hadden (July 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Rick Parrino (June 2015)
-
A Conversation With Jenna Ekstrom (May 2015)
-
A Conversation With: Bill Blue (April 2015)
-
A Conversation With Rachel Delzell (February 2015)
-
A Conversation With Robin Polder (January 2015)
-
A Conversation With Reo Menning (December 2014)
-
A Conversation With: Jessica Reinert (November 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Dan Knoup (October 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Don Beal (September 2014)
-
Zak Fleming (August 2014)
-
A Conversation With: Brian Buresh (July 2014)
-
A Conversation with: Brennan Buckley (May 2014)
In-Depth
-
Bee Inspired (June 2022)
-
The Next Step (May 2022)
-
Just the Beginning (April 2022)
-
Proceed With Caution (March 2022)
-
Cross-Generational Housing (February 2022)
-
How Can We Help? (January 2022)
-
EEOC Update (December 2021)
-
Crunching the Numbers (November 2021)
-
Don’t Be SPOOKED (October 2021)
-
Wearing Multiple Hats (September 2021)
-
No End In Sight (August 2021)
-
Making Marshalltown Home (July 2021)
-
Continuing Education (June 2021)
-
Changing Perspective (May 2021)
-
Hard Hats Aren’t Enough (April 2021)
-
A Driving Force (March 2021)
-
A Winning Team (February 2021)
-
Building a Dream (January 2021)
-
The Joy of Reaching Out and Giving Back (December 2020)
-
Employee or Independent Contractor? (November 2020)
-
Contract Protections for Contractors (October 2020)
-
Seller’s Market (September 2020)
-
More Than a Shelter (August 2020)
-
Being the Change (July 2020)
-
All the Right Pieces (June 2020)
-
Contracts & COVID-19 (May 2020)
-
Impact on Unemployment Benefits (April 2020)
-
A Positive Outlook (March 2020)
-
Planning for Future Growth (February 2020)
-
2020 Color Trends (January 2020)
-
Worth Celebrating (December 2019)
-
Signs of Change (November 2019)
-
Sellers Beware (October 2019)
-
Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back (September 2019)
-
It’s A Win/Win (August 2019)
-
Starting From Scratch (July 2019)
-
Everybody Wins (May 2019)
-
Informed Decisions Begin Here (April 2019)
-
ISU to Offer Grad Degree in Real Estate Development (March 2019)
-
Tough Housing Market Ahead (January 2019)
-
Ring Day (December 2018)
-
Giving Back (November 2018)
-
Not Just Talk (October 2018)
-
Checks & Balances (September 2018)
-
550 Remodeling List Announced (July 2018)
-
Reaching Their Stride (June 2018)
-
The Slow Pace of Change (May 2018)
-
In Heels & Hardhats (April 2018)
-
Home Ownership Gets One Step Closer (February 2018)
-
New Year, New Merger (December 2017)
-
Cyber Liability Risks (November 2017)
-
The Significance of the Skilled Trades (October 2017)
-
Digital Design (September 2017)
-
Code Consortium Aims High (July 2017)
-
Builder Magazine’s Top 100 and Next 100 Named (June 2017)
-
Real Advice, Virtual Source (May 2017)
-
Authentic 3-D Printed Landscapes (April 2017)
-
A Win-Win for First-Time Home Buyers (March 2017)
-
Developers’ Dream: Free Land & Incentives in Osceola (February 2017)
-
Visions of Home (January 2017)
-
A Flicker of Hope (December 2016)
-
A Successful Group Effort (November 2016)
-
Finding A Solution (October 2016)
-
Emotional Factors Drive Purchase Decisions (September 2016)
-
Leaving the Paper Trail (August 2016)
-
For New Homes, Women a Tougher Sell (July 2016)
-
A Last Gift (June 2016)
-
Updates in the Affordable Care Act (April 2016)
-
Dreaming Big (February 2016)
-
New Study Suggests Strong Outlook for Green Homes (January 2016)
-
Majoring in Real Estate (May 2015)
-
Safety by the Numbers (April 2015)
-
Late Night with DMAAR® (March 2015)
-
Getting the Most from Your Exhibiting Experience (January 2015)
-
MJ Properties Is True to Ankeny’s Schools (December 2014)
-
A Deadly Threat in Iowa’s Homes (November 2014)
-
Copyright Infringement and the Internet (September 2014)
-
A Lasting Tribute (August 2014)
-
A Code is Born (July 2014)
-
Environmental Impact Awards (June 2014)
-
When a House Becomes a Home (June 2014)
-
Panelization: Advancing to Meet the Market (May 2014)
-
Leading the Field (April 2014)
Giving Back
-
A Lesson in Giving (January 2016)
-
Greenland Homes Pays it Forward to Children’s Cancer Connection (February 2015)
-
Habitat for Humanity Key Awards (October 2014)
-
A Long Road Home (August 2014)
-
Businesses Pay It Forward for Special Cause (July 2014)
-
A Decent Place to Live (April 2014)
In Remembrance
-
Terry Doling ()
-
Pat Mashek (August 2014)
Observations
-
Why Should You See a Financial Advisor? (June 2022)
-
Look Past These Life Insurance Myths (May 2022)
-
Housing Bubble or Buyer Bubble? (April 2022)
-
How Can You Improve Your Financial Fitness? (April 2022)
-
10 Ways To Market Your Construction Business (April 2022)
-
Should Inflation Affect Your Investment Moves? (March 2022)
-
Ten Tips On Writing Compelling Copy (March 2022)
-
2021 State of the Market for Real Estate (February 2022)
-
Overview of 2021 New Construction/Land Development (February 2022)
-
Financial Tips for the Self-Employed (February 2022)
-
What Negative Reviews Can Do to Ruin Your Business (February 2022)
-
Surviving 2021 Des Moines Real Estate (January 2022)
-
What Are Your Financial Resolutions For 2022? (January 2022)
-
Online Reputation Management Strategies (January 2022)
-
The Effects of an Extreme Seller’s Market (December 2021)
-
Use Year-End Bonus (or Gift) Wisely (December 2021)
-
Your Business Needs an Enemy (December 2021)
-
5 Ways to Build Trust Across the Digital Landscape (November 2021)
-
Ideas for Thanking Your Family (November 2021)
-
Six Year End Predictions for Des Moines Real Estate (November 2021)
-
Three Quarters Down—One To Go! (October 2021)
-
Open Enrollment Choices Can Have Big Financial Impact (October 2021)
-
Get a Jump-Start On 2022 Now (October 2021)
-
Have 2021 Homebuyers and Sellers Missed the Boat? (September 2021)
-
Labor Day: Make Investments Work as Hard as You Do (September 2021)
-
Words Are Still What Sell (September 2021)
-
Lessons From Experienced Investors (August 2021)
-
Social Media Versus Traditional Marketing Strategies (August 2021)
-
What A Difference A Year Makes (July 2021)
-
Work to Achieve Your Financial Independence (July 2021)
-
It’s Not A Real Estate Bubble (June 2021)
-
Governor Signs Mechanic’s Lien Bill (June 2021)
-
Plan Ahead for Generational Generosity (June 2021)
-
Taking Care of Business (May 2021)
-
March “Real Estate” Madness (April 2021)
-
Earth Day—Time to “Go Green” With Your Investments? (April 2021)
-
Construction Websites—What’s The Minimum? (April 2021)
-
Record High Sales and Record Low Inventory (March 2021)
-
Business Owners: Plan for Next Phase of Life (March 2021)
-
Des Moines Real Estate—2020 Annual Market Review (February 2021)
-
Financial Protection Can Be a Great Valentine’s Day Gift (February 2021)
-
Iowa Construction Industry Bills to Watch (February 2021)
-
Seven Tips to Get 2021 Off to a Great Start (February 2021)
-
The DOL Revisits Compensable Travel Time (January 2021)
-
Des Moines 2021 Housing Forecast (January 2021)
-
Investment Lessons from 2020 (January 2021)
-
You Had Me At Hello (January 2021)
-
To Post or Not to Post Progress Photos (December 2020)
-
Time for Some New Year’s Financial Resolutions (December 2020)
-
Where Are Des Moines Record Home Sales Coming From? (December 2020)
-
Fire Up the Crystal Ball (November 2020)
-
What Can Investors Learn from Veterans? (November 2020)
-
How to Keep Your Clients Long Term (November 2020)
-
What Will Real Estate Look Like After COVID-19? (October 2020)
-
Sustainable Investing Can Pay Off—in Several Ways (October 2020)