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EP63 From Water Meters to Trading Land with Sean Asada

The Investing in Iowa Show

Release Date: 02/05/2025

EP90 From 73 Units to 3,000: Karie Kading Ramsey on Growth, Grit, and Getting It Done in Iowa EP90 From 73 Units to 3,000: Karie Kading Ramsey on Growth, Grit, and Getting It Done in Iowa"

The Investing in Iowa Show

What if your biggest impact came from the job you never planned to take?  Karie Kading Ramsey didn’t set out to lead her family’s housing business, but once she did, she transformed it. This episode dives into how she’s redefining affordable housing in Iowa, balancing rapid growth with deep community partnerships, and leading with heart in an industry shaped by dollars and decisions. In this episode, we sit down with Karie Kading Ramsey, CEO of Kading Properties, to talk about her unexpected entry into the family business and her mission to provide workforce housing that truly...

info_outline EP89 Todd Mendenhall: From $10K and a Mop Bucket to a 90-Country Perspective on Business show art EP89 Todd Mendenhall: From $10K and a Mop Bucket to a 90-Country Perspective on Business

The Investing in Iowa Show

What does it take to turn a college side hustle into a portfolio of multi-million dollar businesses?  For Todd Mendenhall, it started with a mop and a mindset. In this episode, Todd shares how grit, focus, and knowing your lane helped him build, scale, and sell companies—while staying grounded in values that outlast any market cycle. In this candid conversation, entrepreneur Todd Mendenhall opens up about the journey from founding a janitorial business during college to launching and exiting multiple companies across industries like recycling, logistics, and real estate. He shares...

info_outline EP88 The Silo Solution: Turning Concrete into Community (and Cocktails) with Scott Turczynski show art EP88 The Silo Solution: Turning Concrete into Community (and Cocktails) with Scott Turczynski

The Investing in Iowa Show

What if the symbol of Iowa’s past—an old grain silo—could become the future of community, commerce, and inclusivity? Scott Turczynski isn’t just building structures—he’s building meaning. From navigating a life-changing injury to leading one of the Midwest’s boldest redevelopment projects, Scott’s story is one of resilience, purpose, and creative transformation. In this inspiring episode, we’re joined by Scott Turczynski, COO of Heartland Finishes and co-founder of HRTLND Companies. Scott shares his journey from small-town Iowa to the helm of ambitious commercial...

info_outline EP87 Bill Kimberley on 47 Years of Building, Betting on Ankeny, and Surviving Every Market Cycle show art EP87 Bill Kimberley on 47 Years of Building, Betting on Ankeny, and Surviving Every Market Cycle

The Investing in Iowa Show

What do you get when you mix a farm kid’s work ethic with an entrepreneur’s vision? A construction empire built from grit, faith, and fearlessness. In this episode, Bill Kimberley shares the ups, downs, and lessons of starting a business at 21 and growing it into one of Iowa’s most respected development firms. Whether you’re a builder, dreamer, or leader, his story will leave you inspired to take bold steps—no matter the market. This week, we sit down with Bill Kimberley, founder of Kimberley Development Corporation, whose four-decade career in construction and real estate is rooted...

info_outline EP86 Brett Olsen on Building Iowa’s Only Real Estate Degree (and Why It Matters Now More Than Ever) show art EP86 Brett Olsen on Building Iowa’s Only Real Estate Degree (and Why It Matters Now More Than Ever)

The Investing in Iowa Show

What happens when an engineer walks into the world of finance and real estate? Brett Olsen didn’t just pivot—he transformed a university program, helped launch countless careers, and built a bridge between theory and real-world success. If you’re curious about how practical education is shaping the next wave of real estate leaders, this episode is for you. In this episode, we sit down with Brett Olsen, Head of the Finance and Real Estate Department at the University of Northern Iowa. Brett opens up about his surprising journey from mechanical engineering to academia, and how that shift...

info_outline EP85 Build, Lease, Repeat: Inside 10 Million SF with R&R Realty with Adam Kaduce & Nathan Rupprecht show art EP85 Build, Lease, Repeat: Inside 10 Million SF with R&R Realty with Adam Kaduce & Nathan Rupprecht

The Investing in Iowa Show

In this episode, we sit down with Nathan Rupprecht and Adam Kaduce of R&R Realty Group to explore how Iowa roots, legal know-how, and relationship-first strategies are driving commercial real estate innovation in Des Moines. From office evolution to industrial stabilization, Nathan and Adam unpack how R&R is staying ahead of the curve in a shifting market—and why Des Moines may just be the perfect storm for sustainable development and smart investing. 🔑 Top 5 Takeaways: • Adam’s legal background gives him a sharp edge in deal structuring and negotiations, helping clients...

info_outline EP84 From Flips to Fortunes: How Market Cycles Taught Me What to Hold show art EP84 From Flips to Fortunes: How Market Cycles Taught Me What to Hold

The Investing in Iowa Show

What happens when an 18-year-old residential real estate investor evolves into a data-driven commercial real estate leader with $100M+ in sales? In this episode, Jared Husmann shares the hard-earned lessons, mindset shifts, and frameworks that helped him transition from residential headaches to commercial clarity. From leveraging Dan Sullivan’s Strategic Coach program to implementing RUBS, Jared breaks down what today’s investors need to survive—and thrive—in a rapidly changing market. If you’re serious about long-term strategy, this is a must-listen.   5 Takeaways That Will...

info_outline EP83 Think Bigger: Rick Tollakson’s 40-Year Blueprint for Building Hubbell show art EP83 Think Bigger: Rick Tollakson’s 40-Year Blueprint for Building Hubbell

The Investing in Iowa Show

What does it take to transform a local real estate company into a regional powerhouse and shape the future of an entire city? In this conversation, Rick Tollakson, CEO of Hubbell Realty Company, shares his incredible journey from construction engineering to leading one of Iowa’s largest and most innovative real estate firms. With insights on leadership, economic resilience, and community building, Rick offers a masterclass on thinking bigger and creating lasting impact in both business and life.   5 Fresh Takeaways:   • Why expanding into multifamily housing, senior living, land...

info_outline EP82 Knocking Doors, Closing Deals: The Hustle of Phil Giudici show art EP82 Knocking Doors, Closing Deals: The Hustle of Phil Giudici

The Investing in Iowa Show

In this episode, we sit down with Philip Giudici, a Des Moines native who took the road less traveled—from knocking doors in Arizona to flipping distressed homes back in Iowa. Philip opens up about the hard-earned lessons from his early sales grind, why adaptability is every investor’s secret weapon, and how reading people is just as important as reading the market. If you’re looking to sharpen your sales edge, spot hidden real estate opportunities, or just hear how persistence pays off, this one’s for you.   🔑 Top 5 Takeaways: How door-to-door sales taught him resilience and...

info_outline EP81 One House a Year: Derek Vander Veen's Slow-and-Steady Rental Game show art EP81 One House a Year: Derek Vander Veen's Slow-and-Steady Rental Game

The Investing in Iowa Show

What happens when small-town work ethic meets big-city finance? In this insightful episode, Neil Timmins chats with Derek Vander Veen—a commercial finance professional by day and a passionate real estate investor by night. From milking cows on an Iowa dairy farm to structuring deals and scaling a rental portfolio, Derek shares how curiosity, discipline, and long-term strategy helped him turn a side hustle into a serious investment journey. Whether you’re new to the game or looking to scale smart, this episode is packed with real-world wisdom.   5 Fresh Takeaways:   • Derek’s...

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How does a guy who started by working at Urbandale Water end up owning over 300 acres of prime land? Sean Asada proves that with determination, real estate investing success can take many forms.

Listen in to hear about Sean’s unconventional path—from replacing water meters and flipping cars for cash to becoming a broker-owner. His real estate investment of choice? Land. Whether it’s recreational ground, hunting plots, or agricultural land, Sean shares why land is the asset he loves to own.

Key Takeaways:

  • How working at Urbandale Water taught Sean about real estate & new construction

  • Ways to diversify income through land investments (CRP, hunting, row crop & more)

  • The differences between rough recreational land & premier hunting ground

  • Learning to face the pain of discipline vs the pain of regret 

Bio:

Sean Asada moved to Des Moines in 2003 after graduating from UNI, beginning his career at Urbandale Water. While working full-time, he started flipping cars—buying wrecked vehicles, repairing them, and selling them for a profit. When his access to dealer auctions ended, he pivoted to selling appliances at Sears in the evenings and on weekends.

Through careful saving, Sean purchased his first piece of land in 2008 and expanded his investments by acquiring the neighboring property in 2010. Over the years, he has owned and managed more than a dozen properties, continually growing his portfolio. Recently, he ventured into real estate financing, providing his first $100,000 investment loan to home investors, which was successfully repaid after the sale of the property.

After nearly two decades in a stable career, Sean took a leap of faith to pursue his passion full-time. Today, he is the proud broker-owner of the RE/MAX office at the 100th Street and I-35/80 exit in Urbandale, where he continues to help others achieve their real estate dreams.

Connect with Sean:

Phone | (515) 729-2879

Email | SeanAsada.RmxIowa.com

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/SeanAsadaRealEstate/

Website | https://seanasada.rmxiowa.com/

LinkedIn | linkedin.com/in/sean-asada-973047311