Richard Hurd needs no introduction in Des Moines.

He’s left an indelible mark on the face of Iowa’s capital city.

But what you might not know is the gritty story behind Hurd Real Estate—and how Richard built it from the ground up.

Over his career, he’s personally owned and developed more than $1B in commercial real estate. Richard takes us back to his early days in real estate, flipping houses, balancing a second job on the railroad, and serving in the military.

It’s a story of hard work, patience, and a relentless drive to build something that lasts.

Key Takeaways:

• How military discipline shaped Richard’s approach to business

• The secret sauce behind Hurd Real Estate’s edge: relationships, service, and speed

• Learning to identify contrarian opportunities

• Adapting to the changing landscape of investing & developing from the 1980s to today

• Advice Richard Hurd would give to his 20-year-old self

Biography:

Richard Hurd began his career in real estate investment in 1973, specializing in single and multi-family residential properties in the Central Iowa market. In 1981, Richard founded the regional commercial development, investment, and brokerage firm known today as Hurd Real Estate. Richard has provided strong leadership and focused the Hurd Real Estate team on acquisitions, sale-leasebacks, and development of office, retail, medical, and industrial properties.

Richard has had the pleasure of working with a number of regional and national companies either through sale-leaseback or build-to-suit transactions since founding the company in 1981. Currently, Richard owns over 130 properties in twelve states. During Richard’s career, he has personally owned and developed over $1B in commercial real estate.

On the brokerage side of the business, Richard managed the largest commercial brokerage firm in Iowa from 1986 to 1993. He was selected to represent Central Life Assurance Company (now known as Athene Annuity USA) in the repositioning of their national commercial real estate portfolio.

Richard has won numerous awards; a few recent accolades include being named into the Midwest Real Estate News Hall of Fame in 2013, awarded the CRE Professional of the Year by the Business Record in 2017, and elected into the Lincoln High School Hall of Fame in 2018.

Richard’s professional designations include CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member), SIOR (Society of Industrial and Office Realtors), and CRE (The Counselors of Real Estate). Believing in sharing his time and experience to help build a strong community, Richard serves on the Grand View University Board of Trustees, Bankers Trust Company Community Advisory Board and West Des Moines Presidents Council. In 2019, Richard & Linda Hurd started construction of the “Jamie Hurd Amphitheater” in West Des Moines, IA, in honor of their daughter.

hurdrealty.com

Jacquelyn Duke grew up learning business and entrepreneurship on her family farm, but never imagined she’d end up in real estate. Yet, her diverse experiences—ranging from legislative correspondent to paralegal, educator, and labor doula—prepared her for the closing table.

In this episode, Jacquelyn shares how her unique background makes her a better Realtor and investor today. She also offers practical advice on analyzing real estate deals, managing tenants, and using real estate to teach family values.

Key Takeaways

• How Jacquelyn's diverse career experiences shaped her ability to advocate and guide people through major life decisions.

• Why you don’t need a fortune to get started in real estate investing.

• How asking "What’s the worst-case scenario?" can help you make confident decisions.

• Why Jacquelyn prefers the 10% rule over the 1% rule when analyzing deals.

• Tips for screening tenants and successfully self-managing rental properties.

My journey into real estate has been anything but conventional, but each experience has uniquely prepared me for a career I love. Whether on Capitol Hill, in a delivery room, or at the closing table, my focus has always been on guiding people through major life decisions.

Growing up on a family farm, I learned the values of hard work, entrepreneurship, and financial responsibility—principles that guide me today as I help clients make one of the biggest financial decisions of their lives.

After earning my degree from Central College, I worked as a legislative correspondent for an Iowa Senator in Washington, D.C., where I saw firsthand how trust, integrity, and follow-through are essential in building relationships. These values remain the foundation of my work in real estate.

When family brought me back to Iowa, I worked as a paralegal at Meredith Corporation, gaining invaluable skills in legal language, contracts, and negotiation. I also pursued a Master of Arts in Education at Drake University, which strengthened my ability to guide others.

My career took another turn when I became a mother, which led me to become a labor doula and childbirth educator. What began as a passion turned into a successful business, where I supported families through profound moments. This deepened my appreciation for advocacy, but as my children grew, the unpredictable nature of doula work became harder to sustain.

That's when I transitioned into real estate. While skeptical at first, I quickly realized that it offered the same opportunities to educate, guide, and advocate for people during life-changing decisions. Unlike doula work, my relationships with clients often continue long after the closing, and many become lifelong friends.

I’m excited for many more years of helping my clients navigate their journeys. It’s truly an honor to be part of their stories.

Realtor with Realty One Group Impact

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

LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquelynduke/

Phone | (515) 240-7483

Email | jacquelyn@sellingcentraliowa.com

Website | www.sellingcentraliowa.com

Address | 617 SW 3rd St., Ankeny, IA 50023

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

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.

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