Knapp Properties
Knapp Properties is a privately held, full-service commercial real estate firm in central Iowa offering brokerage, property management, development, investment advisory, and association management services. It manages 4M+ square feet across 13 Des Moines-metro sub-markets for enterprise clients including Casey's, Hy-Vee, and UnityPoint Health.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersWest Des Moines, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Knapp Properties does
Knapp Properties is a privately held, full-service commercial real estate firm headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, founded in 1992 by William C. Bill Knapp. The company operates across six integrated service lines: brokerage (tenant/landlord representation, buyer/seller representation, investment sales, and site selection), commercial property management, apartment property management, real estate development (commercial land, residential lot, multifamily, build-to-suit, and redevelopment), real estate investment advisory (sale-leaseback, distressed asset consulting, acquisitions), and association management for HOAs and luxury condominium communities. The firm manages more than 2 million square feet owned by Knapp and its partners plus over 2 million square feet for third-party owners, with a 95% occupancy rate maintained across its apartment portfolio.
The company's business model spans transaction commissions on brokerage deals, recurring management fees on commercial and residential portfolios, development fees tied to project completion, and professional/advisory fees for investment services and association management. Its core technology stack is minimal: operations rely on established tenant portals (Secure Cafe for commercial tenants, an apartment search portal for residential tenants), a SEO-optimized website, and standard email/marketing communications rather than proprietary platforms. The firm's competitive positioning rests on three decades of regional market intelligence, executive-level client engagement, and a deeply embedded network of developers, contractors, and government relationships.
Knapp serves commercial property owners and landlords, business owners and corporate tenants seeking space, residential renters in the Des Moines metro, developers and investors, and HOA/condominium communities across 13 central Iowa sub-markets. The client roster includes Casey's, Hy-Vee, Kum & Go, Walgreens, Starbucks, ALDI, Trader Joe's, UnityPoint Health, Mercy, West Bank, Chase, AT&T, Verizon, and Holmes Murphy, among others. Following founder Bill Knapp's death in 2025, the company continues under co-chairmen Bill Knapp II and Gerry Neugent and President & CEO Chris Costa, with no disclosed private equity or institutional investor involvement.
Knapp Properties firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Knapp Properties
- Legal name
- Knapp Properties, L.C.
- Website
- https://knappproperties.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Knapp Properties is a privately held, full-service commercial real estate firm in central Iowa offering brokerage, property management, development, investment advisory, and association management services. It manages 4M+ square feet across 13 Des Moines-metro sub-markets for enterprise clients including Casey's, Hy-Vee, and UnityPoint Health.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Knapp Properties industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Real Estate Services
- NAICS
- Offices of Real Estate Agents and Brokers (5312), Real Estate Property Managers (53131), Lessors of Real Estate (5311)
- SIC
- Real Estate Agents & Managers (For Others) (6531), Real Estate Operators (No Developers) & Lessors (6510), Lessors Of Real Property, Nec (6519)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Land & Development Site Brokerage (BPAJABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Real Estate Development & Feasibility Advisory (Highest-and-Best-Use, Entitlements Support) (BPAJANAC), Property Management Advisory & Leasing Administration (FSAEAJAN), HOA / Condominium Association Management (BPAJAFAH)
Keywords
Where Knapp Properties is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West Des Moines
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Knapp Properties business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Brokerage Services: Commercial real estate brokerage including tenant/landlord representation, buyer/seller representation, investment sales, and site selection. Revenue earned through commissions on completed transactions.
- Commercial Property Management: Management of commercial properties including facilities management, budgeting, accounting, reporting, tenant relations, and 24-hour maintenance services. Revenue derived from management fees.
- Apartment Property Management: Management of multifamily residential communities including leasing, renewals, community management, and maintenance. Revenue from property management fees with focus on tenant retention and occupancy optimization.
- Development Services: Commercial and residential land development, build-to-suit projects, multifamily development, and redevelopment services. Revenue from development fees and project completion.
- Real Estate Investment Services: Sale-leaseback solutions, distressed asset consulting, and acquisition services for investment clients. Revenue from consulting fees and transaction-based arrangements.
- Association Management: HOA and high-rise luxury condominium community management services. Revenue from management service fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom commercial real estate services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels7 records
Knapp Properties product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Knapp Properties is a full-service commercial real estate firm that provides commercial real estate brokerage (tenant/landlord and buyer/seller representation, investment sales, site selection), property management for commercial and multifamily portfolios, real estate development (commercial land, residential lots, multifamily, build-to-suit, redevelopment), real estate investment advisory (sale-leaseback, distressed asset consulting, acquisitions), and HOA/condominium association management across central Iowa. The firm owns and manages more than 4 million square feet of real estate and lists available commercial space, commercial/agricultural land, commercial properties, residential land, and apartment units for rent.
Product overview
Knapp Properties is a full-service commercial real estate firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of services organized as a unified platform. The core offerings include Brokerage (tenant/landlord representation, buyer/seller representation, investment sales, site selection), Commercial Property Management (managing millions of square feet of office, retail, and industrial space), Apartment Property Management (multifamily communities with 95% occupancy focus), Development (commercial/residential land, multifamily, build-to-suit, redevelopment), Real Estate Investment (sale-leaseback, distressed assets, acquisitions), and Association Management. These services are complemented by direct property listings for commercial space leasing, commercial/residential land sales, and apartment rentals across central Iowa markets including Des Moines, West Des Moines, Waukee, Urbandale, Clive, and surrounding communities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Brokerage Full-service commercial real estate brokerage including tenant/landlord representation, buyer/seller representation, investment sales, and site selection services for clients across central Iowa.
- Commercial Property Management Commercial property management covering facilities management, budgeting, accounting, tenant relations, and 24-hour maintenance for millions of square feet of commercial space.
- Apartment Property Management Residential multifamily property management with leasing, renewals, community management, tenant retention strategies, and maintenance services achieving 95% occupancy rates.
- Development Real estate development services including commercial land development, residential lot development, multifamily development, redevelopment, and build-to-suit projects across central Iowa.
- Real Estate Investment Investment services including sale-leaseback solutions, distressed asset consulting, and strategic property acquisitions for portfolio building.
- Association Management HOA and condominium association management services for high-rise luxury condominium communities and larger home developments.
Quantifiable outcome
- 95% occupancy rate maintained portfolio-wide
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Knapp Properties
Customer profileNamed customers54 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Knapp Properties technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Knapp Properties partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Holmes MurphycoreDevelopment partner collaborating on commercial development projects in central Iowa. Holmes Murphy is an independent insurance brokerage firm providing risk management and insurance services.
- HyVeecoreMajor grocery retailer and development partner on commercial projects. HyVee has been a notable client for investment sales and sale-leaseback transactions.
- Kum & GocoreConvenience store chain and development partner. Served as asset management client with ongoing commercial real estate relationships.
- UnityPoint HealthcoreHealthcare system and development partner for medical office building projects and commercial developments in central Iowa.
- WeitzcoreConstruction and development company partnering on commercial development projects. Long-standing relationship as notable client.
- CowniecoreDevelopment partner collaborating on commercial projects in the Des Moines area.
- Farm BureaucoreDevelopment partner and notable client relationship for commercial real estate services.
- NCMICcoreDevelopment partner and notable client relationship.
- Christensen DevelopmentcoreDevelopment partner collaborating on commercial real estate projects. Notable client with long-standing relationship.
- Buyers RealtyminorDevelopment partner for commercial real estate projects.
- NelsonminorNotable client and development partner relationship.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Knapp Properties competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Cushman & Wakefield: Global commercial real estate services firm providing brokerage, property management, valuation, and consulting. Overlaps with Knapp's full-service CRE platform but serves enterprise and institutional clients at global scale.
- Newmark Group: Commercial real estate advisory and services firm with capital markets, leasing, and property management capabilities. Comparable to Knapp's investment sales, brokerage, and management services but operates at national scale.
- Colliers International: Global commercial real estate services and investment firm operating across brokerage, property management, and advisory. Comparable service overlap with Knapp's commercial brokerage and management offerings, though at significantly larger geographic and client scale.
- CBRE Group: Global commercial real estate services firm offering brokerage, property management, valuation, and investment sales. Comparable to Knapp as a CRE service provider but operates at vastly larger scale and competes for institutional third-party management mandates.
- JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle): Global real estate services and investment management firm with property management, brokerage, and capital markets capabilities. Overlaps with Knapp's commercial property management and brokerage services but serves primarily institutional clients at national/international scale.
- Marcus & Millichap: Commercial real estate investment sales and financing firm specializing in investment property transactions. Comparable to Knapp's investment sales and brokerage capabilities, particularly in sale-leaseback and multi-tenant retail transactions.
Direct peers
- Hubbell Realty Company: Iowa-based full-service real estate development and management company operating across residential, commercial, and mixed-use properties. Directly comparable to Knapp as a long-tenured central Iowa owner-operator with development, management, and brokerage capabilities.
- Nelson Companies: Commercial real estate developer, owner, and manager based in Iowa with a focus on retail, office, industrial, and land development. Comparable to Knapp as a long-tenured Iowa CRE owner-operator with development and management capabilities.
- R&R Realty Group: Iowa-based full-service commercial real estate firm offering brokerage, property management, development, and investment services. Directly comparable to Knapp as a regional CRE operator with multi-service platform and similar geographic footprint in central Iowa.
Regional players
- Mid-America Real Estate: Midwest-focused commercial real estate investment sales and leasing firm serving retail, office, and industrial owners. Comparable to Knapp's regional brokerage and investment sales practice but primarily serves the broader Midwest rather than exclusively Iowa.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Knapp Properties social profiles
Digital presenceKnapp Properties financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Knapp Properties leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Knapp Properties funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Knapp Properties M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Knapp Properties
What does Knapp Properties do?
Knapp Properties is a full-service commercial real estate firm that provides commercial real estate brokerage (tenant/landlord and buyer/seller representation, investment sales, site selection), property management for commercial and multifamily portfolios, real estate development (commercial land, residential lots, multifamily, build-to-suit, redevelopment), real estate investment advisory (sale-leaseback, distressed asset consulting, acquisitions), and HOA/condominium association management across central Iowa. The firm owns and manages more than 4 million square feet of real estate and lists available commercial space, commercial/agricultural land, commercial properties, residential land, and apartment units for rent.
Is Knapp Properties a public or private company?
Knapp Properties is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Knapp Properties founded?
Knapp Properties was founded in 1992. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Knapp Properties based?
Knapp Properties is headquartered in West Des Moines, United States, in the North America region.
How does Knapp Properties make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Brokerage Services are the primary driver. The others are commercial Property Management, apartment Property Management, development Services, real Estate Investment Services and association Management.
Who are Knapp Properties's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Cushman & Wakefield, Newmark Group, Colliers International, CBRE Group, JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle) and Marcus & Millichap. Direct peers are Hubbell Realty Company, Nelson Companies and R&R Realty Group. Mid-America Real Estate is listed as a regional player.
Does Knapp Properties have an API?
No public API is recorded for Knapp Properties.
What industry is Knapp Properties in?
Knapp Properties's product category is Commercial Real Estate Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAJABAG, Land & Development Site Brokerage, with a secondary code of BPAJANAC, Real Estate Development & Feasibility Advisory (Highest-and-Best-Use, Entitlements Support). Its NAICS code is 5312 and its SIC code is 6531.