Iowa Appraisal

What Iowa Appraisal does

Iowa Appraisal is a privately held professional real estate appraisal firm headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, serving real estate decision-makers across Iowa and the Midwest for over half a century. The firm provides four core service lines: commercial real estate appraisal, agricultural/farmland appraisal, appraisal review, and market and feasibility studies, with specialized expertise in complex agricultural property types including swine confinements, cattle feedlots, grain facilities, and dairy operations. All valuations are performed by state-certified appraisers holding advanced professional designations (MAI from the Appraisal Institute, ARA from ASFMRA, ALC from Realtors Land Institute), conforming to USPAP and Appraisal Institute standards. The firm employs a team-based approach for complex assignments and maintains peer review quality control processes.

The business operates on a per-assignment professional services model with quote-based pricing obtained through direct contact. Client segments are horizontally diversified across financial institutions, real estate developers, law firms, public agencies, commercial businesses, private property owners, farmers and agricultural investors, accountants, and conservation groups, with services spanning lending valuation, litigation support, eminent domain, estate planning, and development feasibility. Go-to-market is sales-led and relationship-driven, supplemented by content marketing through 'The Land Talker' weekly blog and monthly newsletter authored by Vice President Jim Rothermich, which delivers Iowa land auction results and market intelligence. The firm maintains an affiliate relationship with BCC Advisers, sharing office space at 1707 High Street in Des Moines, creating a cross-referral channel into financial advisory services.

The firm has 1-10 employees, including two Vice Presidents with MAI designations and five additional appraisers working toward Certified General Appraiser credentials. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. There are no AI/ML capabilities, APIs, or technology products disclosed; the firm's value proposition rests entirely on human expertise, professional designations, regulatory certifications, and domain specialization in agricultural and commercial property valuation.

Name

Iowa Appraisal

Legal name

Iowa Appraisal

Website

https://iowaappraisal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Iowa Appraisal is a Des Moines-based professional real estate appraisal firm providing commercial, agricultural, and specialty property valuations, appraisal reviews, and feasibility studies to financial institutions, developers, law firms, and public agencies across Iowa and the Midwest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Appraisal Services

NAICS

Offices of Real Estate Appraisers (531320)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAHANAC

Real Estate Valuation & Appraisal

Business & Public Services/Professional Services (Legal, Accounting, Consulting)/Valuation, Appraisal & Forensic Services

SECONDARYBPAJAKAB

Commercial Property Appraisal

Business & Public Services/Real Estate Services (Brokerage, Property Management)/Real Estate Valuation & Appraisal Services

SECONDARYFSAEAHAJ

Real Estate Valuation & Appraisal (commercial/residential)

Financial & Insurance/Financial Advisory, Brokerage & Intermediation/Valuation, Appraisal & Fairness Opinions

Keywords

• Real estate appraisal services
• Commercial property valuation
• Farmland appraisal
• Appraisal review services
• Market feasibility studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Appraisal Services: Revenue generated from providing professional real estate appraisal services for commercial, agricultural, and specialty properties on a per-assignment basis. Services include valuation reports, appraisal reviews, and market feasibility studies.
2. Consulting Services: Additional revenue from real estate consultation and expert witness services provided by senior appraisers with MAI designations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Iowa Appraisal is a professional real estate valuation firm delivering commercial real estate appraisals, agricultural/farmland appraisals, appraisal review services, and market and feasibility studies across Iowa and the Midwest. All assignments are completed by state-certified appraisers holding advanced designations (MAI, ARA, ALC), using a team-based methodology and peer review quality control to produce USPAP- and Appraisal Institute-compliant reports for lenders, developers, attorneys, public agencies, and property owners.

Product overview

Iowa Appraisal provides a unified suite of real estate appraisal services centered on four core offerings: Commercial Real Estate Appraisal, Agricultural/Farmland Appraisal, Appraisal Review, and Market & Feasibility Studies. The company operates as a single-service firm where all offerings are delivered by state-certified professional appraisers with specialized designations (MAI, ARA, ALC). Additionally, the firm provides complementary content through Land Talk Weekly (blog) and Land Talk Monthly (newsletter) to keep clients informed on Iowa land market conditions and auction results.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Real Estate Appraisal
• Agricultural/Farmland Appraisal
• Appraisal Review
• Market & Feasibility Studies

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• BCC AdvisersminorOthersBCC Advisers is an affiliated company located at the same address (1707 High Street, Des Moines, IA). Iowa Appraisal shares office space and likely maintains a referral relationship with this financial/real estate advisory firm. The partnership provides cross-referral opportunities for complementary services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• CBRE (Valuation & Advisory Services): Global commercial real estate services firm with a large-scale Valuation & Advisory practice covering commercial, industrial, hospitality, and specialty property types. Overlaps with Iowa Appraisal's commercial appraisal work as part of a much broader institutional platform.
• Cushman & Wakefield (Valuation & Advisory): Global real estate services firm operating a large Valuation & Advisory practice servicing commercial, agricultural, and special-use properties. Comparable end-product at much greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Colliers (Valuation & Advisory): Global professional services and investment management firm with a dedicated valuation practice serving commercial, industrial, and specialty real estate. Competes for the same complex commercial assignments as Iowa Appraisal, but as one offering within a global platform.

Direct peers

• Peoples Company: Iowa-headquartered agricultural real estate services firm offering land appraisals, brokerage, management, and investment sales. Directly competitive in the Iowa/Midwest ag valuation niche, and a leading employer of MAI/ARA-credentialed land professionals.
• Farmers National Company: National agricultural landowner services firm providing farm management, real estate sales, and appraisal across the Midwest and Plains states. Direct peer for farmland/agribusiness valuation assignments in Iowa's core territory.
• Hertz Farm Management: Midwest-focused farm management and real estate services firm with significant Iowa presence providing farmland valuation, management, and brokerage. Comparable ag-focused service mix and client base to Iowa Appraisal.
• Valbridge Property Advisors: Network of independent valuation and appraisal firms serving commercial, residential, and specialty property types across the U.S. Closely comparable model to Iowa Appraisal's locally rooted, credentialed, team-based appraisal practice.
• Shenehon Company: Minneapolis-based real estate valuation and consulting firm providing commercial and agricultural appraisals across the Upper Midwest. Closely mirrors Iowa Appraisal in geography, agribusiness specialization, and full-service appraisal offering.

Regional players

• Heartland Ag Group: Iowa-based agricultural consulting and appraisal firm focused on farmland and rural property. Overlaps with Iowa Appraisal's agribusiness practice and core Iowa geography, though smaller and more ag-segment focused.

Others

• Appraisal Institute: Global professional association of real estate appraisers that grants the MAI designation held by Iowa Appraisal's senior team. It is an ecosystem enabler rather than a competitor, but tightly connected to Iowa Appraisal's talent moat and standards framework (USPAP).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/theLandTalker
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iowa-appraisal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Iowa Appraisal