The Agency Just Bet Big on Iowa—Here's What It Means for Des Moines Buyers

Lucía Torres · 2026-10-20

Hello, Iowa! The Agency has officially arrived in Des Moines, and it's the latest stop in the brand's push across the Midwest. The new office sits in West Des Moines and serves clients throughout Central Iowa, led by Managing Partners Mike Slavin and Nathan Lyman. It'll cover the region's residential and land markets, including Des Moines and the communities that surround it. ### Why Des Moines, and Why Now Mauricio Umansky, CEO and Founder of The Agency, put it plainly. Des Moines offers a compelling mix of career opportunities, space, and quality of life that keeps drawing buyers who want to put down roots. He also pointed to something less obvious: Mike and Nathan share the company's commitment to local expertise, collaboration, and exceptional service. That combination is the whole point. A global brand only works when the people on the ground actually know the ground. ### A City That Keeps Pulling People In As Iowa's state capital and largest city, Des Moines pairs a business-friendly urban core with welcoming neighborhoods and a lively college sports scene that brings residents of all ages together. The metro has become a magnet for buyers from the coasts and major cities, drawn by top-rated schools, a strong economy, and a lower cost of living. The surrounding suburbs offer a mix of new and established homes with room for families. And then there's the water. From waterfront retreats on Lake Ponderosa and Lake Panorama to new construction corridors, Des Moines delivers an inviting, community-centric lifestyle that's hard to match at the price point. ### The View From Inside the Franchise James Ramsay, EVP of The Agency's Franchise Division, sees Des Moines as a natural next step. An established business community and a growing range of housing opportunities made it an easy call. The global network and marketing platform, he said, will support Mike and Nathan as they build the office and connect Central Iowa with buyers across the company's markets. > "Much of what makes the Des Moines market special is found in the communities surrounding the city, where buyers can find everything from established neighborhoods to acreage and custom-built homes." — Mike Slavin, Managing Partner Slavin says the team has built its business around knowing those communities at a very high level and delivering an exceptional experience for clients. Nathan Lyman added that partnering with The Agency lets them take what they've built locally and pair it with a truly global brand, network, and marketing platform. ### What This Means for Buyers and Sellers If you're shopping in Central Iowa, here's the practical takeaway: - More reach for listings, since local properties now get exposure through a broader network - Stronger land and acreage representation, an area the new office is specifically built to serve - A team that already knows the suburbs, the lakes, and the new construction corridors The office is located at 650 S Prairie View Drive, Suite 205, West Des Moines, IA 50266. If you've been watching the Des Moines market from the sidelines, this is a good moment to start a conversation.