The Agency Just Planted Its Flag in Des Moines—Here's Why It Matters

Lucía Torres · 2026-10-20

Hello, Iowa! The Agency has officially arrived in Des Moines, marking its latest location in the marvelous Midwest. Based in West Des Moines and serving clients throughout Central Iowa, The Agency Des Moines will be led by Managing Partners Mike Slavin and Nathan Lyman. The office will serve the region's residential and land markets, including Des Moines and its surrounding communities. ### Why Des Moines, and Why Now "Des Moines offers a compelling combination of career opportunities, space and quality of life that continues to attract buyers looking to put down roots," said Mauricio Umansky, CEO and Founder of The Agency. "Mike and Nathan share our commitment to local expertise, collaboration and exceptional service, and we are thrilled to welcome them to The Agency as we expand our presence in Central Iowa." 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 attracts buyers from the nation's coasts and major cities with top-rated schools, a strong economy, and a lower cost of living. Surrounding suburbs offer a range of new and established homes with space for families. From waterfront retreats on Lake Ponderosa and Lake Panorama to new construction corridors, Des Moines delivers an inviting, community-centric lifestyle. ### A Natural Next Step for the Midwest "Des Moines is a natural next step in The Agency's Midwest expansion, supported by an established business community and a growing range of housing opportunities," said James Ramsay, EVP of The Agency's Franchise Division. "Our global network and marketing platform will support Mike and Nathan as they build the office and connect Central Iowa with buyers across our markets." ### The Local Advantage What really sets this office apart is the people leading it. Both Slavin and Lyman have deep roots in the region, and they know the communities around Des Moines at a level that only comes from years of working there. "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," said Mike Slavin, Managing Partner of The Agency Des Moines. "We've built our business around knowing these communities at a very high level and delivering an exceptional experience for our clients." Here's what buyers and sellers in Central Iowa can expect from the new office: - Local expertise backed by a global brand and marketing platform - Coverage of residential and land markets across the metro and surrounding suburbs - Access to buyers from coastal and major metro markets through The Agency's network - A team focused on collaboration and exceptional client service "Partnering with The Agency gives us the opportunity to take what we've built locally and pair it with a truly global brand, network and marketing platform," said Nathan Lyman, Managing Partner of The Agency Des Moines. "We're excited about what that means for our clients, our agents and the future of our business." ### Where to Find Them The Agency Des Moines is located at 650 S Prairie View Drive, Suite 205, West Des Moines, IA 50266. Whether you're relocating from out of state, upsizing to a home with more land, or simply curious about what's happening in the Central Iowa market, this new office is worth a conversation. Des Moines has quietly become one of the Midwest's most attractive places to put down roots—and now there's a team on the ground ready to help you do exactly that.