What happens when a former gym owner bets on herself in commercial real estate?
Abi Reiland, President of SH Commercial under Remax Precision, shares how her path from Iowa State diver to entrepreneur shapes her approach to brokerage. After years in project management and sales, Abi and her husband built and scaled a multi-location gym business, eventually purchasing their own building during the uncertainty of COVID.
That firsthand experience as a tenant and owner became the foundation for her commercial real estate career. Abi joined a top office brokerage team, learned fast, and eventually launched SH Commercial to build something of her own. Today, she specializes in tenant representation, particularly for mental health providers, and thrives on educating business owners about leases, operating expenses, and long-term strategy.
She breaks down the realities of timelines, why most deals take longer than expected, and what tenants consistently underestimate about triple net leases. Abi also shares her perspective on landlord success, why property quality matters more than ever, and how investing back into assets pays off.
Beyond transactions, Abi is passionate about creating space for women in commercial real estate. Through her annual Taking Up Space event, she is helping build a stronger community of women in business across Iowa.
Abi Reiland's Top 5 Takeaways:
- Start lease searches at least six months in advance, often 6 to 18 months before move-in.
- Understand the full cost of a triple net lease, not just the base rent.
- Nothing is done until it is fully closed. Patience and persistence matter.
- Property quality and transparency are critical for landlords in today's market.
- Authenticity builds stronger, longer-lasting client relationships.
About Abi Reiland:
Abi Reiland is President of SH Commercial, the commercial division of the Sarah Hopkins Real Estate Team under Remax Precision. Based in the Grimes area, she specializes in tenant representation across office, retail, and medical space, with a growing niche in mental health providers.
A former entrepreneur who co-founded and scaled multiple gym locations, Abi brings real-world ownership experience to every client conversation. She is also the founder of Taking Up Space, an annual event focused on supporting women in business.
Contact Info:
Email: abi@sarahopkinsrealtor.com Phone: 515-499-8679
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/abireiland
Facebook: www.fb.com/abi.reiland
Instagram: www.instagram.com/abireiland
Learn More: www.littleguyloans.com/learnmorepod