What happens when a corporate career disappears overnight and forces a complete reset?
Corey Sedrel joins the show to share the unconventional path that took him from corporate finance at Principal Financial Group to building a landscaping company and ultimately becoming a commercial real estate broker. His journey includes layoffs during the 2009 financial crisis, a personal reset, and the decision to bet on himself with a snowblower and a handful of flyers.
Corey explains how his early experience underwriting multimillion-dollar deals at Principal shaped how he evaluates real estate today. Understanding debt, cash flow, and downside risk became the foundation for how he looks at investments and advises clients.
He also shares what he's learned working with successful investors across Iowa's commercial market. From identifying overlooked retail opportunities to understanding how cap rates, lease structures, and debt influence value, Corey walks through the patterns he sees among investors who consistently win.
The conversation also dives into the realities of brokerage, the long sales cycles in commercial real estate, and why Corey believes patience, market knowledge, and decisive action separate successful investors from those who stay stuck on the sidelines.
🧠Corey Sedrel's Top 5 Takeaways:
- The 2009 financial crisis forced a career pivot that ultimately opened the door to entrepreneurship.
- Early experience underwriting large loans at Principal created a disciplined approach to real estate analysis.
- The best investors understand market fundamentals, cash flow, and how to grow NOI over time.
- Older retail centers with below-market rents can offer significant upside when leases roll over.
- Understanding debt, interest rates, and debt service coverage is essential for long-term investment success.
👤 About Corey Sedrel:
Corey Sedrel is a commercial real estate broker with Cushman & Wakefield | Iowa Commercial Advisors in Des Moines. His work focuses on retail, industrial, and investment properties across the Iowa market.
Before entering brokerage, Corey worked as an investment analyst at Principal Financial Group and later built and operated a landscaping company that began with a single snowblower and grew into a full-service maintenance operation. His background in finance, entrepreneurship, and operations shapes how he evaluates deals and advises investors today.
Contact Info: LinkedIn | Corey Sedrel Phone | 515-979-1454 Email | csedrel@iowaca.com
Learn More: www.littleguyloans.com/learnmorepod