Urban Acres consists of former Lepic-Kroeger staffers

IOWA CITY - There's a new real estate company in the Corridor.

More than 35 local agents formally affiliated with Lepic-Kroeger in Iowa City on Thursday launched Urban Acres, a member-owned company specializing in residential, commercial and investment properties as well as new and custom construction.

'The goal here to provide a better, more efficient customer experience for our clients,” said Mike McEleney, one of the company's five board members. 'All agents with this group are experienced and very well versed with local culture.”

According to a news release, the agents generated combined sales of $200 million in 2014. They all will share equal ownership in the new company.

'We wanted to go back to our roots and deliver excellence from the ground up,” said fellow board member Andrea Hicks. 'From my perspective, we are a team, we work together. It's just really exciting to work with people that you know and trust.”

Hicks said the Urban Acres name encapsulates the area.

'We feel Iowa City is very urban, and you can go, boom, right to acres because it's Iowa and acres are all around us,” she said.

Ernie Galer, who has more than 20 years of experience in real estate, is acting as broker of record for the company. Board member Phil O'Brien said Galer was key in the company's founding.

'Being efficient with clients and offering the best services, communications, and latest technology really is our focus,” O'Brien said.

Mitch Price, another member of the board, said the agents already are talking with clients about the new company, which takes up half the building at 1519 S. Gilbert St. in Iowa City.

The agents plan to march Oct. 9 in the University of Iowa Homecoming Parade under the theme 'Orange is the New Sold” - one of Urban Acres taglines, since its color scheme is charcoal gray and orange.

In a statement, Lepic-Kroeger's managing partners Mike Jensen, Jeff Dill, Jeff Edberg and Terri Larson congratulated the Urban Acres agents 'as they embark on the opening of their new firm.”

'The current agents and staff at LKR wish them every success, and look forward to working with them in providing our area clients the best possible real estate services,” they said in the statement.