Ethan Simons

Ethan Simons, Commercial Real Estate Broker
NAI Ruhl Commercial Company

With nine years as a licensed commercial real estate broker in Iowa and Illinois, and over 20 years prior experience in the commercial finance and banking field, I provide value to my clients by pairing hands-on real estate execution with a deep understanding of commercial finance and banking, as well as a consultative and relationship-centric approach to each commercial sales or leasing transaction. As a Commercial Sales Associate with NAI Ruhl Commercial Company in Davenport, my footprint covers the Quad Cities region, Eastern Iowa, and Western Illinois.

I have closed almost 100 sales and lease transactions during my three years at NAI Ruhl Commercial Company, driving almost $25 million in deal volume. Areas of specialization include retail and investment properties, but I service clients across all asset categories including office, medical, multi-family, industrial, restaurant, hospitality, special use, data center, and others. 

My background as a former Commercial Loan Specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration and a Vice President in the Business Banking Division at JPMorgan Chase allows me to evaluate deals from a lender's perspective, helping clients to identify and evaluate risk, optimize ROI and cashflow and bankability. I assist buyers, tenants, sellers, and landlords with site analysis, contract negotiations, zoning, construction costs, and commercial funding structures, as well as listing and marketing of commercial properties for sale or lease. Through NAI Global's network, I provide local clients a direct link to corporate resources across more than 375 offices worldwide.

Earning NAI Ruhl Commercial's Million Dollar Club honors from 2023 to 2025 and the 2025 Broker Excellence Award reflects a focus on thorough financial underwriting and deal structure. Whether structuring complex financing or analyzing zoning constraints, I provide real-world direction that protects client capital and secures target assets.

Quick View

• License & Geographic Markets Served: Licensed in Iowa and Illinois; Quad Cities (Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, Rock Island, East Moline, Silvis, Eldridge, DeWitt), Dubuque, Galesburg, Monmouth, and broader Eastern Iowa / Western Illinois submarkets
• Asset Class & Specialty Focus: Retail, Office, Industrial/Warehouse, Multi-Family, Financial Institutions, Investment Property, and Data Center, Hospitality, Medical and Special Use Properties
• Advisory & Representation Scope: Buyer/Tenant Representation, Seller/Landlord Advisory, Site Analysis, Contract Negotiations, Commercial Finance, Government Guaranteed Lending (SBA), Zoning and Building Code Regulations, Construction Cost Evaluation
• Representative Brands & Client Types: Small-to-Medium Business Owners, Private Investors, Commercial Tenants, Landlords, Financial Institutions
• Awards & Career Recognition: Million Dollar Club - NAI Ruhl Commercial Co. (2023-2025), Broker Excellence Award (2025), Rising Star Award (2023), Excellence in Customer Service Awards (2023-2025), JPMorgan Chase National Achiever (2015), Top Loan Producer - Greater Illinois/Wisconsin Market (2016)
• Common Strategic Client Decisions Answered: Commercial lease vs. buy evaluation, SBA government-guaranteed loan structuring, site selection analysis, multi-family and investment cap rate analysis, commercial zoning and building code compliance

STATES LICENSED IN:
• Iowa
• Illinois