Richard Schaefer

Richard “Rick” J. Schaefer, Vice President/Director
NAI Ruhl Commercial Company, Davenport, Iowa

With over 30 years of commercial real estate experience, I serve as a Vice President / Director at NAI Ruhl Commercial Company, advising buyers, tenants, sellers, and landlords across the Quad Cities region, Eastern Iowa, and Western Illinois. Over the course of my career, I have closed over 700 sales and lease transactions, driving over $260 million in deal volume across industrial, office, and commercial investment properties.

A lifelong Quad Cities resident, I joined NAI Ruhl Commercial Company in 1991 after serving as General Manager of a large regional construction firm. My background in both construction and commercial real estate provides clients with valuable expertise in site selection, property analysis, contract negotiations, zoning and building code compliance, financing, construction costs, and development strategy.

My experience encompasses corporate industrial site selection, healthcare real estate positioning, and complex property disposition. As a member of the NAI Global Healthcare Team, I bridge local market opportunities with nationwide corporate strategies, representing major institutions such as Facebook/Meta, Coca-Cola Enterprise, MercyOne Genesis Medical Center, and UnityPoint Trinity Health Systems.

Recognized as an eight-time Commercial Associate of the Year at NAI Ruhl Commercial and a 2015 inductee into the Midwest Real Estate News Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame, my work focuses on delivering technical oversight, strategic risk mitigation, and maximizing real estate performance and value for my clients.

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: Industrial Properties, Warehousing, Manufacturing Facilities, Office, Medical Office, General Commercial Office, Investment Sales, Commercial Land.

• Advisory & Representation Scope: Commercial Real Estate Brokerage, Landlord & Tenant Representation, & Land Assembly, Lease vs. Buy Analysis, Contract Negotiations, Zoning & Building Code Evaluation, Construction Cost & Method Feasibility.

• Representative Brands & Client Types: Facebook/Meta, Coca-Cola Enterprise, Bridgestone/Bandag, Valspar, River Valley Coop, Industrial Realty Group, MercyOne Genesis Medical Center, UnityPoint Trinity Health Systems, Select Medical.

• Awards & Career Recognition: NAI Ruhl Commercial Associate of the Year (1994, 1999, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2019, 2021 & 2023), Top Producer (1999, 2010, 2012, 2024 & 2025), Top Lister (1997, 1998, 1999, 2008 & 2025), Million Dollar Club (1993-2025), Excellence in Customer Service Award (2001-2025), Midwest Real Estate News Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame 2015

• Common Strategic Client Decisions Answered: Commercial lease vs. buy evaluations, retail pad site selection, cap rate analysis for strip centers, industrial facility disposition strategy, multi-state corporate relocation, tenant lease structuring

STATES LICENSED IN:
• Iowa
• Illinois