Oaks Development, Iowa's largest land developer

The Harbour, a development located just north of Johnston, Iowa, features 38 wooded lots that back to Saylorville Lake. As host to HomeShowExpo '96, it attracted a record number of visitors to the show. The lots at the Harbour are half-acre lots and nearly all the lots are sold.

"We felt there was a need for larger lots, and after The Harbour opened, we got lots of calls from people who were interested," said Kline.

Eagle Point, which is just a ½-mile north of The Harbour hosted HomeShowExpo'97 and again attracted thousands of people to view executive-style homes. The average price for the homes in this development is $400,000-$600,000, which is typical of developments by The Oaks Development Company.

Easter Lake, located on Des Moines' south side, is the largest residential development John C. Kline and Randy Walters have created. Located on Easter Lake, it will contain 200 lots. This development is different from others developed by Kline and Walters, with smaller lots and the home prices ranging from $140,000-$200,000.

The Oaks, the first development by John C. Kline and Randy Walters, contains nine lots on 17 acres. The wooded lots are generous in size and are nearly all sold. Many of the homes are completed or under construction and are priced from $550,000-$850,000.

Turnberry, which is referred to by Walters as "the crown jewel," is located just off South 35th Street in West Des Moines. A creek runs through the development that is heavily wooded. Lots are one acre and the homes range in price from $500,000-2 million.

Building and developing in Des Moines are nothing Kline and Walters went into blind; both grew up in Des Moines and have family in the residential building business. Kline grew up in Des Moines and attended the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. After college he returned to Des Moines and like other members of the Kline family, he went to work for Iowa Realty. Kline started as a broker and fell in love with the residential construction business. Like many young executives, Kline found a mentor in a more experienced builder and developer group, John R. Grubb and John W. Grubb. After gaining the Grubb account, the Grubbs put Kline in charge of small developments as the project manager. Within years, Kline was on his own, bidding for land for his own development project when he met Walters.