About us
15 Hands Real Estate is inspired by many things near and dear to Chrissi and her family. Hands is the unit of measurement for horses, the passion of her daughter, Essence. Thistle, Essence's beloved barrel horse, was 15 hands tall and is the reason for the family's path to where they reside today. Chrissi's son, Tayvian, a sports fanatic, is #15 in many of the sports he participates in. Chrissi & her husband, Joe, were celebrating their 15th year of marriage when he supported Chrissi's goal of building a real estate team. These reasons and many others made 15 Hands Real Estate the perfect fit when naming the team.

In 2023, after nearly a decade in real estate, Chrissi founded 15 Hands Real Estate. Chrissi is passionate about continuing to provide the knowledgeable, high quality service that she is known for, while creating an environment where she can share her real estate expertise with other agents for them to learn, grow and thrive both professionally and personally. The 15 Hands Real Estate team is a collaboration of real estate professionals that combine their individual strengths to support clients in accomplishing their real estate goals.
Chrissi Ripperger
Founder & Team Leader of 15 Hands Real Estate, Realtor

20+ years of experience in sales and customer service, including experience in new construction, design and finance, have paved the road to real estate for Chrissi, making her a knowledgeable resource for 15 Hands Real Estate clients and team members. Communication, organization, and continual education along the way, allow everyone Chrissi works with to make confident decisions throughout the real estate process. 

Chrissi's strengths and passions come together in real estate where she's able to create lasting relationships with both clients, team members, and industry partners. Chrissi is a proud member of the National Association of Realtors, the Iowa Association of Realtors and the Des Moines Area Association of Realtors. Chrissi has received multiple awards throughout her time as a Realtor for her continued commitment to her clients and has earned a spot amongst the top agents in the Des Moines area. Chrissi is actively involved with Make A Wish Iowa, the Grimes Chamber, and is a proud contributor to the DCG Booster Club and DCG Education Foundation. 

Chrissi resides outside of Grimes with her husband, Joe, children Essence and Tayvian, and their dogs and horses. When Chrissi is not helping you with your real estate goals, she enjoys spending time with her family, cheering on her kids at their activities, traveling and spending time outdoors (as long as it's warm!).

515.343.4354
Chrissi@15HandsRealEstate.com
Joe Ripperger
Client Experience Director, Realtor

Joe brings a unique perspective to the 15 Hands Real Estate team with over 21 years of experience in the mortgage industry. In his previous role, Joe helped mitigate risk and found creative solutions to solve problems which he is able to utilize daily in real estate. His passion for helping people and drive to make an impact is what led Joe to real estate. 

Joe's previous experience, along with his broad understanding of the housing industry, allows him to be a trusted partner for all 15 Hands Real Estate clients. Joe is the team's Client Experience Director and is also a licensed Realtor.

Joe is a lifelong Iowa resident and currently lives outside of Grimes with his wife, Chrissi, his children, Essence and Tayvian, their dogs and horses. When Joe isn't working you'll find him working out, taking care of the family acreage, cheering on his kids or traveling.

515.360.2789
Joe@15HandsRealEstate.com