The Tigres of Taylor: A Study in Action over Anxiety
In a Minneapolis winter market defined by hesitation, most multi-family investors were frozen in place—waiting on rate cuts, clarity, or permission from the headlines. Interest rates felt stuck. News cycles were screaming uncertainty. And an entire generation, especially Gen Z, had started to internalize a dangerous idea: ownership isn’t for us.
Action was taking a back seat to fear. And that’s exactly when opportunity shows up.
That backdrop set the stage for Fortify clients Jack and Nick Mustertieiger—known around the Fortify as “the Tigres.” Most investors were stuck—waiting on rate cuts, clarity, or permission from the headlines. Interest rates felt stuck. News cycles were screaming uncertainty. And an entire generation, especially Gen Z, had started to internalize a dangerous idea: ownership isn’t for us.
Meet the Tigres
Farm-raised, values-driven, and relentlessly optimistic, Jack and Nick are proof that belief still matters. By most measures, they’re pups - they can’t even rent a car yet - but they already own two high-quality duplexes and are thoughtfully curating a Minneapolis portfolio with indefinite intent and financial freedom on the brain.
Jack brings the drive and financial instincts. Nick brings stoicism, discipline, and real building skill. Together, they’re decisive, coachable, and unafraid to spend money upfront to do things the right way. That combination makes them dangerous—in the best sense of the word.
The Search: No Shortcuts
The goal wasn’t just to buy a duplex. It was to find a classic asset with real integrity, scarcity, and upside. The Tigres wanted something they could live in affordably while improving, all while setting up long-term returns.
Within months, we identified Taylor Avenue: an expansive up-down duplex in NorthEast Minneapolis. Built in the 1920s by the Thorpe Brothers, the property carried the kind of craftsmanship that simply doesn’t get replicated. These are the same developers who created Edina’s Country Club District—and many of Minneapolis’ most enduring classic stunners.
The Fortify Filter
Taylor passed Fortify’s investment filter by doing the basics exceptionally well:
· Big, livable floor plans with flow and soul. Two bedrooms plus a flex room in each unit—perfectly suited for modern work-from-home life, even if the Thorpe Brothers never imagined Zoom calls.
· Pricing discipline. Cost per square foot and per bedroom came in well below replacement cost and meaningfully under submarket comps.
· Original details that compound over time: stained glass piano windows, built-in buffets, birch cabinetry, oak-cased openings—features you can’t buy back once they’re gone.
· Clear upside. Like many classics, poor past renovations hurt functionality. Sloppy kitchens and the removal of a separate basement entrance stripped the property of its true highest and best use as a triplex.
Execution Wins
We navigated inspections, negotiated seller cooperation, and closed just before Christmas. Then the Tigres moved—quickly and decisively:
· Partnered with local architects to redesign the staircase and restore compliant triplex status—effectively buying a triplex at duplex pricing.
· Made smart, affordable improvements to the upper unit to command top-tier Northeast rents.
· Collaborated with high-quality trades and Architectural Antiques to create immediate equity and real cash flow.
No hesitation. No half-measures.
The Takeaway
Fear is loud.
Waiting feels safe.
But scared money doesn’t grow.
The people who win in real estate are the ones willing to be bold early, invest upfront, and play the long game with conviction. Jack and Nick didn’t wait for perfect conditions—they created them.
Action is the advantage.
