OVERVIEW

Northernstar Companies is a real estate development firm that acquires, owns, renovates, and operates affordable, workforce, and value-oriented assets across southeastern Wisconsin. Northernstar Companies partners with institutional investors – both domestically and internationally – to deliver quality primary housing in major metropolitan and suburban Wisconsin markets.

A primary focus of our mission is to provide hard-working families higher quality, well maintained, and safe value rental housing – a base for their pursuit of the American Dream. We invest not only in brick and mortar but in on-site services, amenities, and activities that add value to properties and bring our residents’ desired lifestyles within reach.

Families with incomes of $30,000 to $80,000 represent the largest segment of the rental housing market. We regard the ability to serve this market as a social, cultural, and financial opportunity.

NORTHTHERNSTAR COMPANIES CONCENTRATES ON THESE RENTAL SECTORS

Affordable Housing

Tax credit, project-based Section 8, and other rent-restricted properties, generally targeting residents at 40% – 80% of area median income.

NOAH

Naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH). Older “C” properties that are upgraded to serve the needs of affordable residents.

Workforce Housing

“C” and “B” properties that serve residents at 80% – 120% of area median income.

Many of these markets are underserved by institutional capital. Northernstar Companies can acquire assets in these sectors and deliver risk-adjusted returns through current income and long-term capital appreciation.

Our professionals possess a strong track record in acquiring and operating value apartment communities – both in resident satisfaction and in providing attractive returns.

Northernstar Companies is an ACRE-born commercial real estate firm based in the Greater Milwaukee area. Founded in 2018, we prefer a local approach to development that uses our business as a vehicle to enhance the lives of those who live, work, and play in and around the projects we develop.

LEADERSHIP

Brandon Methu

Brandon has an extensive background in multifamily and mixed-use real estate. Specializing in housing developments that utilize low-income housing tax credits, new market tax credits, and opportunity zone investment; Brandon provides underwriting and financial analysis to support all stages of the development process.

Prior to founding Northernstar Companies, Brandon was the lead analyst of a Milwaukee-based commercial real estate company where he led structuring and negotiation of acquisitions, RFP submissions, and pre-development activities.

Previously, Brandon managed the financial analysis, project planning, and preliminary due diligence of more than $150 Million of world-class affordable real estate projects as the Project Coordinator of a regional housing developer and Investment Analyst with the Federal Home Loan Bank.

Brandon holds a BA in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, an Associates in Commercial Real Estate from Milwaukee School of Engineering and sits on the board of Community First MKE.

**James Methu**

James Methu is a Senior Business Analyst with the City of Milwaukee’s Office of Small Business Development. He is also an entrepreneur, children’s book author, public servant, and father. James is a lifelong Milwaukee resident, responsible for the firm’s community engagement and public relations.
His educational background includes a Bachelor of Business Administration, Securities Investment Licenses 6, 63, 7 and 24, as well as continuing professional studies in Compliance. He is a graduate of the Associates in Commercial Real Estate program (MSOE & Marquette University).
As a young professional he has experience in financial services, community activism, urban development, Residents Preference Programs, Small Business Enterprises, public-private partnerships, and property management. He is a managing member of Methu Legacy Portfolio, and partner with real estate development firm Northernstar Companies LLC.

MISSION

Northernstar Companies was founded with a mission of transforming the affordable and workforce housing sectors by cost-effectively improving specific areas of resident experience.

VISION

Not a single U.S county has enough affordable housing. As a developer we provide safe, affordable housing, we view the affordability of our units as the primary pathway to prosperity. We are seeking partners who are dissatisfied with the lack of social return of traditional investment vehicles. Our product is a not-for-profit development strategy that leverages existing streams of homeowner housing subsidy with a "lasagna" of public and private multi-family financing, to create catalytic developments in economically distressed areas.