Transwestern has expanded its footprint in the Twin Cities by acquiring Forte Real Estate Partners, a commercial real estate firm based in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region. The move brings Forte’s team and service lines under the Transwestern banner, strengthening the firm’s capabilities in a key Midwest market.
Through the acquisition, Transwestern adds 12 professionals focused on tenant advisory services across healthcare, office, and industrial sectors, as well as a broad property management portfolio. These additions are intended to enhance the firm’s ability to support occupier clients while deepening its property services platform in the region.
Forte Real Estate Partners was formed in 2021 through the merger of Excelsior Advisory and Paramount Real Estate Corp. Since its creation, the company has provided brokerage and property services throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, working with clients across multiple commercial property types.
Founders Steve Brown, Jim Jetland, and Philip Simonet will join Transwestern as part of the transaction. Each brings extensive experience in a specific asset category: Brown in healthcare real estate, Jetland in office, and Simonet in industrial. Their sector focus is expected to complement Transwestern’s existing service lines and client relationships.
Brown will become part of Transwestern’s Minneapolis Healthcare group, which works with private practices, independent providers, and health systems. His integration into this team is positioned to further support healthcare users seeking specialized real estate advisory services in the Minneapolis market.
Jetland and Simonet will remain closely involved in advancing Transwestern’s office and industrial tenant advisory teams. Their background in tenant representation and market knowledge is intended to support ongoing growth in those service areas as the combined platform serves a wider base of occupier clients.
In less than five years, Forte Real Estate Partners has advised clients on more than $885 million in transactions. Over the same period, the firm has also managed nearly 1 million square feet of commercial property, reflecting both its brokerage activity and its role in overseeing assets for owners.
The Forte team will be based in Transwestern’s Minneapolis office at 705 Marquette Avenue South. Operating from a single location is expected to streamline collaboration between legacy Transwestern professionals and incoming Forte team members as they integrate service offerings across healthcare, office, industrial, and property management in the Twin Cities.
