Editor’s note: This week WTWO is featuring the revitalization of the historic 12 Points neighborhood in Terre Haute, catch the story Thursday at 6. The story below is a feature on the couple behind the ambitious plan.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Tiffany and Mark Baker, ages 35 and 36, returned to Terre Haute in 2018 after living in Italy, Colorado and Japan working overseas for the Department of Defense. Tiffany worked as an accountant, Mark as a contractor.
The Bakers met at Terre Haute North High School, they were ’02 and ’04 graduates. Both went to Indiana State, Mark was in the 181st Fighter Wing as a Munitions Specialist while at ISU.
The couple got married in 2008 and moved to Indianapolis. Tiffany says they were $80,000 in debt at that time and read the book, The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. They aggressively contributed to their retirement savings using Ramsey’s “Debt Snowball plan.”
Tiffany says once out of debt, the couple moved to Italy for three and a half years. The two were employed by the Department of Defense. Tiffany says her job took care of all of their living expenses in addition to salary.
Mark Baker says saving for retirement, couple realized there had to be a “better way” to spend life
We were maxing out our retirement accounts and then realized that we were essentially saving for ‘retirement’ when we were in our 60s! At the time, we had just turned 30! We figured there had to be a better way! My husband did a lot of research and we ended up determining that investing in real estate was right for us.”
Tiffany Baker
Their first daughter, Giulietta Danielle, was born in 2015 while the couple was still living in Italy.
The couple moved to Denver, Colorado with a dream to invest in real estate, they found that the Indianapolis market was less expensive. They worked with a friend who helped them purchase their first investment rental property in Indianapolis in 2016.
The Bakers spent two years in Denver, had their second daughter, Penelope June, and moved to Tokyo, Japan, investing in two more rental properties in Indianapolis. The couple had a property manager, who kept 10% of their income, it kept them from being landlords.
Mark Baker says couple took a bet on themselves to start their own real estate company
Their third daughter, Delia Renn, was born in Japan before the couple made the move back to Terre Haute. The move was prompted after a death in their immediate family. The Bakers “left the corporate world” and started their real estate company, 3 Sisters Investments.
The Bakers purchased a historic building in the 12 Points neighborhood in Terre Haute, it’s now called the PARQ building. The couple calls 2021, the “Year of 12” with an ambitious goal to bring 12 new businesses to 12 Points in 12 months. That story will air Thursday on WTWO News at 6.
Tiffany Baker says couple aims to make 12 Points neighborhood better for daughters compared to her youth
We will never work in an office again. We get to be a full time family with our daughters (the 3 Sisters).”
Tiffany Baker
Tiffany Baker says Terre Haute will grow a lot in next few years, glad to be a part of expansion
