Inside the Build-to-Rent Playbook
Build-to-Rent has surged from a niche concept into one of the fastest‑growing segments of the rental housing market. While conventional multifamily remains the foundation of most portfolios, BTR is reshaping how investors, developers, owners, and operators think about growth, risk, and opportunity.
We’ll break down how capital is flowing, where development is concentrated, how assets are managed, and what it takes to operate communities built for today’s renters. Along the way, we’ll connect the dots back to multifamily so you can see where the two worlds overlap—and where they diverge.
Discussion topics include:
- Capital market trends, risk and return, and exit strategies
- Development hotspots, emerging product types, and cost considerations
- Ownership strategies, valuations, and portfolio diversification
- Operational challenges, technology adoption, and resident expectations
- Broader forces shaping demand, from affordability gaps to demographic shifts
Adam Couch specializes in residential housing research and advanced analytics, with a focus on risk assessment, emerging trends, capital markets, and demographic shifts across the multifamily sector. He develops forward‑looking research into strategic recommendations that guide executive decision‑making across investment, portfolio strategy, and operations through market cycles and changing economic conditions. Adam has spoken at commercial real estate conferences, been cited in The Dallas Morning News, and previously advised Fannie Mae on multifamily asset management strategy.
Robin Young
Head of Market Research at Buildium, RealPage, Inc.As the head of market research for the mixed-use division of RealPage, Robin leverages her background in social science research and interest in real estate economics to uncover trends in the rental market. Her research provides small-business property managers with a 360-degree view of the industry, sharing insights gleaned from surveys of thousands of property managers, rental owners and renters each year. She’s best known as the author of the annual Property Management Industry Report, a Buildium®, Propertyware® and NARPM® joint publication.
