Build-to-rent (BTR) is a new kind of rental community. These are communities designed for people who prefer to rent housing but want a place that feels more like home. They take the best aspects of single-family rentals and upgrade the experience by developing all homes inside a professionally managed community.

With the average sales price for a home across the US at $350,000, a mortgage is out of the reach of most people. BTR developments, which resemble traditional, gated neighborhoods, are currently one of the best options for affordable housing. These communities are ideal for families, young professionals, and empty nesters, people who want to live near good schools and shopping, want to have pets and a backyard for entertaining, and want neighbors they care about—they want it all at a price they can afford. That’s what BTR gives them.

The American dream of homeownership is evolving and current conditions make this the first time in US history that it’s cheaper to rent than it is to purchase; already, more than 30 percent of single-family homes are owned by investors. Yet there is a lot of misunderstanding and rhetoric about the BTR model, making it difficult to get to the truth. BTR is a significant trend that is reshaping the real estate industry, so it’s important for builders, investors, brokers, developers, realtors, and anyone interested in real estate investing to know about.

In Build-to-Rent: The How-to Guide for the Institutional Investor, Charles Kriegel provides insights into this new type of housing and investment. As someone integrally involved in the development of BTRs in Texas, Char les shares insider information on how BTR works, identifying a valid BTR site, the feasibility period, entitlements, funding, horizontal and vertical construction, expected returns and absorption rates, stabilization, and exit strategies to help listeners see that it’s a viable affordable housing option for today—and tomorrow.