February 17, 2026
What started as an operator solution is now entering the federal housing discussion.
Entrepreneurs like Bruce McNeilage, founder of Kinloch Partners, built their portfolios on a simple insight: new construction rental homes reduce maintenance headaches, lower capital expenditures, and create operational efficiency. That insight scaled into more than 1,000 homes — and into a broader movement.
Since 2012, more than 321,000 homes have been purpose-built as rentals, with the majority delivered in the past five years.
Now, policy may accelerate what the market already validated.
While scrutiny has increased around large institutional investors acquiring existing homes, early signals suggest Build-to-Rent communities — which expand housing supply rather than compete for it — may receive different treatment.
That distinction matters.
Leaders like Richard Ross, CEO of Quinn Residences, have consistently positioned Build-to-Rent as part of the solution to the U.S. housing shortage. The model delivers new inventory, professionally managed communities, and attainable access to high-quality suburban living.
Institutional capital has already followed the fundamentals. Groups such as Blackstone, Invitation Homes, and Pretium Partners shifted toward BTR because:
• New construction lowers long-term capex
• Standardization improves operational control
• Tenant retention trends stronger
• Scale is achievable without competing for resale inventory
Today's renter is also evolving — higher income, more mobile, and increasingly choosing flexibility over ownership.
The conversation is no longer whether Build-to-Rent works.
The conversation is whether housing policy will formally recognize it as a supply-side solution.
EverResi™ Media will continue convening operators, capital, and policy voices to ensure this space is defined by facts, performance, and market reality — not headlines alone.
Source: The Playbook
