New NAHB Resource Available on Single-Family Built-for-Rent Housing

Land Development
Published
Contact: Nicholas Julian
[email protected]
Director, Land Use
(202) 266-8309

Developers are exploring new ways to meet continued housing demand. One of the latest trends is built-for-rent housing. This type of housing is becoming increasingly popular, particularly among younger adults who are looking for affordable, flexible housing options.

There is an important distinction between built-for-rent housing and flip-for-rent housing, which converts for-sale housing to for-rent. Most of the built-for-rent product produced by NAHB members adds to the existing housing stock to meet a specific market demand for rental units with unique amenities relative to traditional apartments.

To alleviate confusion and potential concerns around built-for-rent housing, NAHB’s Land Development Committee formed a working group to study and produce education on the topic. The group created an introductory primer, “Renters by Choice: The Truth about Single-Family Built-for-Rent Housing,” to describe what the phrase “renters by choice” means: The people who live in these communities are there because they want to be.

Single-family built-for-rent housing provides a lifestyle option to those seeking additional flexibility compared to buying, and amenities such as yards and garages that many large apartments do not offer. This type of housing can be a steppingstone between renting and buying for young families and be a good downsizing option for aging adults. Offering additional housing options to meet the diverse needs of families and individuals can help chip away at the housing crisis.

The document further describes benefits to home builders and local communities, and can serve as a great introductory piece for NAHB members and all engaged in housing to start a discussion on this type of housing.

For more information, visit NAHB’s Land Use 101 Toolkit.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Advocacy

Jul 24, 2026

Latest Tariff Actions Add Uncertainty to Housing Market

Recent tariff developments could create more uncertainty for home builders over building material supply chains and pricing.

Economics

Jul 24, 2026

New Home Sales Edge Higher as Affordability Challenges Persist

Sales of newly built single-family home rose 1.6% in June to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 628,000, up from an upwardly revised May estimate, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The pace of new home sales is down 5.6% from a year earlier.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Jul 24, 2026

New Home Sales Edge Higher as Affordability Challenges Persist

Affordability challenges continued to weigh on the new-home market in June, as elevated mortgage rates, rising inflation and broader economic uncertainty kept many prospective buyers on the sidelines.

Economics

Jul 23, 2026

Acquisitions Increasing Among Home Builders

At the start of 2026, most home builders predicted that high mortgage rates and hesitancy among buyers would be their toughest challenges this year. They weren’t wrong: the 30-year mortgage rate averaged 6.49% in June and housing demand has weakened, as reflected by flat mortgage applications in the first half of the year.

Economics

Jul 22, 2026

What Do Home Buyers Purchase After They Move In

Buying a home typically generates a wave of consumer spending beyond the purchase of the home itself. Following a home purchase, households often buy appliances and furnishings and undertake remodeling and repair projects to make the home fit their needs and preferences.