Waco Build-to-Rent Investing

Build-to-rent (BTR) communities are purpose-built neighborhoods of single-family-style rental homes — private yards, garages, and professional management — that capture renters priced out of homeownership. With the monthly mortgage payment on a median U.S. home up sharply since 2021 and a persistent starter-home shortage, BTR has become one of the fastest-growing residential asset classes, earning meaningful rent premiums over traditional apartments. In Waco, LV5 Capital offers accredited investors access to Trulo Homes Cottonwood Creek: 206 duplex-style rental homes at I-35 and Bagby Avenue developed by Red River Development ($599M AUM, 1,903 homes managed). The business plan targets a 24.5% IRR and 2.01x equity multiple over a roughly 43-month hold, with cash flow projected to begin around month 30 — projections, not guarantees. Ground-up development carries construction risk, and LV5 co-invests through an SPV rather than solely owning the project.

Frequently asked questions

What is build-to-rent (BTR)?

Build-to-rent communities are purpose-built neighborhoods of single-family-style rental homes — private yards, garages, and professional on-site management — designed for renters who want a house rather than an apartment. BTR communities typically earn rent premiums over traditional multifamily.

Why is BTR growing in markets like Waco?

The monthly mortgage payment on a median U.S. home rose sharply after 2021, pricing many households out of ownership, while starter-home construction remains far below demand. Purpose-built rentals capture that demand; a 2025 Zonda study supporting the Cottonwood Creek underwriting targeted a roughly 16.8% per-unit rent premium versus traditional multifamily.

Who is Red River Development?

Red River Development is a vertically integrated build-to-rent developer-operator behind the Trulo Homes brand, with $599M in assets under management, 1,903 homes managed, $169M of equity invested, and six Trulo communities built or underway, including the stabilized Trulo Jenks community in Oklahoma.

What returns does Cottonwood Creek target, and what are the risks?

The business plan targets a 24.5% IRR, 2.01x equity multiple, and 8.8% cash-on-cash beginning around month 30, over a roughly 43-month hold. These are projections, not guarantees. Ground-up development carries construction and lease-up risk, and cash flow is not expected until after lease-up begins.

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