Beyond the BTR blueprint: Rethinking how we build

As build-to-rent continues to mature, the sector is becoming increasingly nuanced. Different markets have different needs, investors have different requirements, and residents have changing expectations of what a BTR home and community should offer. For developers, investors, and designers, this means moving beyond a standard BTR blueprint and taking a more tailored approach to each project.

At Build-to-Rent Fall 2026, we spoke to Liya Mo and Donald Ruthruff about why understanding the market, the resident, and the wider community will be increasingly important to the next generation of BTR.

Designing BTR around the people and the place

Donald Ruthruff, Architect and Founder of Design Story Spaces, argues that good BTR design starts with understanding the people who will ultimately live in a development. He highlights the importance of using resident data to inform design rather than relying on assumptions, with small details such as storage, kitchen functionality, and entry sequences helping homes work better for the people who live in them. Donald also points to the evolution of BTR community design, arguing that successful developments should respond to their surrounding neighborhoods rather than feel disconnected from them. Importantly, he believes better design does not necessarily mean higher costs, particularly when architects and developers collaborate early in the process:

What does this mean for BTR design? Creating better BTR does not necessarily mean spending more. Understanding residents, using data, and considering the wider community can help developers create homes that are more functional, differentiated, and connected to their surroundings.

Why BTR can't be treated as one asset class

Liya Mo, Founder and CEO of Momenta Real Estate, highlights one of the biggest misconceptions she sees in the sector: treating BTR as a single, uniform asset class. She explains how performance can vary significantly by market and even at a micro-location level, while capital groups can also have very different risk profiles and investment requirements. Liya also shares how a Nashville development adapted its original BTR strategy to include for-sale homes following local opposition, demonstrating how flexibility can help projects respond to their specific circumstances:

What does this mean for BTR investment? Developers and investors need to understand the specific market, capital partner, and local context rather than assuming that one BTR strategy will work everywhere.

The next generation of BTR needs a more tailored approach

The perspectives from Liya Mo and Donald Ruthruff point toward a BTR sector that is becoming less reliant on standardized assumptions. Understanding the specific market, capital requirements, resident needs, and community context can help developers make better decisions about what to build and how to deliver it.

The opportunity now is to move beyond simply replicating existing BTR models and create developments that are more responsive to the markets and people they serve.

Want to continue the conversation? Join industry leaders at Build-to-Rent Spring 2027 to explore the trends, strategies, and opportunities shaping the next phase of BTR, from investment and development to design, operations, and resident experience.