What are build-to-rent homes?
Build-to-rent (BTR) communities are new houses and townhomes built to be rented, not sold. One manager runs the whole community, like an apartment community spread across streets. You usually get a private fenced yard, a garage, and no shared walls in a single-family rental.
We track Preserve at Highway 6 plus 14 other BTR and townhome community sites around the Houston metro. Each one has a profile with required fees, the water district and the electric setup, so you can compare it fairly with a new apartment.
How is the bill different from an apartment?
The rent line can look similar. The rest of the bill usually isn’t.
| Bill line | New apartment | Build-to-rent home |
|---|---|---|
| Electric | Often your plan, sometimes included | Usually in your name |
| Water | Often billed by the property | Often in your name, often MUD water |
| Required fees | Valet trash, packages, tech | Often lower, sometimes a community fee |
| Parking | Garage or space fees in mid-rises | Driveway or two-car garage included |
| Yard upkeep | None | Sometimes landscaping included, sometimes yours |
At 11 board apartment buildings, required fees ran $77.62 to $158.06 a month, median $98 (Oct 25, 2026). BTR homes often have smaller fees but larger utility bills, because you’re heating, cooling and watering a whole house and yard.
Compare true monthly, not rent
We add rent, required fees, electric, water, parking and any yard service for both options. Then we show year two for each, because renewal starts from base rent.
What should I know about yards and rules?
BTR communities follow HOA-style rules. Expect written rules on fences, trash bins, parking, exterior decor and pets in yards. You usually can’t add or change a fence without written approval.
Yard maintenance is the big question. Some communities include mowing and edging. Others leave it to you, so you’ll need a mower or a service. We note what each one publishes.
Where are Houston’s build-to-rent communities?
Most sit on the suburban edges, where land allows single-family lots. Cypress, around Bridgeland and the Grand Parkway, has several, and many addresses there fall in Cy-Fair ISD. Others sit along the Fort Bend County Toll Road, near Katy and Fulshear, and in Montgomery County.
Because these communities are often in unincorporated areas, a district supplies the water. We confirm the district and the billing method for each one.
Do BTR homes have specials?
Some do, especially in lease-up. We show them with the same formula as apartments, with base rent beside the discount and year two beside the special.
How do I compare a BTR home with an apartment?
Send us your move date, bedrooms, pets and all-in budget. We’ll build the true monthly for both, line up tours on one side of town, and confirm every fee in writing. It’s free to you, and your rent is the same either way.
