This relatively new and growing segment of the housing market is called “build for rent” or BFR . Often constructed in suburban areas with low crime and near good schools, BFR homes attract those who want the lifestyle of a house — but the affordability or convenience of renting.
A family may arrive in a new city as part of a corporate relocation but want to rent something comfortable while they figure out where they want to buy, said Miller. Or people may still be working to afford a down payment to own a home at a time in their lives where they have outgrown apartment living. Plus, the incentives for home ownership have changed, said Miller.