Multifamily Development and
Build to Rent (BTR)

Insight to Value in Vibrant Communities.

Zeller’s residential platform is built on our mission to deliver insight-driven value through smart location selection, design excellence, community connection, and financial performance. We source development sites in high-barrier-to-entry submarkets that are primed for long-term growth. Our current product focus falls in two strategic categories – Multifamily Transit Oriented Development (TOD), and Build-To-Rent (BTR). These typologies capitalize on demographic trends, and leverage construction cost and entitlement opportunities to outperform comparable residential deliveries.

We collaborate with local experts to tailor each project to its setting, creating design-forward communities that emphasize the tenant experience through creation of and integration with local community amenities. As with our office assets, we leverage long-standing relationships with architects, engineers and municipalities to accelerate delivery timelines and deliver quality projects at competitive pricing.

Build-to-Rent (BTR)

 

Zeller’s introduction to horizontal residential developments began in 2012 as a joint venture between the principals of Gestar Inmobiliaria and Zeller (dba Lares Desarollos) in areas of Mexico. In certain markets, the lower average construction cost of build-to-rent homes compared to traditional multifamily developments allows families to enjoy a single-family home with a yard for roughly the same monthly cost as an apartment.

Actionable BTR projects share the following:

⋅ Community: Excellent local school districts and convenient, grocery-anchored retail centers

⋅ Growth: Locations with strong and growing demographic fundamentals

⋅ Cost Gap: Markets where the cost of ownership has materially outpaced renting

⋅ Market: Under supplied markets with predictable and quantifiable absorption capacity

⋅ Scale: 8+ acre sites that support amenitised professionally managed communities

Zeller BTR partners with best-in-class regional developers and homebuilders with vertically integrated platforms, including in-house general contracting capabilities. These partners bring deep local expertise in site selection, entitlement, and execution across high-quality residential communities.

Multifamily

 

Zeller Multifamily evolved through our successful executions of Class A high-rise residential in Chicago’s Fulton Market (Evo Union Park) and Midtown Atlanta (EMMI Midtown), which both closed on their respective debt and construction contracts before 2021.

Actionable multifamily projects share the following:

⋅ Concentration: Suburban in-fill sites in robust, pedestrian active cities with limited supply

⋅ Access: Transit-oriented developments (“TOD”) within 0.5 miles to METRA or CTA stations

⋅ Incentive: Existing community sponsored TIF districts with remaining funding capacity

⋅ Market: Under supplied markets with predictable and quantifiable absorption capacity

⋅ Upside: Markets with demonstrated rent growth above the Chicago MSA average

By combining strategic site selection criteria, innovative design, and disciplined underwriting, Zeller creates high-quality residential environments that align with both community needs and investor goals.

Evo Union Park
Emmi
Katy Pointe
Canvas at Centennial