Builders in hot pursuit of a new target: renters

The Avilla Suncoast development currently under construction in Odessa, Pasco County, sounds an awful lot like the standard new-home communities being built all over the region. The 152-home gated neighborhood will feature one-, two-, and three-bedroom single-family homes with private backyards, open floor plans, granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances. Community amenities include a resort-style pool and dog park.

But these new homes aren’t being built for sale. The entire community is being built by developer NexMetro Communities as single-family-home rentals, where rates will be comparable to a traditional Class A apartment.