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Key Takeaways from the 2025 IMN Single Family Rental Forum (East)

In this week’s blog, I am turning it over to Auben’s Director of Business Development, Alex Becker. He will be discussing his thoughts and insights on the recent IMN Single Family Rental Forum that he attended!

I had the opportunity to attend this year’s IMN Single Family Rental Forum East, and it delivered big on insights, connections, and strategy. With over 1,500 attendees from across the SFR ecosystem—including operators, investors, lenders, and tech providers—the energy and forward-looking conversations were high.

Here are my key takeaways from the event:

Market Trends & Industry Outlook

  • Demand Remains Strong: Even with interest rates rising, demand for single-family rentals continues to outpace supply. Renters are prioritizing flexibility, space, and community amenities.
  • Build-to-Rent Gaining Momentum: BTR developments are becoming central to institutional strategies. Purpose-built rental communities are growing fast and reshaping the future of SFR.
  • Cap Rate Adjustments: We’re seeing a slight reset in pricing expectations, which is allowing investors to be more selective and strategic.

Innovation & Technology

  • Proptech Is Reshaping Operations: From smart home tech to automated leasing tools, technology is helping streamline operations and enhance tenant experience.
  • Data is Power: Operators are increasingly relying on real-time analytics for decision-making, whether it’s pricing, tenant screening, or maintenance optimization.

Capital Markets & Financing

  • Financing Is More Creative: Traditional lending has tightened, but equity partners, JV structures, and alternative financing solutions are rising.
  • Navigating Interest Rate Volatility: Many groups are shortening hold periods, stress-testing pro formas, and building more flexible exit strategies.

Operator & Investor Strategy

  • Operational Efficiency Is King: As margins narrow, successful operators are laser-focused on cost controls, tenant retention, and optimizing NOI.
  • Mid-Market Agility: Smaller and mid-sized operators are capitalizing on opportunities that are too small or complex for institutional capital.

Networking & Partnerships

  • Collaborative Deal-Making: This year, the vibe was all about partnerships—co-GPs, syndications, and joint ventures are more important than ever.
  • Hot Markets: Southeastern markets (FL, GA, NC, SC) remain top picks for new deals and development.

Standout Quotes

“Operational efficiency is the new yield.”


“BTR is not just a trend—it’s becoming the core of SFR scalability.”


“You don’t need to own thousands of homes to compete—smarter operations make all the difference.”

Final Thoughts

The 2025 IMN SFR East Conference was more than panels and networking—it was a deep dive into the industry’s direction. The event offered immense value, from market dynamics and new capital strategies to tech adoption and deal structuring.

I left energized, informed, and excited about the future of single-family rentals.

Did you attend IMN SFR East? I’d love to hear your takeaways. Let’s connect and compare notes!

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Announcing Auben’s Expansion into Jacksonville

and a First Post in the Build-to-Rent (BTR) Series

At Auben Realty, we believe in creating places where people thrive, where homes are more than a roof overhead, but a stepping stone to a better future. That’s why we’re proud to announce our official expansion into Jacksonville, Florida as the professional property manager for Cedar Creek Estates, a new Build-for-Rent (BFR) community developed by Ellavoz Impact Capital  (article here).

This milestone marks more than just geographic growth—it reflects a shared goal: to meet the growing demand for workforce housing and drive long-term value for investors.

Cedar Creek Estates, located in Jacksonville’s Westside, offers 45 brand-new single-family homes with private yards, garages, and modern finishes—features often out of reach for renters in today’s market. Even in a city like Jacksonville, where the BTR sector is growing, the supply of new, single-family homes for lease remains limited compared to demand. 

In fact, at the recent IMN East conference, it was reported that while there are approximately 168,500 existing BTR units nationwide, they account for less than 1% of the total multifamily inventory—an estimated 19 million units.

The takeaway? BTR is a growing segment, but it’s still just getting legs. There’s a significant opportunity to deliver high-quality residential rentals for the workforce—especially in cities like Jacksonville, where options like Cedar Creek Estates bring the benefits of homeownership (space, privacy, community) within reach of renters today. At Cedar Creek, long-term residents also have the unique opportunity to earn incentives that support their path toward homeownership.

For Auben, this project is the perfect alignment of our expertise and mission:

  1. Stewarding high-quality residential rentals for workforce housing
  2. Providing responsive, professional property management that builds long-term value
  3. Partnering with visionaries like Ellavoz Impact Capital to make an impact where it matters most

As Robert Hutchins, Founder and CEO of Ellavoz, shared with the Jacksonville Business Journal:

“We need to invest in communities that help working families thrive.” (article here). We couldn’t agree more. 

This announcement also kicks off our BTR series—where we’ll explore:

The market trends behind BTR

  • How BTR fills a critical gap in the housing ecosystem
  • How impact-driven BTR investments can deliver long-term value for investors and residents alike
  • Stay tuned as we explore what makes BTR a compelling investment strategy—and how Auben is your local expert in managing these communities across the Southeast and Midwest.

Interested in learning more about Auben’s services or how we partner with investors to maximize value in BTR communities? Let’s connect. Together, we can build something that lasts. 

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