Jay Byce – ResiBuilt

In the evolving American housing landscape, one company is proving that scale doesn’t have to come at the expense of quality—and that renting can feel just like homeownership. At the helm of this movement is Jay Byce, president of ResiBuilt. This Atlanta-based homebuilding company is transforming the build-to-rent market with its forward-thinking design, strategic execution, and deep commitment to resident satisfaction.

With a footprint rapidly expanding across the Southeast, ResiBuilt is more than a homebuilder—it’s a community maker, offering smart, stylish, and durable homes in thoughtfully planned neighborhoods that appeal to both renters and buyers. From high-growth Sunbelt markets like Tampa and Charlotte to the rolling hills of northern Georgia, ResiBuilt’s success is built on a simple but ambitious principle: deliver homes people can’t wait to move into—fast, affordably, and with integrity.

Founded in 2018 with a mission to answer the call to the nation’s severe housing shortage, ResiBuilt is among the fastest-growing homebuilders in the country, ranked the 58th largest nationally and the 10th largest in Atlanta. The company brings over 1,500 new homes into the market each year and maintains a robust pipeline of over 5,200 additional lots, spanning self-developed BTR, for-sale, and fee-build projects.

“Our approach is simple—we build homes that people want to live in, whether they’re buying or renting,” Byce says. “From the curb appeal to the floorplans to the technology, everything is designed to feel like home.”

And it does. ResiBuilt homes feature exceptional curb appeal, durable finishes, energy-efficient systems, and smart technologies. They range in size from 1,800 to 2,300 square feet for single-family homes, with townhomes coming in between 1,400 and 1,800 square feet. Each community offers five to seven floorplans with multiple architectural elevations, ensuring diversity in design and a neighborhood feel that mirrors traditional for-sale subdivisions.   In short, they offer highly upgraded homes at entry-level prices.  And then the market drives ResiBuilt’s decision to sell or lease the homes—leasing is the primary path.

ResiBuilt has closely studied its customers. Byce says that most people are attracted to their homes because of their location, curb appeal and the welcoming look of the community.  Initially, many call to inquire about purchasing in the neighborhood.  Then they become very excited to hear that the homes are for lease, which shrinks the approval process to days rather than months.

“They do the math and quickly realize that renting our homes is often $1,500 per month less expensive than owning, plus they have no down payment or maintenance responsibilities.  In fact, when given the choice, 90 percent of our inquiring customers choose to lease rather than buy,” he explains.

The result? Communities fill up quickly, and residents stay longer. On average, renters remain in ResiBuilt homes for four years—a testament to both the design of the homes and the lifestyle ResiBuilt offers.  Surprisingly, four years is the same length of time that people own their first home, on average.  Given that the tax incentives of owning aren’t what they used to be, the high frictional cost of buying and then selling a home, and the higher monthly cost of owning versus renting, ResiBuilt’s strategy is designed to meet the consumer where they are today.  Two very different demographics are driving this demand: Millennials starting families and empty nesters seeking simplicity without sacrificing space or amenities.

Communities designed for connection

Nowhere is ResiBuilt’s vision more fully realized than in Kilough Pointe, a master-planned community in northern Georgia. Comprising 331 homes built in three distinct villages, Kilough showcases the company’s hallmark blend of design, quality, and community infrastructure. Residents enjoy access to a suite of amenities typically found in high-end for-sale developments: a clubhouse, fitness center, resort-style pool, pickleball courts, walking trails, playgrounds, a dog park, and more.

“Kilough represents everything we strive for—great design, thoughtful planning, and a sense of place,” Byce says. “It’s already one-third leased, which means more than 20 move-ins per month, and the feedback from residents has been overwhelmingly positive.”

These amenities aren’t just afterthoughts. They’re central to ResiBuilt’s strategy of making rental communities indistinguishable from ownership neighborhoods.

“We look at what homeowners in the local market expect to purchase, and we match that,” Byce explains. “Architectural style, square footage, modern layouts—but for a monthly payment rather than a long-term mortgage commitment.”

That philosophy helps attract families seeking long-term stability and a lifestyle-friendly living environment. As trends like pickleball surge in popularity, ResiBuilt remains agile, building communities that reflect today’s lifestyle preferences.

Expansion through fee building services

While ResiBuilt owns and operates two-thirds of its building production, the company’s fee-building division is growing rapidly, accounting for roughly a third of total operations. Through this model, ResiBuilt guarantees construction performance and build costs for owners such as Quinn Residences, Navar Group, and Third Lake Partners to develop high-quality neighborhoods.

“In fee-building, we act as a true partner, not just a general contractor,” Byce says. “We help Owners understand everything from land development costs to which home specs are most sought after and even what the market will bring in rents, and then we execute with speed and precision.”

Speed is where ResiBuilt shines. The company averages 10–15 completed homes per month per community, with a typical build time of approximately 100 days. This efficiency, paired with quality craftsmanship, enables partners to meet aggressive leasing targets without compromising quality.

Byce sees the fee-building division as a scalable growth engine—one that benefits from ResiBuilt’s fully integrated operations and the homebuilding scale it has achieved.

“We do everything in-house—from development to construction to leasing,” he says. “It gives us cost control, better quality, and a better experience for the resident.  And now that we are completing over 1,500 homes per year, our costs are competitive with the largest homebuilders in the country.”

And it’s working. Investors receive homes that lease quickly, minimize turnover costs, and hold long-term value—whether they choose to keep them in a rental portfolio or sell them on the open market.

Leading with vision & connection

ResiBuilt’s success is more than a function of strategy—it’s a reflection of leadership. Founding the company with Lance Popp and Andy Capps, Byce takes a hands-on approach, personally visiting each job site every other month. He builds teams not only for technical excellence, but for empowerment.

“As I’ve grown as a leader, I’ve learned that scaling an organization means letting go—giving people the authority to make decisions and lead in their own right,” Byce reflects. “When you find the right people, they don’t want to leave.”

That focus on talent is part of what makes ResiBuilt exceptional. The company invests significant resources into hiring, training, and maintaining a culture of ownership and accountability across its multi-state operations.

Despite the challenges that come with rapid expansion—like securing capital for a capital-intensive model or navigating local permitting risks—Byce remains undeterred. He’s proud of how far ResiBuilt has come since 2018, when no one knew the market was so deep and diverse for this type of product.

Today, those doubts are long gone. With homes that rent for an average of $2,500 to $3,000 a month and home sale prices in the high $300’s to low $500’s, ResiBuilt is proving that what people really want is a home of their own, regardless of whether they rent or own.

With roots in Atlanta, ResiBuilt continues to expand across the Southeast with purpose. Its future includes more than 1,900 lots allocated for for-sale homes, 2,100 for self-developed BTR communities, and 1,200 for fee-build projects over the next two and a half years.

The company has earned industry recognition on both sides of the housing equation: OBIE Awards for excellence in homebuilding, and IMN accolades for rental community innovation. These awards validate what residents and investors already know—ResiBuilt is delivering something different.

“We aren’t just a homebuilder,” Byce says. “We’re a market maker, driven by the happy consumer.”

By combining the agility of a startup with the discipline of a seasoned builder, ResiBuilt is transforming the way Americans approach home living. With Byce leading the charge, one thing is sure: home—whether rented or owned—has never looked better.