NexMetro Enters Greater Austin BTR Market

Avilla Vista Ranch is the first of several developments in the firm’s local pipeline.

NexMetro Communities will soon open Avilla Vista Ranch, a 150-unit luxury single-family rental property in Liberty Hill, Texas, outside of Austin. Upon its February debut, the community will mark the firm’s entrance into the market.

DTJ Design provided architecture services, while Catamount Constructors serves as general contractor.

Located at 9975 W. State Highway 29, the development features mostly detached single-level rental homes with one- to three-bedroom layouts. Units are slated to have private backyards, front porches and 10-foot ceilings. Community amenities will comprise a swimming pool, outdoor barbecues and dog parks, to name a few.


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“We see appeal among a very diverse group of consumers—from professional millennials to middle-aged people going through a life transition like divorce or job change, to retirees seeking to simplify their lives. Many of these people have lived in and even owned homes before—truly representing renters by choice in the marketplace,” Jason Flory, managing director for NexMetro Communities’ Austin & Atlanta Divisions, told Multi-Housing News.

The property is about 32 miles northwest of downtown Austin. The Liberty Hill city center is some 4 miles away.

A greater Austin BTR trio

NexMetro has another two upscale projects underway in greater Austin, with a total unit count of 634 rental homes including Avilla Vista Ranch. Capital investment for the development trio neared $200 million.

Also under the Avilla brand, Berry Creek Highlands—a 224-unit build-to-rent development in Georgetown—will debut in March, while Rio Oaks, a 260-unit single-family rental project also in Liberty Hill, is slated for completion in June.

Catamount Constructors serves as general contractor for Rio Oaks as well, while Mosaic provides general contracting services for Berry Creek Highlands. DTJ Design was the architect of record for all three projects.


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“The greater Austin market’s population has been growing steadily, which has increased the demand for housing,” Flory added. “And renting is now seen as a more affordable option than buying, even with a luxury top-tier leased offering like Avilla Homes.” Renting a home in metro Austin was on average $1,048 cheaper than paying mortgage as of September 2024, according to a Yardi Matrix report.

NexMetro is looking to further expand its BTR inventory in the Austin and San Antonio markets. The developer intends to kick off sitework at two other projects in the coming months: Avilla Homestead in New Braunfels, Texas, and Avilla Nolina in Georgetown, Texas.

Greater Austin’s BTR pipeline comprised approximately 2,900 units underway as of January, the same data provider shows. About 710 rental homes debuted in 2024, a figure 14.3 percent lower than the one registered in 2023. Against the backdrop of the supply glut, metro Austin’s BTR advertised asking rental rates dipped by 3.7 percent year-over-year in November, the report also shows.