Blue River Development, LLC, an Atlanta-based development company, showcased its commitment to the Build-to-Rent (BTR) market as a gold sponsor at the 8th Annual IMN Build-to-Rent, Land & Homebuilding Forum in Nashville, Tennessee. This leading industry event brought together over 1,000 BTR, land and home building professionals, creating an exceptional platform for networking, sharing insights, and exploring new opportunities.

Blue River Development, with a pipeline of 6,000 lots and a recently launched homebuilding division, Blue River Communities, was well-represented at the conference. Managing Principals Brad Cooper and Michael Cooper attended the conference along with Director of Investment Sales Bobby Stamps, and numerous other team members.

Blue River hosted an exclusive cocktail party at the Joseph Hotel’s exclusive lobby bar. The event drew key players in the industry, including Donald Povieng, Co-President of Empire Rental Living, who shared, “The annual IMN Build-to-Rent, Land & Homebuilding Forum in Nashville has consistently been a great opportunity for us to meet and develop deep, meaningful relationships in the single-family rental industry. Last year, we first met the Blue River Development team at a conference event and have since discussed multiple opportunities. This year, we attended Blue River Development’s networking event at The Joseph and spoke about expanding our current relationship to scale our respective operations.”

The conference featured a diverse range of speakers offering market overviews, with a consensus of optimism about the future of the BTR sector over the next 10 years. Despite challenges like rising land prices, a short supply of developed lots, and increasing interest rates, industry leaders remain confident in the market’s resilience and potential for growth.

At the conference, participants discussed various topics, including private equity, debt, and joint venture financing. Some expressed concerns about NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard), and other presenters emphasized the need to be proactive in sharing the positive impact of BTR developments at local city council meetings.

Brad Cooper, Managing Principal of Blue River Development, noted that the industry has seen many changes in the past year but expressed confidence in the opportunities ahead. “Based on the conversations and enthusiasm at the conference and the thawing of capital markets, we expect to see a lot of deals this year!”