Build-to-rent community opens in Bonita Springs

A Naples-based private equity firm recently opened a new build-to-rent community in Bonita Springs.

Swell by Soltura will consist of 200 two-story cottages when fully developed, according to Halstatt Real Estate Partners, which teamed up with Soltura Development Group on the project.

Homes will feature one, two or three bedrooms. All cottages will feature first-floor entryways and private fenced backyards with patios.

“As the cost of buying a home continues to put pressure on many households, more people are turning to rental options that don’t compromise on space or quality of life,” Steve Iannaccone, principal of Halstatt Real Estate Partners, says in a statement. “Our build-to-rent community in Bonita Springs is designed to meet that demand — offering residents the comfort and privacy of a single-family home, with features like private yards and individual entrances, all without the up-front costs or long-term obligations of ownership. It’s a model that supports flexibility while still delivering a strong sense of neighborhood and lifestyle.”

The first tenants moved into Swell by Soltura in mid-June, according to Halstatt Real Estate Partners spokesperson Jenna Rambaud, who says the first phase included approximately 20 units.

"We now have approximately 75 units fully turned over, and expect full construction completion prior to year-end 2025," Rambaud says in a July 30 email.

Swell by Soltura will also include a clubhouse with fitness center, work area, game room, leasing center, kitchen, pool with cabanas and an outdoor event lawn. It is less than 1 mile from Interstate 75, off East Terry Street, at 26502 Longboard Drive.

The Lee County community is the fourth build-to-rent development for Halstett Real Estate Partners in partnership with Naples-based Soltura Development Group. The other three are in Fort Myers and include Odyssey, with 129 homes; Altair, featuring 160 rental homes; and Argos, which has 140 single-family homes for rent.

“Nationwide, demand for build-to-rent housing has grown rapidly, driven by younger households and growing families looking for more flexibility and space,” Danville Leadbetter, co-founder of Soltura Development Group, says in a statement. “In Florida — where homeownership can be unpredictable and up-front costs remain high — cottage-style communities like Swell offer a more stable and financially accessible alternative.”

Monthly rent at Swell starts at $2,046 for a one-bedroom, one-bath residence, according to the Swell by Soltura website, and begins at $3,820 for a three-bedroom, three-bath home.

Hallstatt Real Estate has committed to seven build-rent projects around the country, totaling more than 1,350 units. In addition to Fort Myers and Bonita Springs, it has in its portfolio Stillwell at Wellen Park, featuring 274 residences in Sarasota County; Stillwell at Avery Centre, which contains 225 homes in Round Rock, Texas; and Stillwell Jerome, a 230-home community in Columbus, Ohio.

This story was updated to include additional information about move-ins and buildout from a Halstatt Real Estate Partners spokesperson.