OKC’s New Housing Trend: Exploring Horizontal Apartments

Oklahoma City is experiencing a significant shift in its housing landscape with the emergence of “horizontal apartments.” These aren’t your typical apartment buildings; they are entire neighborhoods of single-family homes designed and built specifically for renters, offering a blend of home privacy and rental convenience.

What Exactly Are Horizontal Apartments?

Often marketed as “cottages,” horizontal apartments are high-density communities featuring individual rental homes on smaller lots. They come with premium amenities and a significant perk: on-site property management takes care of both lawn care and general maintenance for all units. This innovative housing model provides residents with private outdoor spaces and fewer, if any, shared walls, addressing common desires not always met by traditional apartment living. Furthermore, the high-end amenities often found within these communities, coupled with professional property management, create a hassle-free living experience.

According to Brad Hunter, a housing expert writing in Forbes, this approach is one of the fastest-growing trends in the housing market. It offers the feeling of home ownership without the heavy price tag and associated responsibilities, like ongoing maintenance costs and property taxes.

The Journey of a Trend: From Crisis to OKC Growth

The concept of built-to-rent single-family developments originated in Phoenix, Arizona, out of the economic challenges of the 2007-2008 Great Financial Crisis. Investors initially acquired foreclosures but by 2012, shifted to constructing entirely new communities designed for rental. This trend quickly spread to leading markets like Phoenix and Dallas-Fort Worth, then through Texas, before making its way to Oklahoma City just last year.

OKC is now a burgeoning market for this housing type, driven by its strong employment opportunities, robust job market, and a large student population from local colleges and universities. Experts like Bert Belanger, managing director for PACE Equity in Oklahoma, note that this ‘horizontal apartment’ product is rapidly gaining traction across the U.S. and now significantly in Oklahoma. The existing interest in alternative urban housing, seen in areas like the Wheeler District and downtown Edmond’s pocket neighborhoods such as The Lark and Main Street Addition, indicates a clear demand among locals for diverse rental options, echoing the lifestyle Stradinger mentions, often centered on ‘no shared walls’ and community design.

Key Horizontal Apartment Developments in the OKC Area

Magnolia Row by Blackfin Development

One of the prominent projects is Magnolia Row, developed by Saxby Stradinger’s Blackfin Development LLC. Located at 6300 W Memorial Road, just west of MacArthur Boulevard on the south side of Kilpatrick Turnpike, this community is currently under construction. Magnolia Row will feature 87 homes, offering one-bedroom layouts on a single floor and two- and three-bedroom options across two stories. Designed in a “new urbanist” style, it emphasizes walkable blocks, nearby shopping, and accessible public spaces for a human-scaled urban experience. Blackfin also has a similar neighborhood in the planning stages at 2332 NW 150.

Crimson Lake Estates by SimplyHome (El Reno)

Expanding into the OKC area, Houston-based SimplyHome is developing Crimson Lake Estates at 1508 Crimson Lake Blvd in El Reno, north of Interstate 40 and west of S Country Club Road. This community will offer 100 rental homes, with three- and four-bedroom single- and two-story designs available for move-in by July. SimplyHome, a major national operator with over 10,000 built-to-rent homes, chose El Reno for its accessible location, proximity to Redlands Community College, Crimson Creek Golf Course, and various recreational amenities. President Matt Hansen emphasizes their “integrated approach,” where they design, build, lease, maintain, and manage their rental homes, ensuring a superior quality experience for residents. They aim to provide the comfort and privacy of a single-family home with the flexibility of renting, especially relevant given the rising costs of traditional home ownership.

Trulo Homes Quail Village

The first of its kind in OKC, Trulo Homes Quail Village at 2145 Watermark Blvd paved the way for these innovative developments, demonstrating early success and demand in the local market.

Why Choose a Horizontal Apartment?

Frequently Asked Questions About OKC’s Horizontal Apartments

• What defines a “horizontal apartment”?
  It’s a single-family home built specifically to be rented, usually within a high-density neighborhood managed by a property company that handles maintenance and lawn care.
• Why are these gaining popularity in Oklahoma City?
  They offer the privacy and space of a single-family home with the convenience of renting, including professional maintenance. This addresses a demand for home-like living without the financial commitment and responsibilities of ownership, especially with rising housing costs.
• Where can I find these new communities in the OKC area?
  Current developments include Magnolia Row at 6300 W Memorial Road in OKC and Crimson Lake Estates at 1508 Crimson Lake Blvd in El Reno. Trulo Homes Quail Village was the first in OKC.
• Who is behind these developments?
  Developers like Blackfin Development LLC (for Magnolia Row) and SimplyHome (for Crimson Lake Estates) are key players. These companies often have extensive experience in the built-to-rent sector.

For Oklahoma City residents seeking housing solutions that balance privacy, amenities, and flexibility without the full commitment of home ownership, these new horizontal apartment communities present an exciting and growing option to consider in the evolving real estate market.

OKC Horizontal Apartments New Rental Home Trend