Press Release

BrightSky Residential, a residential real estate development company operating exclusively in the build-to-rent (“BTR”) sector, has established a major division based in Charlotte, NC, to develop and lease single-family BTR homes in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. BrightSky’s Southeast Division, spearheaded by a team of experienced BTR homebuilding executives with ties to the region, already has five projects totaling over 800 homes in its development pipeline.

“The Carolinas along with other Southeastern states are experiencing robust population and employment growth boosted by their favorable climates, business friendly environments and lower tax burdens, creating attractive markets for residential real estate investment,” according to Leonard Miller, Chief Executive Officer of BrightSky. “Further, many Southern cities are investing heavily in transportation, technology and public amenities, further enhancing their appeal.”

“Purpose-built BTR communities are gaining popularity throughout the Southeast where job opportunities are excellent but housing options are often limited or outdated,” said Hamilton Stolpen, President of the BrightSky Southeast Region. “Single-family rentals are especially sought after with the best-in-class features that BrightSky offers including private outdoor spaces, no neighbor above or below, superior amenities and finishes and attached garages.”

BrightSky is out of the gate running, notes Stolpen. He cites the company’s initial commitments in the Southeast Region encompass development of over 800 homes within four new communities in North Carolina, , and one in Georgia. “All our planned communities are located near major employers and are close to retail centers, entertainment options, recreational opportunities and schools,” he adds.

BrightSky communities are thoughtfully designed to attract younger and older demographic cohorts who enjoy the privacy and comforts of a high-quality new home along with resort-style amenities such as clubhouses, swimming pools, pickleball courts, dog parks, walking trails and common greens. Further, on-site 24/7 professional management lifts the responsibilities of homecare from residents.

Mr. Stolpen has broad expertise in BTR community development in both the Carolinas and Florida. He has held senior positions at Oxenfree/Core Spaces and American Homes 4 Rent where he established and built BTR operations. Earlier, Mr. Stolpen led acquisition and development of approximately 90 communities in North and South Carolina as a top executive with several major homebuilders. As a past Director, he continues to play an active role in supporting the HeartBright Foundation in Charlotte while also dedicating his time and efforts to several charitable initiatives in the region. He holds a BS degree from Babson College in Wellesley, MA.

Joining the veteran leadership team at BrightSky Southeast is Jared Barrett, Vice President – Operations, a native Carolinian. He brings three decades of experience in the residential, commercial and industrial development field most recently as Vice President of Charlotte-based H. C. Barrett and Associates. He holds a BA degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Beyond the workplace, Mr. Barrett is deeply committed to mentoring youth through coaching baseball and high school sporting clays teams, striving to nurture integrity, teamwork, sportsmanship and long-term success.

Donny Fineberg joined BrightSky in early 2025 with six years of experience in real estate financial services and acquisitions across the BTR and multifamily homebuilding sectors. He previously spearheaded underwriting, due diligence and land acquisition for the Core Spaces BTR platform in North Carolina and Texas. He holds a BS degree from Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Founded in 2022, BrightSky has built a strong BTR record in California and Florida with over 560 homes completed or under construction, 338 leased and another 700 in its development pipeline.