Sunstone Two Tree Expands to San Diego

Multifamily developer and operator Sunstone Two Tree has expanded into San Diego with the $45 million acquisition of a 200-unit apartment property on the north side of El Cajon. The 1976 Terraza Hills community is in its original condition, and Sunstone Two Tree plans to invest a significant amount of capital on upgrades.

Scott Maddux, president and CEO of Sunstone Two Tree, says, “According to CoStar, there were only 88 multifamily units delivered in 2024 to all of the East San Diego submarket, or 0.1% of the existing inventory. Furthermore, much of what does exist in the submarket is older, unrenovated product. As a result, it’s imperative to invest in and preserve the housing stock that’s already available in the area so that families can have affordable places to live now and in the future. We are looking forward to investing in the Terraza Hills community, enhancing it with thoughtful upgrades that make it a comfortable yet attainable place to live.”

Set to begin this month, Sunstone Two Tree will upgrade each unit interior with vinyl plank flooring, hard surface countertops, updated lighting, stainless steel appliances, and new cabinetry. The property’s exterior will have new paint, exterior finish replacement, new lighting, parking lot repairs, landscaping, and signage.

Residents will also enjoy re-fenced backyards, renovated parking garages, and new carports. The pool area will be renovated, and new gates and fencing will be added around the perimeter of the property. The renovations will take approximately 24 months to complete.

Sunstone Two Tree acquires, renovates, develops, and manages rental housing communities in high-growth markets including Las Vegas, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, and Tampa, Florida. The firm was drawn to San Diego due to its favorable supply-demand dynamic, with El Cajon offering proximity to downtown, the universities, and the airport.

By Leah Draffen

The Real Deal: Sunstone Two Tree pays $29M for apartments in Houston’s Westchase (Paywall)

Sunstone Two Tree Closes on 384-Unit Multifamily Property in Houston

Will invest $10.5 million to fully renovate and modernize the “Villas Del Paseo” community

Westlake Village, California, USA (February 1, 2023) – Sunstone Two Tree, a developer and operator of rental housing communities in high-growth markets throughout the United States, today announced that it has acquired a 384-unit multifamily apartment property in Houston, Texas, with plans to fully renovate the community. The company purchased the property, located on Elmside Dr. in the Westchase neighborhood of Houston, Texas for $28.9M and will spend $10.5 million on upgrades. Sunstone Two Tree is handling the construction, which has already started, with an anticipated completion date in 2025.

“Houston continues to experience strong job and population growth as evidenced by ranking fifth in the nation in terms of relocations from other cities. Despite construction in recent years, demand has kept vacancies below ten percent in the market,” said Scott Maddux, President of Sunstone Two Tree. “Workforce rental housing appeals to the largest segment of today’s renter market and has proven to be extremely resilient, even during periods of economic uncertainty. We’re pleased to continue our work in Houston to bring high-quality, comfortable, safe and attainable housing to the area.”

The Villas Del Paseo community was built in 1978 and has received few improvements over the years. Sunstone Two Tree will manage a top-to-bottom upgrade of the asset, renovating the interiors of all 384 units with high-quality flooring, hard-surface counters, updated lighting, stainless steel appliances and new cabinetry. On the exterior, it will invest in new paint, do a full roof replacement, add/enhance exterior lighting, improve the landscaping and signage, and repair the balconies and parking lot. It will also update the clubhouse and pool and add dog parks and barbeque areas. The renovations will take place in two phases. The first will include the 144 units east of Elmside Drive, with the remaining 240 being completed in phase two.

Villas Del Paseo is well-positioned to serve the workforce housing community in Houston. It is conveniently located in Westchase, 13 miles from Downton Houston and 20 miles from the William P. Hobby Airport. It is 9 miles from the Energy Corridor, 4 miles from the Memorial City Mall and 3.5 Miles from the Memorial Hermann Hospital. It is also close to the headquarters of several major employers in the area.

Sunstone Two Tree purchased Villas Del Paseo from Comunidad Partners, which has managed the property since 2019. Matt Saunders with Newmark represented the seller. In addition to the Villas del Paseo community, Sunstone Two Tree owns Commons at Westchase, a 282-unit property located 1.3 miles west of Villas Del Paseo, on which it executed a value-add business plan. The company also acquired Village at Westchase, a 462-unit value-add property in 2016, which it sold in April 2022.

Sunstone Two Tree to Develop Three New Build-to-Rent Communities in Arizona

Developments represent a $195mm total investment and add over 550 high-quality, attainable single-family rental units to the Phoenix market

Westlake Village, California, USA, September 26, 2023 –  Sunstone Two Tree, a developer and operator of rental housing communities in high-growth markets throughout the United States, today announced plans to develop three new build-to-rent (BTR) communities in Arizona. The three communities will add more than 550 single-family rental homes to the Phoenix metropolitan area. Sunstone Two Tree now has nine BTR communities totaling close to 1,500 units in various stages of development in the state and remains committed to creating high-quality, attainable living spaces to address the critical shortage of entry-level homes.

“The current economic situation is not only pushing homeownership further out of reach for so many individuals and families, but it is making it even more difficult for developers and builders to add much-needed inventory to the market,” said Scott Maddux, President of Sunstone Two Tree. “We are pleased to start these three new projects despite significant headwinds in the current economic environment. These communities combine the benefits of single-family living (larger units, dedicated parking, private yard space) with the advantages of renting (flexibility, amenities and minimal maintenance responsibilities). The combination of those two qualities really serves to meet the evolving demands of today’s residents.”

Sunstone Two Tree has closed on a 29-acre lot at the southeast corner of Northern Parkway and N. Sarival Avenue in Glendale, Arizona which it will develop with its partner, Capital Square. The 320-unit community will include 102 detached single-family homes, averaging 1,655 square feet, and 218 townhomes averaging 1,257 square feet. Each home will have two stories, direct garage access and a private yard, with many community amenities including a pool, spa, fitness center, parks, BBQs, gated entry and sports courts. Construction is expected to begin October 2023.

Capital Square and Sunstone Two Tree, each with a proven track record of successful real estate ventures, are pooling their resources, expertise, and networks to develop best-in-class rental housing in high-growth markets. Their complementary skillsets and shared vision promise a strategic synergy that will drive innovation and excellence in real estate development.

In addition to the Northern Parkway project, Sunstone Two Tree has received approvals and recently started construction on two other BTR communities in the Phoenix area. On a 7.64 acre lot located at the southeast corner of N. 99th Avene and W. Van Buren Street in Tolleson, Arizona, the company will develop a community of 143 three-bedroom, two story townhomes. They will average 1,350 square feet and each have a two-car garage and private backyard. The company has also received approvals for a build-to-rent community on the northwest corner of S. 91st Ave and W. Lower Buckeye Road in Phoenix. The 5.64 acre lot will become a community of 88 three-bedroom townhomes with attached, two-car garages and private backyards. Amenities at both communities will include pickleball courts, parks, playgrounds and a dog run, clubhouse, pool fitness center and tot lots.

Each of the three communities is conveniently located, with easy access to downtown Phoenix, Sky Harbor Airport, freeways, shopping centers, schools and employers. All of them will be professionally managed and well-maintained by best-in-class on-site property management companies.

Sunstone Two Tree is a developer and operator of rental housing in high growth markets in the United States. Overall, the company has acquired or developed thousands of rental units across the country.

For more information, visit https://sunstonetwotree.com/.

About Sunstone Two Tree

Sunstone Two Tree is a vertically integrated real estate operator and developer focused on rental housing in high growth markets throughout the United States. Sunstone Two Tree was formed in 2023 as a result of the merger between Sunstone Properties Trust, an owner, operator and fund manager founded in 2012 with deep expertise and a successful track record in multifamily investments, and Two Tree Capital, an acquirer and developer of multi-family build-to-rent (BTR) communities.

Sunstone Two Tree acquires, renovates and manages existing multifamily assets while developing dedicated single-family rental communities. Sunstone Two Tree is based in Westlake Village, CA is driven by a two-fold mission: 1) to protect investor capital and deliver compelling returns through every phase of the economic cycle and 2) to create and operate safe, clean, and well-maintained rental communities for individuals and families.

About Capital Square

Capital Square is a vertically integrated national real estate firm specializing in tax-advantaged real estate investments, including Delaware statutory trusts for Section 1031 exchanges, qualified opportunity zone funds for tax deferral and exclusion and a real estate investment trust (REIT). In recent years the company has become an active developer of mixed-use multifamily properties in the southeastern U.S., with eight current projects totaling approximately 2,000 apartment units with a total development cost in excess of $600 million. Since 2012, Capital Square has completed more than $7.5 billion in transaction volume. Capital Square’s related entities provide a range of services, including due diligence, acquisition, loan sourcing, property/asset management and disposition, for a growing number of high-net-worth investors, private equity firms, family offices and institutional investors. Since 2017, Capital Square has been recognized by Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in the nation for seven consecutive years. To learn more, visit www.CapitalSq.com.

Sunstone Properties Trust and Two Tree Capital Become Sunstone Two Tree

Combined company will target 44 million unit rental housing industry in the United States through workforce housing and purpose-built single family rentals in high growth markets

Westlake Village, California, USA, March 9, 2023 –  Sunstone Properties Trust, LLC (“SPT”), an owner, operator, developer and fund manager focused on multifamily real estate assets, and Two Tree Capital, LLC (“Two Tree”), a developer and operator of single-family rental home communities, today announced that they have restructured their companies to become Sunstone Two Tree, LLC (“STT”). As a result of the restructuring, STT will become a vertically integrated real estate operator and developer with a diverse portfolio of rental housing communities in high growth markets across the United States.

“The combination of high home prices, rising interest rates and changes in lifestyle preferences amongst the millennial and other generations has created significant demand for rental housing,” said John Maddux, CEO of Sunstone Properties Trust. “Sunstone Properties Trust has long been committed to purchasing and improving multifamily communities for working class individuals and families across the country. Two Tree Capital has built a dynamic team with deep expertise in the complementary and attractive build-to-rent (BTR) space. Together, Sunstone Two Tree will be able to accelerate growth as we move into an attractive time to be deploying capital in all aspects of the rental housing business.”

The combined Sunstone Two Tree will focus on acquiring, renovating and developing rental housing communities in high-growth markets. This includes repositioning distressed or underutilized multifamily properties as well as developing multifamily and purpose-built single-family rental home communities, which are seeing increased demand as homeownership continues to be a challenge.

The management team of the combined Sunstone Two Tree has experience in real estate law, real estate private equity, land acquisition, engineering, development, construction, and operations. The team includes:

  • John Maddux, CEO (CEO of Sunstone Properties Trust)
  • Scott Maddux, President (CEO of Two Tree Capital)
  • Tanner Maddux, Chief Investment Officer (President of Two Tree Capital)
  • Elizabeth Fujino, Chief Operating Officer (Chief Operating Officer of Sunstone Properties Trust)

 

“Two Tree Capital is pleased to combine its efforts with Sunstone Properties Trust, which has vast experience in the multifamily sector with its principals having participated in $55 billion of transactions,” said Scott Maddux. “Sunstone brings an experienced team and operates in a complementary sector that expands the breadth of what Two Tree Capital has been doing. The combined efforts of the companies will better position us to address the critical need for rental housing in our country and allow us to continue generating significant value for our investors and the local communities that we serve.”

In addition, STT today announced that Michael Votta has been named as Senior Vice President of Capital Markets. Mr. Votta has more than 15 years of experience and joins STT from a real estate investment advisor with $2B in Assets Under Management (AUM) where he was involved in capital development and investor relations for the firm’s High Net Worth Individuals (HNWI), Family Office and Wealth Advisory clients. At STT, Mr. Votta will manage investor relations and grow the firm’s strategic investor base across the various investment opportunities.

For more information, visit www.sunstonetwotree.com.

About Sunstone Properties Trust

Sunstone Properties Trust (“SPT”) was founded in 2012 and is an owner, operator, sponsor, developer and fund manager with deep expertise and a successful track record in multifamily investments. Sunstone Two Tree is based in Westlake Village, CA and is driven by a two-fold mission: 1) to protect investor capital and deliver compelling returns through every phase of the economic cycle and 2) to create and operate safe, clean, and well-maintained residential rental communities for individuals and families.

About Two Tree Capital

Two Tree Capital is addressing the critical need for entry-level housing throughout the United States by developing communities of single-family rental homes, also known as “build-to-rent” (BTR) communities in high-growth markets across the country. Two Tree’s portfolio offers residents many of the benefits of single-family living with the flexibility, amenities and minimal maintenance responsibilities of renting. The company has a 2,000 home pipeline in various stages of development in high-growth markets across the United States.

Media Contact:

media@sunstonetwotree.com

Investor Contact:

Michael Votta

mvotta@sunstonetwotree.com

678-429-0569