On a sunny morning in Cypress, neighbors gather along lakeside trails, chatting over coffee as their morning walking club kicks off. Nearby, families step out onto large front porches, greeting one another as kids get ready for school.
This is the warm, connected feel of everyday life in Mirella, a 204-home build-to-rent community developed by Caldwell Communities.
Why are more people choosing to rent rather than buy?
For generations, renting was viewed as a temporary stepping stone to homeownership, but today that mindset is shifting toward a deliberate lifestyle decision.
According to Zillow's 2025 Consumer Housing Trends Report, 64% of recent renters considered buying during their search, yet only 25% seriously considered making the move to ownership. Furthermore, 59% of renters planning a move within the next year plan to continue renting.
This shift comes down to key benefits:
Flexibility and freedom: Renting eliminates the long list of homeownership responsibilities, allowing residents to reclaim their weekends and budget.
Space without compromise: Build-to-rent communities give professionals, busy families and former homeowners many features of a standalone home.
Favorable housing economics: In Cypress, the median home listing price reached approximately $442,450 in August according to Realtor.com, compared to a median monthly rental price of $2,427.
What makes Mirella unique compared to other rental communities?
Mirella’s single-family homes give residents the space and privacy associated with homeownership, including no shared walls and a private fenced yard, without taking on a mortgage or the responsibilities that come with maintaining a home.
The gated community is centered around a lake, with walking trails and sidewalks winding throughout the community. The clubhouse provides a place to gather, while the fitness center, pool, playground, dog park and yoga lawn give residents reasons to spend time outside their homes.
Additionally, Caldwell handles all maintenance needs, from changing a lightbulb to servicing an appliance.
"At Caldwell Communities, we really pride ourselves on building amazing communities that enrich our residents' lives,” marketing manager Madison Hutchinson said. “We do that across all of our different asset types, whether it be our multi-family traditional apartment homes, our build-to-rent [communities] like Mirella or even our for-sale master-planned communities like Towne Lake. At Mirella, residents get the same amazing Caldwell Communities features on a rental scale.”
What home features and floor plans are available?
Mirella offers eight floor plans, ranging from two- to four-bedroom homes and including both single-story and two-story options. Seven of the eight plans have attached garages.
“With the attached garages, residents have the luxury of not having to walk through the elements to bring their groceries in, and they can have extra space for storage, hobbies or activities that they may not get in an apartment home,” Hutchinson said.
Inside, homes have a spacious feel, with large windows bringing in natural light and tall ceilings and doors opening the space. Details such as soft-close cabinetry, premium tile showers and upgraded lighting add an elevated feel to the homes.
Outside, each home has its own fenced yard, giving residents a space for pets and children to play, and for everyone to enjoy time outdoors.
Additionally, Caldwell intentionally incorporated large front porches.
"Our front porches are larger than our back porches to help facilitate people connecting with their neighbors instead of hiding in their backyards," Hutchinson said. “We really keep [lifestyle] at the forefront of our minds in design and development.”
What lifestyle programming does Mirella offer?
A dedicated lifestyle director organizes roughly six to eight events each month, with activities shaped by what residents say they want to see in their community.
The programming spans different ages and interests. Residents might join a walking club, take part in a cross-stitching or cooking class, or attend an adults-only gathering, while families can participate in activities such as toddler playdates or events at the dog park.
Larger seasonal celebrations provide another opportunity for neighbors to come together, with quarterly events drawing 60 to 75 residents.
The lifestyle director uses resident surveys, emails and one-on-one conversations to understand what people are interested in and plan programming accordingly.
That attention to the resident experience has made an impact; Hutchinson said resident surveys show that more than 93% of residents feel their lives have been made better by living at Mirella.
How can prospective residents learn more about Mirella?
Mirella is almost fully leased, so Hutchinson said those who are interested should tour as soon as possible.
Prospective residents can visit Mirella's website for the most current information about available homes, rental rates and leasing incentives, and resources can be found here:
Website: https://mirellaliving.com/
Address: 18131 Bluegrass Park Ln., Cypress
Phone number: 346-637-5551
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sun. 1 to 5 p.m.
Frequently asked questions
What type of community is Mirella?
Mirella is a gated, single-family build-to-rent community in Cypress developed by Caldwell Communities. It features 204 homes with two- to four-bedroom layouts, centered around a lake with walking trails and shared amenities.
How does living at Mirella differ from traditional renting?
Residents enjoy the space, privacy and neighborhood feel of single-family homeownership without a mortgage or maintenance hassles. Homes feature private fenced yards, large front porches designed to foster neighborly connections and attached garages. Caldwell Communities handles 100% of property maintenance.
What amenities and activities are available to residents?
Onsite amenities include a clubhouse, fitness center, pool, playground, dog park and yoga lawn. Additionally, a dedicated lifestyle director hosts six to eight curated events each month, ranging from walking clubs and workshops to toddler playdates and seasonal celebrations.
The above story was produced by Senior Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
