The single-family rental market is the fastest growing segment in commercial real estate—but not all apartment investors are bullish on the sector. Investment experts at the recent GlobeSt.com Multifamily conference sparred over the future of the asset class with some calling it all "hype" and others saying it was growing into a multifamily-adjacent asset class.

Jeffrey Adler VP at Yardi Matrix and a speaker at the conference, was in the latter group. He views the build-to-rent space as a multifamily-adjacent asset class. The sector already has $30 billion in capital committed, and more is on the way. "There is a fair amount of ramp up."

David Harrington, EVP and managing director at Matthews Real Estate Investment Services, has worked on several BTR projects, and says that the BTR sector is a response to new demand, calling it a new lifestyle decision. Like Adler, he expects the BTR market to grow—but he added a caveat. Whether or not the product will be successful, he said, we'd have to wait to find out.