Red Cedar Construction Secures $75M Investment to Expand Build-to-Rent Platform

Partnership with L.M. Sandler & Sons aims to scale Red Cedar's national footprint and production capacity.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 9:54pm

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Red Cedar Construction Services, a Charlotte-based vertically integrated construction and development platform, has announced a $75 million strategic investment from L.M. Sandler & Sons, a real estate investment and homebuilding firm. The partnership will help Red Cedar scale its national build-to-rent and multifamily platform, accelerating geographic expansion and increasing production capacity to 4,000 homes annually by 2028.

Why it matters

The investment strengthens Red Cedar's balance sheet and formalizes a long-term partnership to scale its national build-to-rent and multifamily platform, which aligns with the growing demand for purpose-built rental housing across the U.S. The partnership also brings deep operating expertise from L.M. Sandler & Sons, which owns major homebuilding and land development businesses.

The details

Red Cedar Construction Services is an established operator that has delivered more than 50 communities and over 5,000 homes. The firm has developed a comprehensive 'trees-to-keys' execution model that spans acquisition support, horizontal development, vertical construction and amenity delivery. The partnership with L.M. Sandler & Sons includes the formation of a co-general partner investment vehicle, enabling Red Cedar to co-invest alongside developers and institutional capital in build-to-rent and multifamily communities.

  • Red Cedar Construction Services was founded in 2015.
  • The $75 million investment from L.M. Sandler & Sons was announced on March 19, 2026.

The players

Red Cedar Construction Services

A Charlotte-based vertically integrated construction and development platform specializing in build-to-rent and multifamily communities.

L.M. Sandler & Sons

A fourth-generation real estate investment and homebuilding firm based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, that owns Chesapeake Homes, a top 50 U.S. homebuilder, and Wakefield Residential, one of the largest land development businesses in the eastern United States.

Jon Grabowski

CEO of Red Cedar Construction Services.

Steven Sandler

L.M. Sandler & Sons.

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What they’re saying

“Sandler is proud to invest in the BTR and multifamily space with Jon Grabowski and Red Cedar. After evaluating multiple opportunities in the market, Red Cedar's operation stood out for its execution discipline, operational rigor and laser focus on institutional rental housing. Their platform is purpose-built to deliver consistent, high-quality rental communities at scale, and we are confident in its long-term success.”

— Steven Sandler, L.M. Sandler & Sons

“We are building a well-capitalized platform designed to serve as a stable, long-term partner to capital providers and developers. By integrating acquisition services, horizontal development, plan design and vertical construction under one structure, we reduce friction, improve transparency and create greater cost certainty for BTR and multi-family ownership groups.”

— Jon Grabowski, CEO of Red Cedar Construction Services

“We intend to be the benchmark in build-to-rent construction. By vertically integrating development and construction and investing in systems that deliver clear, timely reporting, we can drive cost efficiencies that translate directly into project savings. The more efficiently we build communities, the more housing gets delivered but without sacrificing quality or design.”

— Jon Grabowski, CEO of Red Cedar Construction Services

What’s next

Red Cedar expects to scale production to 4,000 homes annually by 2028, adding approximately 50 permanent construction roles and supporting more than 1,000 trade jobs across its markets.

The takeaway

The investment in Red Cedar Construction Services highlights the growing importance of the build-to-rent sector, as developers and investors seek to capitalize on the increasing demand for purpose-built rental housing across the United States. The partnership between Red Cedar and L.M. Sandler & Sons aims to position the company as a leading national player in this rapidly evolving market.