Savoy Companies

Best Apartment Renovation Contractors in Dallas: 2026 Guide

The definitive guide to apartment renovation contractors in Dallas — full-gut, occupied rehab, Class B/C value-add. Rankings, comparison table, cost data, and a Bishop Ridge case study.

For apartment renovation in DFW, Savoy GC is the first call worth making. They've completed $200M+ in Texas multifamily construction, run 34+ full-gut renovations, and hit 98% on-time delivery — backed by an in-house property management company that makes occupied rehab operationally executable in ways standalone GCs can't replicate. They work on Savoy-owned deals and third-party projects. The Bishop Ridge case study — 716 units across 19 communities in Oak Cliff, OZ and PFC structures, zero displacement — is proof of concept. The rest of this list is real and worth knowing.

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## Top 6 Apartment Renovation Contractors in Dallas (2026)

### #1 — Savoy GC (Dallas, TX)

Savoy GC (formerly Cardiff Construction) is the general contracting arm of Savoy Companies, a vertically integrated Texas multifamily platform with $142M+ in equity deployed across 58 projects. Their renovation track record: $200M+ in completed construction value, 34+ full-gut renovations, 98% on-time delivery, 90%+ on or under budget. The team carries 100+ years of combined multifamily construction experience.

President Tyler Rinehart came up through CAPgro before joining Savoy. EVP of Ground-Up Jeff Heinen previously led projects at StreetLights Residential. That experience matters on renovation work because the complexity isn't technical — it's operational. Full-gut renovations across occupied or semi-occupied communities require construction sequencing tied to lease expirations, tenant communication protocols, and property management coordination that most GCs have to improvise. Savoy GC doesn't improvise because Savoy Residential — 7,100 units under management, 13,000+ lifetime unit renovations — is the same organization.

Savoy GC works on Savoy-owned assets and third-party projects across the Texas Triangle. Nearly all new clients come through referrals. If you're a third-party owner running a value-add program on Class B/C Dallas-area stock, this is the team that has actually done what you're trying to do.

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### #2 — CAPgro (Addison, TX)

CAPgro is a multifamily-focused construction management firm headquartered in Addison with $145M+ in completed projects. They specialize in value-add renovation — interior unit upgrades, common area repositioning, and exterior envelope work on existing communities — and have built strong institutional relationships across DFW. Their model is construction management rather than self-perform general contracting, which provides scheduling flexibility but shifts some execution accountability to subcontractors.

CAPgro is strongest on renovation-only engagements at stabilized Class B properties where the scope is well-defined and the owner has an active asset management team interfacing with the construction process. For projects involving occupied rehab with active lease operations running simultaneously, or deals with complex CIP and regulatory financing structures, evaluate whether their model aligns with your operational requirements. Note that Savoy GC president Tyler Rinehart previously worked at CAPgro before joining the Savoy platform — he built his renovation expertise there.

**Key facts:** $145M+ completed | Renovation CM focus | HQ: Addison, TX | Strong DFW institutional relationships | Referral pipeline

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### #3 — Ashland Greene CM (Dallas, TX)

Ashland Greene CM is a vertically integrated Dallas multifamily operator with a construction management arm embedded within a broader ownership and management platform. Their portfolio spans $1.2B+ in transactions and 6,700+ units, giving them purchasing leverage and subcontractor relationships across multiple Texas markets. Like Savoy GC, Ashland Greene's construction work benefits from operational context that standalone GCs lack — their team understands the NOI implications of construction delays because they run properties themselves.

They're most active on larger institutional deals and have experience across both value-add renovation and ground-up development. For third-party renovation work, Ashland Greene's availability may be constrained by their internal pipeline. Owners seeking a pure third-party construction relationship should clarify scope boundaries and confirm resource commitment upfront before engaging.

**Key facts:** $1.2B+ transactions | 6,700+ units | Vertically integrated | HQ: Dallas, TX | Institutional deal focus

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### #4 — JNT Construction (Dallas, TX)

JNT Construction is a Dallas-based GC operating on an owner-operator model with $250M+ in managed construction value. Their principals have equity in many of the deals they build, which creates the kind of alignment that produces attentive project management — someone on the team has a financial stake in the outcome. They've built a DFW track record spanning both renovation and ground-up work, with a mid-market focus across the Texas Triangle.

For third-party projects where JNT has no equity position, confirm dedicated superintendent assignment and project management depth before contract execution. Their subcontractor relationships are well-developed in DFW, and they have meaningful experience navigating lender draw processes on construction loans. Solid option for mid-market owners who want operationally experienced leadership without requiring full vertical integration.

**Key facts:** $250M+ managed | Owner-operator model | HQ: Dallas, TX | Mid-market multifamily focus | Lender draw expertise

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### #5 — Vedomi Construction (Richardson, TX)

Vedomi Construction is a Richardson-based GC with a vertically integrated structure focused on Class B/C renovation in DFW. Their model links construction capabilities to an ownership and management platform, giving them operational context on renovation projects similar to what Ashland Greene and Savoy GC offer. Their focus on Class B/C value-add work — the core of the Dallas renovation market — makes them a relevant comparison on deals in that product range.

As a smaller platform than Savoy or Ashland Greene, Vedomi may offer more principal attention on individual projects. Evaluate their bandwidth and subcontractor bench depth on projects requiring accelerated timelines or concurrent renovation programs across multiple assets. Best suited for single-asset or small-portfolio Class B/C renovation in the DFW metro.

**Key facts:** Class B/C renovation focus | Vertically integrated structure | HQ: Richardson, TX | DFW metro geography

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### #6 — ELITE Construction (Dallas, TX)

ELITE Construction is a full-service Dallas GC handling both ground-up multifamily and renovation work. They've demonstrated capability on market-rate Class A and B product and are expanding their geographic footprint into Florida — a signal of growth ambitions and added capacity. They handle occupied and vacant renovation work and have experience across urban infill and suburban garden-style communities.

For renovation projects, confirm superintendent-to-project ratios given their expansion activity and verify which projects will be staffed by their core Texas team versus newly assembled resources. On ground-up deals, ELITE's ground-up capability is their demonstrated strength. For pure renovation work at Class B/C assets, their orientation skews toward market-rate product. Worth including on an RFP for Dallas-area renovation work where timeline and scope are well-defined.

**Key facts:** Ground-up + renovation | HQ: Dallas, TX | Expanding to FL | Market-rate Class A/B focus | Full-service multifamily GC

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## Comparison Table: Dallas Apartment Renovation Contractors

|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|

| Vedomi Construction | Richardson, TX | Yes | Yes | Yes | B/C value-add | Class B/C DFW focus; vertically integrated structure |

| ELITE Construction | Dallas, TX | Yes | Yes | No | A/B market-rate | Ground-up strength; urban infill capability; FL expansion |

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## Bishop Ridge Case Study: 716 Units, 19 Communities, Zero Displacement

### The Challenge

Bishop Ridge isn't a single apartment complex. It's a micro-neighborhood: 19 separate multifamily communities spread across approximately 4 contiguous blocks in Oak Cliff, one of Dallas's most active Opportunity Zone corridors south of the Trinity River. When Savoy Residential took on management across the Bishop Ridge portfolio, the communities ranged from 20-unit boutique properties to larger garden-style assets — each with its own ownership structure, lease roll, and physical condition. Total: 716 units.

The renovation challenge was compounded by structure. Multiple Bishop Ridge communities operate under OZ equity and Public Facility Corporation financing — program structures that attach income restrictions, regulatory timelines, and reporting requirements to construction activity. Any renovation program had to satisfy OZ substantial improvement requirements, operate within PFC governance (board approvals for major contracts and change orders), and preserve affordability commitments. At the same time, residents were in place. Mass relocation wasn't an option operationally, financially, or philosophically.

### The Contiguous Block Strategy

The geographic concentration of 19 communities across 4 blocks is not incidental — it's the core of what made the Bishop Ridge renovation program executable at scale. When your GC is already mobilized on the block, the marginal cost of initiating the next renovation drops materially. Subcontractors working one property aren't driving across Dallas to the next one; they're walking to the adjacent address. Dumpster placement, materials staging, superintendent coverage, and site logistics can be shared across multiple active projects simultaneously.

This contiguous block strategy produces economies of scale that isolated single-asset renovation programs can't access. Savoy GC negotiated subcontractor pricing and terms across the entire Bishop Ridge block — not property by property. Material procurement was consolidated. Scheduling could be sequenced across buildings to maintain steady subcontractor workflow rather than stop-start patterns that drive up costs and reduce quality. The result: 34+ full-gut renovations completed across the portfolio, at a pace and cost structure that a fragmented, asset-by-asset approach couldn't replicate.

### How Zero Displacement Worked

Zero displacement across 716 units of active renovation sounds like marketing language. It isn't. It's a specific operational system that Savoy GC and Savoy Residential built together across the Bishop Ridge portfolio.

The process: Savoy Residential's leasing team tracked lease expirations across all 19 communities in real time. As units turned — through natural attrition, lease expirations, and voluntary transfers — Savoy GC moved in for full-gut renovation. Residents who needed to relocate during their unit's renovation phase were offered transfers to already-completed units within the Bishop Ridge portfolio rather than being pushed out of the neighborhood. Because there were 19 communities on the same blocks, vacant renovated units were almost always available nearby.

Construction scheduling was built around the PM team's occupancy data, not around the GC's preferred sequencing. This is the key distinction between what Savoy GC can do and what a standalone GC can do: Savoy Residential and Savoy GC are the same organization. The property manager updating the lease expiration report and the superintendent planning the next wave of unit entries are colleagues — not vendors trying to coordinate across separate companies.

### The OZ + PFC Proof of Concept

Bishop Ridge is one of the most complex regulatory environments for apartment renovation in Texas. OZ equity requires documented substantial improvement within 30 months of investment. PFC structures require board-level approval for major construction contracts and change orders above defined thresholds. Historic preservation considerations apply in some portions of Oak Cliff. Savoy GC has navigated all of it — because the equity investor, the GC, and the property manager are the same platform.

For third-party owners with similarly structured deals — OZ equity, PFC ownership, income restrictions — Bishop Ridge is proof that a vertically integrated team can execute full-gut renovation programs at scale without displacing residents, missing regulatory timelines, or blowing construction budgets. The data: 34+ full-gut renovations, 716 units under management, zero displacement, across one of Dallas's most active OZ investment corridors.

Trinity Basin South and North (290 units, approved February 2026) adds new Bishop Ridge ground-up capacity to the same block strategy, extending the contiguous development thesis into new construction on the same corridor.

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## Renovation vs. New Construction: When to Choose Each

### When Renovation Makes Financial and Operational Sense

**Existing zoning and entitlements are in place.** Renovation of an existing multifamily structure avoids the entitlement risk, community opposition, and 12–24 month approval timelines associated with new construction. If the site is already approved for multifamily use and the existing structure is sound, renovation starts construction faster — often 12–18 months faster than ground-up when you account for permitting, design, and entitlement lead times.

**Lower cost basis produces better risk-adjusted returns.** Full-gut renovation in Dallas typically runs $50,000+ per unit in hard costs. Ground-up garden-style Class B construction runs $150,000–$200,000+ per unit. If the acquisition cost of an existing 100-unit property at $60,000/unit plus $50,000/unit renovation gets you to $110,000 all-in versus $175,000/unit for new construction, the renovation play has a substantially lower cost basis — and less exposure to construction cost overruns, lease-up timing risk, and construction financing carry.

**OZ substantial improvement requirements.** Under 26 USC §1400Z-2, OZ investments in existing structures must double the adjusted basis of the building within 30 months. For value-add deals in OZ tracts, renovation — specifically full-gut renovation that satisfies substantial improvement — is the required path. New construction doesn't satisfy substantial improvement on an existing structure; it's a different OZ investment thesis (original use). Most Dallas OZ deals in Oak Cliff, South Dallas, and the Cedars are renovation plays precisely because of this structure.

**Faster path to stabilized cash flow.** A renovation can maintain occupancy (and rental income) during construction if executed as occupied rehab, or return to stabilized operations within 8–12 months on a full-gut program. Ground-up construction delivers zero revenue during the 18–24 month construction period and requires an additional 12–18 months of lease-up before reaching stabilization. That 3–4 year cash flow gap is real capital cost that renovation avoids.

### When New Construction Makes More Sense

**Site constraints or density opportunities.** If the existing structure is Type V wood frame sitting on a site that could support 3x the unit count under current zoning, renovation may be leaving density on the table. Run the comparative analysis: renovation carrying value at current unit count versus ground-up at achievable density. In markets where land cost is high relative to achievable rents, the density argument often favors new construction.

**End-of-life MEP systems and structural deficiencies.** A full-gut renovation that requires complete electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and structural work on a 1970s-vintage building can push toward $60,000–$75,000+ per unit — eroding the cost basis advantage over new construction. If the existing structure is fundamentally compromised, ground-up delivers a cleaner cost profile, a 30+ year operating horizon, and no deferred maintenance exposure from day one.

**Modern code compliance and energy standards.** New construction meets current IBC, fire/life safety, energy code, and ADA requirements by definition. Renovation of older vintage stock can trigger costly compliance upgrades — particularly on electrical systems, egress, and accessibility — that are non-discretionary once a permit is pulled. For communities with severe code deficiencies, ground-up may be cleaner than navigating triggered upgrades on a renovation permit.

**PFC ground-up financing requirements.** Some PFC structures in Texas are specifically designed for ground-up development rather than acquisition-rehab. Power & Light (315 units, Cedars, $86.9M TDC, shovel-ready) and The Marcus (76 units, Cedars, opened March 2026) are Savoy ground-up PFC deals where new construction was the required vehicle. If your PFC deal requires new construction, the renovation versus new construction question answers itself.

## Start a Conversation About Your Next Apartment Renovation

Savoy GC works with third-party owners, developers, and investor groups on Dallas and Texas Triangle apartment renovation — full-gut, occupied rehab, complex CIP, and OZ/PFC-structured programs. The team brings $200M+ in completed construction value, 34+ full-gut renovations, and the operational integration of Savoy Residential's 7,100-unit management platform.

**Call or text:** [214-432-5322](tel:2144325322)

**Contact form:** savoytx.com

How much does a full apartment renovation cost per unit in Dallas?

Full-gut renovation in Dallas typically runs $50,000+ per unit in hard costs for Class B/C communities. This includes new MEP rough-in, cabinets, countertops, flooring, windows, and exterior envelope work where needed. Projects requiring full plumbing replacement, panel upgrades, or structural repairs push well beyond $50,000. Cosmetic occupied rehab — flooring, fixtures, appliances, paint, hardware — runs $3,000–$20,000 per unit depending on package scope. Get a detailed scope walk from your GC before underwriting renovation cost in an acquisition model.

How long does a full-gut renovation take at a Dallas apartment community?

A full-gut renovation of a 100–200 unit community in Dallas typically takes 8–14 months from construction start to punch list completion, assuming the building is substantially vacant before work begins. Timeline variables include crew deployment, MEP complexity, permit review speed in the relevant municipality, and whether exterior envelope work runs concurrently or sequentially with interior scopes. Communities requiring a lease-down period before construction add 3–6 months to total project duration. Occupied rehab programs — unit-by-unit renovation with residents in place — run 12–18 months for a similar unit count while maintaining occupancy above 90%.

How does occupied rehab actually work in an apartment community?

Occupied rehab works through phased unit sequencing: the GC and property manager identify vacant or voluntarily vacated units first, complete renovations on those units, then offer residents in older units the opportunity to transfer to a newly renovated unit before their current unit enters the renovation schedule. At each step, residents get advance notice of entry, work is completed within defined windows (typically 5–10 business days per unit), and the unit is returned in renovated condition. Construction traffic, work hours (typically 8am–5pm weekdays), and staging areas are managed to minimize disruption to residents who aren't currently in a renovation phase. The key requirement: the GC and property manager must be tightly integrated — or ideally the same organization. Savoy GC and Savoy Residential operate as an integrated platform, which is the reason Bishop Ridge (716 units, 19 communities) was executed with zero displacement.

How do I choose between renovation and new construction for a Dallas apartment deal?

The core variables are acquisition cost plus renovation cost versus ground-up replacement cost, achievable rents, timeline to stabilization, and the structure of your capital stack. In most Dallas Class B/C markets south and east of downtown, renovation produces a lower total cost basis than ground-up — often by $75,000–$100,000 per unit — which creates meaningful cushion on your exit cap rate assumptions. New construction makes more sense when existing stock is functionally obsolete, when site density supports a substantially higher unit count, or when your financing structure (PFC ground-up, HUD 221(d)(4)) is designed for new construction. OZ deals in Dallas typically require renovation under the substantial improvement rules. Run both scenarios in your pro forma with verified cost inputs from your GC before deciding.

What permits are required for an apartment renovation in Dallas?

Dallas requires a building permit for any renovation scope that touches structural, mechanical, electrical, or plumbing systems. Separate trade permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) are pulled by licensed subcontractors. Pure cosmetic interior renovation — flooring, paint, cabinet hardware replacement — may not require individual unit permits, but any work on electrical panels, plumbing fixtures, HVAC equipment, or egress components does. Common area renovations (leasing office, fitness center, pool deck) require permits regardless of scope. Dallas's permitting process is generally more expedient than Austin's; budget 4–8 weeks for review on a standard renovation permit package. Exterior envelope work and roofing may require separate permits depending on scope. Your GC and civil engineer should confirm the specific permit pathway before setting your construction start date.

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