The brand will specialize in cottage-style homes with private backyards. 

Washington has been hit harder by the housing crisis than any other state, according to a new study by the Washington State Department of Commerce. Washington ranks last among 50 states in the ratio of housing units to the number of existing households, the EcoNorthwest study revealed.

The increase was driven by a 21.6% month-over-month spike in the rate of new multifamily construction. Single-family housing starts, meanwhile, slid 2.8%.

Month over month, home sales were down 3.5%, and the median sale price declined 1.2% to $335,000.

The strategic partnership will initially target developments in six metro areas where both companies have a “significant or growing presence”: Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Boston; Denver, Orange County/San Diego, Calif.; and Seattle.