Senior Housing as an Asset Class
- Ben Carmona
- October 16, 2023
Though the United States’ birth rate has reached its lowest point in more than a full century, there are plenty of senior citizens in need of quality housing that caters to their specific needs and wants. The baby boomer generation is the second-largest, coming in just behind the millennials. As a whole, we are an aging society that will require additional senior housing in the decades ahead. The number of people reaching 75 years of age will climb by an astonishing 48.1% across the 2020s decade, more than triple the growth rate over the past decade (Source: U.S. Census Bureau projections). Now might be the best time to invest in senior housing as an asset class.
Senior Housing is a Business
Nearly 10,000 baby boomers reach the common retirement age of 65 every single day (Source: Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), writing in The Wall Street Journal, July 22, 2014). The ensuing golden years only last so long. Though the rise of home care costs has caused some baby boomers to remain in the comfort of their home, senior housing is an inevitability for many when approaching or reaching octogenarian status.
The commonplace loss of autonomy as one ages is unfortunate, yet it also presents a potential opportunity for savvy investors. However, no two senior housing communities are the same in terms of size, type, or value offering. The core of this unique business is its level of service and care. Operators that have the proper procedures, processes, and systems in place attract residents as well as loyal staff members. The best senior housing communities have high employee retention rates that attract more residents and ultimately add to the bottom line.
As of the start of 2021, the average unit count in senior housing communities was in excess of 100 (106 to be exact). The average development cost is $34,725,000, equating to an average cost per unit of $269,400 (Source: CBRE – U.S. Seniors Housing Development Costs Report (December 2018)). Crunch the numbers and you will discover that this sector’s average cost per square foot is an impressive $317. This figure will likely continue to move even higher as more boomers shift out of the home into senior housing.
The Merits of Senior Housing as an Asset Class
Though the average investor might understandably be focused on identifying the next exciting growth stock, the truth is that senior housing has the potential to outperform other asset classes in the short and long term. The data shows senior housing as an asset class has performed quite well when the overall economy undulates. People often seek a social space with immediately accessible care as they age.
People are living longer than ever before, meaning they will remain in senior housing for more years than in the past, catalyzing revenue for each level of care. Senior living includes distinctive levels, as follows:
- Age 55+
- Assisted living
- Memory care
- Skilled nursing
When many people think of “Senior living” or “senior housing”, they often think of skilled nursing. However, it’s important to fully understand the distinctions since each level of care requires different operational capabilities and should not be clumped together when assessing the value of a senior housing investment.
No two Senior Housing Communities are the Same
Senior housing facilities in a single market have the potential to be significantly different in terms of quality of care and appeal from an investing perspective. In short, there are idiosyncrasies and nuances to each type of senior living community which need to be carefully reviewed and understood.
Senior housing occupancy rates are not uniform throughout the industry, yet rents are comparably stable and have the potential to increase as the housing crisis unfolds in the years ahead. Historically, senior housing properties have provided steady rates of return in comparison to other forms of real estate.
Invest in Senior Housing with the Guidance of an Industry Expert
Between now and 2025, it is anticipated that there will be more than a 22% increase in the number of people over the age of 75 in the United States. This means that more than a million people will reach age 75 by 2025. It seems clear that senior housing will not only be in-demand, but may also be very difficult to obtain as the decade ahead takes shape (Source: U.S. Census Bureau projections).
Now is the time to consider investing in this growing asset class. Contact Perch Wealth today and invest with the guidance of a senior housing industry specialist with extensive knowledge of this industry, including the strengths and weaknesses of specific operators, to gain a thorough understanding of the potential risks and rewards. Seize the opportunity to take advantage of the expanding senior housing market and diversify your investment portfolio.
References
Dale Watchowski, Is Now a Good Time to Invest in Senior Living? (February 9, 2021), https://seniorshousingbusiness.com/is-now-a-good-time-to-invest-in-senior-living/
Ecofin, Senior Living – Investing in a growing population (April 9, 2021), https://spac.tortoiseadvisors.com/resources/insights/commentary/senior-living-investing-in-a-growing-population/
Blake Peeper and Vanessa Gil, Pensions & Investments, Commentary: Senior housing in the post-COVID-19 world (November 17, 2020), https://spac.tortoiseadvisors.com/resources/insights/commentary/senior-living-investing-in-a-growing-population/
1031 Risk Disclosure:
- There is no guarantee that any strategy will be successful or achieve investment objectives;
- Potential for property value loss – All real estate investments have the potential to lose value during the life of the investments;
- Change of tax status – The income stream and depreciation schedule for any investment property may affect the property owner’s income bracket and/or tax status. An unfavorable tax ruling may cancel deferral of capital gains and result in immediate tax liabilities;
- Potential for foreclosure – All financed real estate investments have potential for foreclosure;
- Illiquidity – Because 1031 exchanges are commonly offered through private placement offerings and are illiquid securities. There is no secondary market for these investments.
- Reduction or Elimination of Monthly Cash Flow Distributions – Like any investment in real estate, if a property unexpectedly loses tenants or sustains substantial damage, there is potential for suspension of cash flow distributions;
- Impact of fees/expenses – Costs associated with the transaction may impact investors’ returns and may outweigh the tax benefits
General Disclosure
Not an offer to buy, nor a solicitation to sell securities. All investing involves risk of loss of some or all principal invested. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Speak to your finance and/or tax professional prior to investing. Any information provided is for informational purposes only. Securities offered through Arkadios Capital, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Arkadios Wealth. Perch Wealth and Arkadios are not affiliated through any ownership.
Ben Carmona
Perch Wealth provides you with access to institutional-quality real estate, management, financing and state of the art 1031 exchange processing.
855-DST-3443
info@PerchWealth.com
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California 92675
Not an offer to buy, nor a solicitation to sell securities. All investing involves risk of loss of some or all principal invested. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Speak to your finance and/or tax professional prior to investing. Any information provided is for informational purposes only. Securities offered through Arkadios Capital, member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory Services offered through Arkadios Wealth. Perch Wealth and Arkadios are not affiliated through any ownership.
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- There’s no guarantee any strategy will be successful or achieve investment objectives;
- All real estate investments have the potential to lose value during the life of the investments;
- The income stream and depreciation schedule for any investment property may affect the property owner’s income bracket and/or tax status. An unfavorable tax ruling may cancel deferral of capital gains and result in immediate tax liabilities;
- All financed real estate investments have potential for foreclosure;
- These 1031 exchanges are offered through private placement offerings and are illiquid securities. There is no secondary market for these investments;
- If a property unexpectedly loses tenants or sustains substantial damage, there is potential for suspension of cash flow distributions;
- Costs associated with the transaction may impact investors’ returns and may outweigh the tax benefits;
- Tax benefits are not guaranteed and are subject to changes in the tax code.