Conference Coverage

CHICAGO — The U.S. economy may be stuck in low gear, but tactical and targeted growth strategies can produce outsized returns in the seniors housing space, according to a panel of property owners and operators who spoke during France Media’s InterFace Seniors Housing Midwest conference. The event, which took place June 21 at The Westin Chicago River North hotel, attracted 265 attendees from the seniors housing industry. Close attention to rental rates and occupancies boosts top-line revenue growth, said panelist Joe Solari, vice president of corporate development at Capital Senior Living. The Dallas-based company owns and operates 126 independent and assisted living properties. “We focus on buildings that are less than 90 percent occupied,” said Solari. Other successful growth strategies at Capital Senior Living include converting independent living units to those designed for a higher level of care, and the acquisition of stabilized communities in locales where the company already operates. “We can absorb these properties without almost any increase in corporate overhead,” said Solari. Moderated by Adam Heavenrich, managing director of Chicago-based Heavenrich & Co., the panel shared other effective corporate growth strategies. Participants included Bob Karn, executive vice president and CFO, Allegro Senior Living; Isaac Scott, principal, Anthem …

AUSTIN, TEXAS — The 8th annual InterFace Student Housing Conference concluded Friday after two-and-a-half great days of networking and educational sessions from leaders across all facets of the industry. The conference began Wednesday, April 13, with the SHB Open Golf Outing at Barton Creek Resort & Spa and then moved to the sixth floor of the Hilton Austin, where a record-breaking number of attendees — 1,200 — networked, discussed and dined over a range of industry topics. Speed Networking kicked off the afternoon, where over 100 industry experts participated in short, one-minute conversations designed to spur discussion and foster budding new relationships. The group then moved into over 25 “InterFace+info” roundtables to discuss a range of industry-relevant topics, from “Who’s Buying? Who’s Selling? An Investment Market Update” to “How to Win a Woman’s Lease” and “Wi-Fi & Bulk — The New World of Individual Bandwidth.” A cocktail reception followed the late afternoon roundtables, where attendees were able to continue to build new relationships and explore a variety of booths from exhibitors. A Record Breaking Year After a networking breakfast and workshop, the conference’s panel sessions picked up Thursday morning with a consortium of CEOs from the industry’s top companies in a “Power Panel.” Moderator …

LOS ANGELES — Investors of all types are clamoring to cash in on the Baby Boom generation, as this aging population readies to kick off a 20-year need for care and seniors services. That’s according to panelists at InterFace Conference Group’s Seniors Housing West conference, held March 3 at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel. Those looking for a long-term investment are betting heavily on the Boomer population, which is 76.5 million strong, with the oldest being 69 and the youngest turning 50 this year. “The first Boomers are only turning 70 this year,” said keynote speaker Lynne Katzmann, president and founder of Juniper Communities. “They have a decade to go before they need services, but they are today’s primary buyer.” Much of this demographic will have a strong understanding of seniors housing options by the time they need the services themselves, Katzmann asserted, because they will have been down that road before with their aging parents. With this in mind, Katzmann believes it’s incumbent upon the current developers and operators to not just offer the best in senior care, but to invest in their facilities and in client (aging parents and their children) education as well. “We must take action …

LOS ANGELES — The net lease market has, by and large, enjoyed a steady run post-recession. But many investors are entering 2016 with a sentiment that an uncertain future may lie ahead, according to panelists at InterFace Conference Group’s Net Lease West conference, held March 1 at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel. This sobering reality was inspired by a few factors, including a likely hike in interest rates, a bulk of CMBS loans coming due, a discrepancy in pricing between buyers and sellers, rising cap rates, the possible dissolution of 1031 exchange transactions and a bull market that has lasted longer than average.   CMBS Wall Creates Opportunities for Buyers Gordon Whiting, managing director at Angelo, Gordon & Co. and a “State of the Industry and 2016 Outlook” panelist, believes now is a good time for buyers to begin infiltrating the market due to the girth of CMBS loans coming due. More than $300 billion is set to mature between 2015 and 2017, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Rather than refinancing, panelists noted some borrowers were choosing to sell ahead of maturity. “I have clients who have chosen to put their properties on the market because the debt is …