Features

The Laguna medical office building, Orange County, California

Is Today’s Boom Market for Healthcare, Medical Office Real Estate Built to Last?

by Jeff Shaw September 19, 2018

By John Pollock CEO, Meridian It is hard to refute that demographic changes occurring in the United States are having a positive impact on healthcare real estate. Based on the latest U.S. Census data, the number of people age 65 and over is on a steep increase and on track to nearly double between 2010 and 2030. The utilization rate of healthcare facilities by people in this age cohort is dramatically more than the younger cohort. According to a report released by Transwestern in September, an aging demographic and higher utilization rates will increase the demand for practitioners and physical space. Transwestern says there is an estimated 110 million square feet of available medical office space among existing buildings and those under construction in the United States as of the second quarter. If all of the required practitioners needed to meet the increased consumer demand were to locate within the traditional medical office space, there would be a shortfall of more than 40 million square feet. The answer to the question of whether today’s boom market for healthcare is built to last is most assuredly yes. That being said, the healthcare sector is attracting attention from more and more investors. …

September 19, 2018

Content Partner Features

The Case-by-Case Realities of Student Housing Financing

by Amy Works September 17, 2018

Providing and securing financing for student housing properties — whether acquisition, refinancing or new development — is a competitive market. “The rewards of working in student housing are numerous. There is a constant supply of tenants, revenue tends to be stable, and the sector is considered recession-resistant,” says Justyna Daniuk, commercial real estate lending analyst with Alliant Credit Union. However, Daniuk notes, student housing financing does have risks, including occupancy stability, changing taste of student residents and market competition. A lender’s familiarity with the nuances of student housing — like yearly turnover and unique leasing cycles — will lead to a better lending experience for both the borrower and lender. For example, Daniuk explains, lenders should understand that sometimes landlords have to offer shorter leases and incentives to win the business of their student-residents and their parents, who often guarantee the leases. While most financing arrangements are a case-by-case situation, there is a particular set of criteria that lenders look for to ensure a successful lending package in the ever-evolving student housing sector. Top Five Considerations for Student Housing Lenders • Proximity — A property’s distance from a university or college campus is often a top concern for lenders. Ideally, …

September 17, 2018

Conference Coverage Features Multifamily Seniors Housing Southeast Feature Archive

Market Studies Are ‘Just One Piece of The Puzzle’ for Seniors Housing Developers, Says InterFace Panel

by Camren Skelton September 13, 2018

ATLANTA — Investing in a quality market study is an important step for a developer to take before breaking ground on a new seniors housing community, but the analysis alone cannot predict the success of a future property. “The report gives you a point-in-time idea of where you’re at, but it doesn’t take into consideration what’s really happening within the marketplace, on the ground, in competing communities each and every day,” said Joe Jasmon, CEO and managing partner of American Healthcare Management Group, a consultant to the seniors housing and healthcare industries. According to Jasmon, in order to get a true feel of the properties you are competing against, it’s imperative to have boots on the ground. “Everybody looks good on the Internet and everybody will tell a good story on the phone,” he said. “But if you don’t actually go into these communities, you’re missing out on a whole story about the marketplace.” Jasmon’s comments came during the “Getting Good Data” panel discussion at the fifth annual InterFace Seniors Housing Southeast conference held Wednesday, Aug. 29 at the Westin Buckhead in Atlanta. The one-day event drew nearly 520 developers, lenders, investors and operators in the senior living space. Joining …

September 13, 2018

Features Georgia Hospitality Southeast Southeast Feature Archive

Economist: Hotel Sector Benefitting from Strong Consumer Confidence, Uptick in Income and Corporate Profits

by John Nelson September 11, 2018

ATLANTA — Roger Tutterow, director of Kennesaw State University’s Econometric Center, encourages hoteliers to be optimistic about today’s historic level of consumer confidence because it directly impacts the leisure travel side of the hospitality sector. In late August, the consumer confidence index increased to 133.4, its highest level since October 2000, according to The Conference Board. The index gauges consumers’ confidence levels about business and labor conditions. “This is still a consumer-driven economy, and it’s very important that we maintain those confidence levels,” said Tutterow, who was one of the featured speakers at Atlanta Lodging Outlook 2019. The Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, Cornell Hotel Society and the Georgia Hotel & Lodging Association jointly hosted the annual event, which took place on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at the InterContinental Buckhead hotel in Atlanta. Spending Power Impacts Hotel Performance Personal income gains and corporate profits also affect hotel absorption as these determine the spending power of leisure travelers and businesses. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, personal income increased by 3.5 percent over the past six months, while corporate profits rose 20 percent during the same period. “You’ve got support both from the personal income and corporate profits side,” said Tutterow …

September 11, 2018

Conference Coverage Features Multifamily Property Type Seniors Housing

Senior Living Communities Invest in Technology to Improve Resident Care

by David Cohen September 6, 2018

ATLANTA — As internet-connected technology continues to become ubiquitous in our everyday lives, residents at senior living facilities across the United States are using more and more devices. “From seven years ago to today, the average resident has gone from two devices to seven to nine devices,” said Kevin Merrill, business development director at Inviacom during an “Investing in Technology” panel at the InterFace Seniors Housing Southeast conference. The event was held Wednesday, Aug. 29 at the Westin Buckhead hotel in Atlanta, drawing nearly 520 developers, lenders, investors and operators from the senior living space. “Seniors are adopting the technology and bringing it into communities like you wouldn’t believe,” added Merrill. “We continue to see the evolution of technology pushing in and contributing to the improvement of every aspect of the community. The panel was moderated by Matt Haywood, CEO of Tazergy, and tackled how seniors housing communities can invest in technology that both increases revenue and improves resident care. Participating were: Kevin Isakson, director of sales and marketing at Isakson Living; Jesse Marinko, CEO and founder at Phoenix Senior Living; Dan Phelps, SVP Healthcare at ServingIntel; and Merrill. Technology Empowers Businesses, Prospects Technology is changing the way that those …

September 6, 2018

Conference Coverage Features Georgia Industrial Retail Southeast Southeast Feature Archive

Retailers Ramp Up Industrial Presence to Service Their Stores, Customers, Say InterFace Panelists

by Camren Skelton September 4, 2018

ATLANTA — While the development pipeline for industrial real estate is at peak capacity, retail’s new store inventory is taking a back seat. Paul Xhajanka, division real estate manager of Kroger, said that his company is breaking from the past when it would open hundreds of stores a year. “If you look at our store count for the next three to five years, we’re only going to open 20 to 25 stores across our various platforms,” said Xhajanka, referring to Kroger’s portfolio of grocery brands, which include Mariano’s, Harris Teeter and Ralphs. “Target is opening 10 to 20 smaller stores a year, and even Walmart is down to 10 stores a year. All of us are shrinking our inventory of new stores down. Retailers are building more distribution centers, not stores.” Xhajanka’s comments were made during the “Industrial Brokers and Expanding Retailers” panel at the first annual Intersection of Industrial and Retail in the Southeast conference, held Thursday, Aug. 23 at the Westin Buckhead in Atlanta. Sponsored by InterFace Conference Group and Southeast Real Estate Business, the half-day event drew more than 170 industrial and retail real estate professionals across the Southeast. Retailers, along with global companies like Amazon and Wayfair, are the …

September 4, 2018

Conference Coverage Features Multifamily Seniors Housing

InterFace Panel: Seniors Housing Must Become ‘Sexier’ to Millennial Workforce

by Taylor Williams August 30, 2018

ATLANTA — The seniors housing business is beset with labor concerns, and developers and operators are convinced that the solution lies in upping the number of millennials on staff. According to recent data from Pew Research Center and the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 56 million American workers are between the ages of 21 and 36. That means more than one-third of all labor force participants are millennials, a generation that industry experts say generally wants emotionally meaningful careers with fast-tracked advancement. There are challenges in creating and marketing a positive perception of the seniors housing industry to prospective millennial workers, as well as in retaining them. This subject was broached during the “State of the Industry” panel at the InterFace Seniors Housing Southeast conference on Wednesday, Aug. 29. Held at the Westin Buckhead hotel in Atlanta, the event drew nearly 520 developers, lenders, investors and operators in the senior living space. “There’s a lot of talent that’s drawn to hospitality, but it can be hard selling them on seniors housing,” said panelist Eric Mendelsohn, president and CEO of Tennessee-based REIT National Health Investors (NYSE: NHI). “We have to show people that there’s so much more to this business than serving Jell-O …

August 30, 2018

Conference Coverage Features Industrial

Flexibility is Key to Staying Relevant in Today’s Industrial Market, Say InterFace Panelists

by Taylor Williams August 28, 2018

ATLANTA — The industrial sector is busy riding the e-commerce wave, pushing demand for warehouse space to new heights. But land scarcity and changing investor preferences are forcing developers to get creative with their projects, making flexibility a top priority in today’s market. “The industry is changing so quickly, and Amazon is driving that,” said David Welch, president of Robinson Weeks Partners, an industrial real estate development and investment firm based in Atlanta. “We’ve had to be as flexible as possible because the large users aren’t waiting for build-to-suits — they want it now.” Welch’s comments were made during the industrial development panel at the first annual Intersection of Industrial and Retail in the Southeast conference, held Thursday, Aug. 23 at the Westin Buckhead in Atlanta. Sponsored by InterFace Conference Group and Southeast Real Estate Business, the half-day event drew more than 170 industrial and retail professionals from across the region. Joining Welch on the panel were Todd Carter, partner at Exeter Property Group; Mike Demperio, partner and vice president of CRG; Brian Cardoza, senior vice president of Rooker; John Barker, president and chief operating officer of Red Rock Developments; and Alfredo Gutierrez, president of SparrowHawk, who moderated the panel. …

August 28, 2018

Features Loans

Three Steps Real Estate Owners Should Take Before Deciding to Refinance

by Camren Skelton August 23, 2018

Commercial real estate owners allocate a significant portion of their time to property management. Whether they carry out the work themselves or rely on the services of a professional, property owners clearly understand that successfully managing aspects like rent collection and building maintenance plays an important role in the long-term success of their investment. Unfortunately, many real estate owners and investors fail to place a similar level of importance on the management of their mortgage. When it comes time to refinance, a lack of foresight can have a serious impact on the amount of revenue a company can expect to generate in both the near and long term. Borrowers looking to refinance their commercial property and secure a more attractive loan should take the following three initial steps to effectively “manage” their mortgage and create more of an opportunity to achieve their financial goals. Step 1: Set Goals Borrowers refinance their commercial properties for a number of reasons. Many take out a new loan to avoid making the balloon payment that may loom at the conclusion of their current term. Others refinance to take advantage of a more favorable interest rate environment. Borrowers also have an opportunity to tap into …

August 23, 2018

Features Georgia Multifamily Southeast

2018 Multifamily Investment Volume to Surpass Last Year, Say Apartment Association Panelists

by Camren Skelton August 21, 2018

ATLANTA — Multifamily investors are anticipating another solid year for U.S. apartment sales. Annual transaction volume is robust, price per unit is increasing and fundamentals like rent growth and occupancy are strong, leaving buyers confident that apartment properties remain a safe investment. “Investors are so sophisticated now, and they have the option of going into whatever sector, whatever geography, with whatever strategy they want, and they are scanning it all,” said Malcolm McComb, vice chairman of CBRE. “But what’s coming out again and again for many years in a row now is multifamily and industrial are stealing the show.” McComb’s comments were made during the opening presentation at the Atlanta Apartment Association’s (AAA) “2018 Apartment Market Outlook: Disruption in the Apartment Industry.” The conference was held on Friday, Aug. 10, at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. Back on the Upswing After a slight decrease in total transaction volume in 2017 — the first time since 2009 that U.S. multifamily annual sales volume didn’t surpass the preceding year — 2018 transaction volume is on track to match or slightly surpass last year’s output. Through the first half of 2018, apartment investment sales totaled $69.9 billion, a 7.9 percent increase compared to …

August 21, 2018

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