Healthcare facilities have become a mainstream investment asset class for private and institutional investors over the last decade. Healthcare assets with strong credit tenancy and on-campus locations are now fetching record pricing. Pressure from consumers, federal and state legislation and fiscal responsibility are driving changes in the delivery of healthcare services. Significant consolidation is occurring in the form of acquisitions and affiliations. The most visible and tangible change to the consumer has been the proliferation of urgent care facilities. Other drivers of healthcare facility construction include hospital operators pushing for their brands and facilities to be more convenient to the consumer. Increased focus on preventative care and consumers’ desire for quick and convenient access to services near work or home plays a role as well. These trends are relevant and visible in the 2017 El Paso healthcare market. Population Growth Leads Historically, El Paso ranks among the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan areas, averaging decade-over-decade growth of 21 percent from 1960 to 2010. The MSA, composed of El Paso County and the more recently added Hudspeth County, is projected to hit nearly 883,000 residents by 2019. In 2014, when El Paso data was combined with data from sister city Ciudad Juárez and …
