Multifamily

ANNAPOLIS, MD. — Seniors housing occupancy increased to 88 percent in the third quarter of 2019 from its lowest level in eight years (87.7 percent) recorded during the previous quarter, according to data from the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care (NIC). NIC is an Annapolis-based data firm serving the seniors housing industry. Of the 31 metropolitan markets that comprise NIC’s Primary Markets, San Jose (95.5 percent) and Minneapolis (91.3 percent) experienced the highest occupancy rates in the third quarter. Las Vegas (82.3 percent) and Houston (81.5 percent) recorded the lowest occupancy rates. San Antonio experienced the largest occupancy increase from a year ago, rising from 80.2 percent to 84.6 percent. Baltimore saw the largest year-over-year decrease, falling from 92.5 percent to 90.6 percent. “San Jose retains the distinction of having the highest occupancy rate of any major market in the country, as significant barriers to entry constrain development,” says Chuck Harry, NIC’s head of research and analytics. “Houston, on the other hand, places fewer restrictions on development, which is pressuring occupancy.” During the quarter, net new unit demand totaled 4,977 units, the greatest number of new units in any quarter since NIC began reporting the data in …