ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The occupancy rate for seniors housing properties in the third quarter held steady, even as asking rents increased, according to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care (NIC), the industry’s main data tracking agency. NIC’s data is gathered from more than 14,000 properties across 140 metro markets nationally. The average occupancy for the quarter was 89.8 percent for seniors housing, which includes independent living, assisted living and memory care. That number was identical to the average occupancy over the last three years, and an increase of 10 basis points from the previous quarter. From a historical perspective, the average occupancy in the third quarter was 290 basis points above the industry’s cyclical low of 86.9 percent during the first quarter of 2010. Independent living properties led the industry in occupancy rate, with an average of 91.1 percent, an increase of 20 basis points over the prior quarter. The average occupancy at assisted living properties trailed at 88 percent, the same as the previous quarter but a drop of 20 basis points from the year prior. Healthy Tenant Demand Although occupancy was largely unmoved, absorption stayed positive as the market successfully took on new supply. Annual …
