Features

Five Questions with Fred Pierce, President and CEO of Pierce Education Properties

by Katie Sloan January 31, 2023

For the November/December issue’s “Five Questions with” SHB spoke to Fred Pierce, president and CEO of San Diego-based Pierce Education Properties, to get his take on the climate for acquisitions in today’s volatile capital markets environment. SHB: Rising interest rates have put a major crimp on the investment sales market across all sectors of commercial real estate. In your position, from where you sit, what’s the situation in the student housing space specifically? Pierce: I’d say it’s no different than other sectors of commercial real estate. My observations are completely …

January 31, 2023

Housing for Chinese International Students pull quote

Housing for Chinese International Students: How Owners, Operators Can Provide Information, Promote Trust

by Sarah Daniels January 31, 2023

With over 317,000 Chinese students studying at the graduate or undergraduate level in the United States, and with that number likely to grow rapidly, student housing for Chinese nationals presents a wealth of opportunities for owners and operators. COVID temporarily decreased international student enrollment, but now students are returning. This surge reflects an ongoing, global trend. A 2022 report from market research firm HolonIQ projects that the worldwide number of international students is set to increase from 5 million students currently to 8 million by 2030. “The demand amongst Chinese …

January 31, 2023

Features

Thriving College Student Index Report Provides Annual Benchmark for Student Mental Health, Wellness

by Katie Sloan January 25, 2023

The first annual Thriving College Student Index Report was released earlier this week by mental health awareness non-profit, the Hi, How Are You Project, and the College Student Mental Wellness Advocacy Coalition. The survey, which was conducted by Ipsos, was completed by over 18,000 college students in October 2022. The index categorizes students into three general groups based on a personal assessment of their mental wellness: thriving, maintaining and struggling. This year’s report saw 39 percent of students in the thriving category, meaning they rate their life as a seven …

January 25, 2023

Features Industry Voices

James Birkey: On the “K-Shaped” Future of Institutions of Higher Education

by Katie Sloan January 25, 2023

One day apart, I toured two private universities less than 20 miles from each other. One was a large, name-brand institution with an illustrious football team, and the other noted its softball team with middling success in their D-III conference. One had millions of square feet of funded research space, while the other proudly demonstrated their single modern lab space shared among their science courses. One was looking to manage an enrollment boom coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the other was soberly posturing that their peak enrollment years …

January 25, 2023

Development Features From The Magazine On-campus

Affordability, Efficiency at the Top of University Wish Lists for P3 Development

by Katie Sloan January 18, 2023

It is no secret that the student housing industry was impacted significantly by the COVID-19 pandemic. Few groups felt that more accutely than colleges and universities. New on-campus development slowed dramatically as higher education institutions shifted their focus primarily to keeping classes in session while maintaining student safety. Moving out of the pandemic, new residence hall development has picked up once again — even accelerating past levels seen prior to the pandemic in certain markets. And the focus for many of these new projects is providing collaboration space and allowing …

January 18, 2023

Features From The Magazine

Rising Interest Rates Bring Challenges for Student Housing Acquisitions, Refinancing in 2023

by Katie Sloan January 11, 2023

Financing student housing might not be as bad as you might think. While the capital markets are in flux, purpose-built student housing has some of the strongest fundamentals in commercial real estate going for it. Robust pre-leasing, very healthy occupancy and rental rate increases are making the passet class attractive to lenders. The problem: getting today’s terms to pencil on some projects. “Borrowers should be prepared for lower leverage, higher pricing and fewer options to choose from when seeking financing,” says Timothy Bradley, founder of TSB Capital Advisors and principal …

January 11, 2023

Features From The Magazine

Rising Rents, Occupancy Offer Opportunities and Challenges

by Katie Sloan January 4, 2023

It’s a good time to operate student housing. Who knew anyone would be saying that after a pandemic that shuttered schools and many housing facilities just two-plus years ago? But it’s true. Occupancy is high, rents are growing and demand is through the roof. Nearly 97 percent of student housing beds available for the fall 2022 semester were occupied in September, according to the National Student Housing Report from Yardi Matrix. The study further notes annual rent growth compared to the 2021-2022 academic year was 4.1 percent. Of course, student housing operators …

January 4, 2023

Company News Features From The Magazine

SHB Interview: A New Era for American Campus Communities

by Katie Sloan December 21, 2022

In April, Blackstone agreed to acquire American Campus Communities in a transaction that took the industry’s largest public company private in a $12.8 billion deal. Many in the industry speculated how the transaction would affect ACC, which is the largest owner and operator of student housing in the country. Once the deal closed in August, Student Housing Business had the opportunity to interview Bill Bayless, and CEO of ACC, from his office in Austin, to find out more about what ownership under Blackstone will mean for the future of ACC. …

December 21, 2022

Features From The Magazine

New Drivers for Energy, Utility Conservation Efforts in Student Housing

by Katie Sloan December 14, 2022

Particularly top of mind for student residents and always top of mind for an operator’s bottom line, savings and new technology controls for energy and utilities continue to be drivers in the student housing industry. To see what the current generation of residents and owners are seeking, Student Housing Business spoke a few players in the energy and utility fields to gain insight on recent trends in the sector. With the increased dependence on remote technologies and smart-enabled devices, especially during the pandemic, the smart-enabled apartments and communities have become …

December 14, 2022

Features From The Magazine

Connectivity, Outdoor Spaces Bolster Student Housing Fitness Centers

by Katie Sloan November 22, 2022

Health and wellness remain as important as ever to students. It’s simply part of who Gen Z is. They take care of their minds, bodies and the environment. Student housing operators know this, which is why they continue to emphasize fitness spaces. “Amenities, location, safety and accessibility are all a large part of what draws in students and their parents to a select property,” says Michael Kenny, segment manager of multi-unit housing, corporate and wellness for Life Fitness, a commercial fitness equipment manufacturer and seller. “Within the amenity offerings, fitness …

November 22, 2022

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