Industry Voices

As students return to campus this fall facing concerns about the cost of higher education, many are eager to find convenient off-campus housing that meets their needs and their budget. It’s a feat that’s getting harder each year, as rents continue to climb for purpose-built student housing.  To accommodate growing demand and attract renters, developers have been doubling-down on “bonus” amenities like on-site coffee bars, free 24-hour laundry access, BBQ pits, yoga sessions and fitness centers. But adding amenities like these is costly, especially at a time when property owners are already struggling with …

Ancillary services have become a crucial revenue generator in student housing and can help owners improve occupancy, justify higher rents and increase tenant satisfaction. In an industry that often correlates income with market value, however, it is critical to distinguish ancillary service revenue from real estate value and property tax liability.  Failure to properly distinguish between real estate and intangible business assets can lead to unfair valuations and excessive property tax bills. Simply put, real estate is land and improvements to that land, such as buildings. Intangible assets, as the …

Gen Z is a generation of digital natives who are shaping the future of consumerism. They are more diverse, more educated and more socially conscious than any previous generation. This generation (born between 1997 and 2012) represents $420 billion in yearly spending power. That’s why businesses need to understand Gen Z’s values and preferences to capture their attention and be competitive. Experts estimate Gen Z will become the world’s largest demographic by 2026. This generation of digital natives is shaping the future of consumerism and want to believe in products that are …

Fueled by pent-up demand, the U.S. student housing investment market surged in 2022, with transaction volume increasing from $11.5 billion to an all-time high of $18.9 billion.[1] Despite a significant decrease in 2023 transaction volume to $10 billion, largely due to higher interest rates and material costs,[2] the prediction is for strong growth in the market when interest rates move lower and inflation moderates, if operating fundamentals remain strong. The industry continues to outperform other asset classes: leasing for fall 2024 was very strong, as was rent growth. Growing Demand In fact, …

Amid the online shopping boom, college students rely on deliveries for everything from basic necessities and room furnishings to textbooks and medicine. Whether living on or off campus, students (and their parents) subjected to late, lost or stolen packages quickly become disgruntled — and are likely to share those negative experiences with university leadership, property managers or worse yet, publicly on social media.  Mismanaged and stolen packages impact brand reputation E-commerce has become the way of the world. U.S. Census Bureau data indicates the e-commerce sector nearly tripled its retail …

Student housing may be experiencing a surge in demand, but the large, glitzy new Class A buildings are out of reach for many college students. Tenants looking at Class B housing pay rent, too. A growing number of budget-conscious students and their families are seeking more affordable — but still safe, fun and comfortable — alternatives.  Affordability doesn’t have to mean sacrificing amenities or aesthetics. Renovations that strike a balance between cost-effectiveness and quality can meet and even exceed the expectations of today’s students while remaining within a reasonable budget.  However, …

With competition from a growing supply of purpose-built student housing (PBSH) and student renters’ ever-evolving preferences driving costs, property owners in the sector must guard against excessive tax assessments. Assessors often treat this special asset class as a traditional multifamily development, while PBSH is designed specifically for university students. As such, the properties have distinct lease structures, design layouts, amenities, and services that differ from traditional multifamily properties and on-campus dormitories. This misclassification often leads assessors to select valuation metrics through mass appraisal that ignore the unique characteristics of this …

Higher interest rates, softening cap rates, and an uncertain insurance environment are making it difficult for many student housing buyers and sellers to get deals done.  It’s important to understand that the overall student housing industry is performing very well, with occupancies and rental rates continuing to rise over the past couple of years. However, macro-economic factors like interest rate hikes are putting downward pressure on pricing and making this a more difficult deal environment. To illustrate the impact of these factors, consider these statistics: U.S. student housing sales closed …