Industry Voices

The United States student housing market is having a post-pandemic renaissance moment. With enrollment at leading universities surpassing pre-pandemic levels and showing signs of persistent growth, owners and developers of student housing properties are well-positioned to capitalize on the rising demand for high-quality assets in prime locations. In fact, student housing has shown its resilience to economic fluctuations in recent years and has outperformed other residential asset classes by offsetting higher interest rates and operating costs with outsized rent growth.  Though the number of 18-year-olds in the U.S. is slowly …

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, …