SAN DIEGO—What are some untapped opportunities for student-housing investors? GlobeSt.com recently asked that question to Fred Pierce, founder and CEO of Pierce Education Properties. In addition, we learn about the fact that most reports peg total investment sales in this category to be in the $8-billion to $9-billion range. Check out the Q&A below for more on the subject.
GlobeSt.com: What is the sales-volume outlook for student housing in 2018?
Fred Pierce: 2017 ended up as another banner year in student housing. Most reports peg total investment sales in the $8- to $9-billion range, which would make 2017 the second largest volume in industry history behind the $10-plus billion in 2016. There has been a paradigm shift in capital flows and investment sales in student housing since 2015. The norm in the decade between the mid-2000s and 2014 was $2 billion to $4 billion in annual investment sales. Since 2015, the totals have been $5.5 billion, $10 billion and now $8- to 9-billion in 2017. I forecast that for the foreseeable future annual investment sales will average in excess of $8 billion per year.
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Natalie Dolce
Natalie Dolce, editor-in-chief of GlobeSt.com, is responsible for working with editorial staff, freelancers and senior management to help plan the overarching vision that encompasses GlobeSt.com, including short-term and long-term goals for the website, how content integrates through the company’s other product lines and the overall quality of content. Previously she served as national executive editor and editor of the West Coast region for GlobeSt.com and Real Estate Forum, and was responsible for coverage of news and information pertaining to that vital real estate region. Prior to moving out to the Southern California office, she was Northeast bureau chief, covering New York City for GlobeSt.com. Her background includes a stint at InStyle Magazine, and as managing editor with New York Press, an alternative weekly New York City paper. In her career, she has also covered a variety of beats for M magazine, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, FashionLedge.com, and Co-Ed magazine. Dolce has also freelanced for a number of publications, including MSNBC.com and Museums New York magazine.
