The three deals were orchestrated in the past 30 days. In the newest transaction, completed Dec. 30, CNL Retirement Properties Inc. has contracted to pay Bethesda, MD-based Marriott Senior Living Services Inc. $170 million or about $19 million each for nine senior housing properties in 13 states.

The deal hinges on McLean, VA-based Sunrise Assisted Living Inc. buying all of Marriott Senior Living stock in early 2003. At that time, CNL will sign a long-term management contract with Sunrise to operate the nine properties as well as the 12 senior housing properties CNL bought from Marriott in mid-December for $89 million or about $7.42 million per location.

The two December deals follow the first CNL-Marriott transaction in July when CNL paid Marriott $59 million or about $117,063 per unit for senior-housing properties in Ohio, Massachusetts, Maryland and California.