Student Housing Stats Kick Off Conference

DALLAS—The student-housing sector is hot, and a Dallas-based firm—not to mention a trio of panelists—gave vivid proof why in the first two sessions of RealShare Student Housing in Dallas on Wednesday.

In the opening talk, “Get Your Facts Straight,” Axiometrics’ Taylor Gunn, a research analyst with the firm, cited numerous statistics about the sector. Among them:

• Expansion has taken off in the last four or five years, with the average delivery doubling the historical average.
• Leasing velocity is improving year-over-year, with an 88 percent preleasing among Top 20 universities.
• Annual rent growth is stable.

Gunn unveiled one area her firm focuses on, enrollment growth across universities, called a “Map of Axio 160,” and closed her presentation with predictions for the near term. Gunn said, while supply is down compared to last year, occupancy should remain stable at an 95-96 percent average. She also anticipates supply levels will remain moderate.