There was a complete flip-flop in the percentage of skilled nursing facilities sold by age, with the oldest category (greater than 40 years old) increasing to 52% of the properties sold in 2015, compared with just 22% in 2014 (according to the 21st Senior Care Acquisition Report, released last month). Several of these properties, however, sold for more than $100,000 per bed, indicating their location or profitability overcame the issue of their old age. But, if we saw a massive increase in the number of sales of 40-year old SNFs (or older), then what drove the market to its all-time record high average price of $85,900 per bed? It was an increase in the number of facilities sold that were built in the last 20 years, which increased to 22% of the sales in 2015 (up from 13% in 2014 and the highest percentage in seven years).
