In our Second Quarter 2025 investment webinar, moderator Ben Swett asked our audience of a few hundred what they thought about several important topics. Overwhelmingly, 82% of the attendees indicated they would rather buy than build in today’s market, which was surprising given two facts. One, the current inventory is aging and showing it, and two, with very little new development, when the new ones do open, they will have a commanding market presence and should be in high demand.
On the labor front, 48% of the attendees thought scarcity of labor would be the most pressing issue moving forward, with 24% believing it will be the cost of labor. It was admitted, however, that scarcity will drive cost, so they must be looked at together. Only 17% thought retention rates would be the biggest labor problem.
In terms of what is keeping the elderly away from seniors housing, 50% of the audience thought that the high cost of senior living communities was the main problem, followed by 38% who believe it is the negative image the sector has with some of the target market. Only 5% thought that the recent pandemic was keeping customers away. I guess we can put that one in the rearview mirror.
