National Health Investors: What Pandemic?
It seems that National Health Investors is doing just fine during this pandemic, as are its operators, apparently. The Tennessee-based REIT reported that it has collected 99.7% of its contractual rent in April, 100% in May, and so far, 99.4% in June. That should make shareholders feel pretty good right now. On the occupancy front, excluding communities that have been open less than 24 months, it was not quite as rosy but nothing they can’t handle. For 41 same-community properties operated by Bickford Senior Living, occupancy has dropped 240 basis points, from 86.6% in March to 84.2% in May. The first quarter averaged 87.3%. Senior Living... Read More »
REIT Sale/Leasebacks Are Not Dead
It is very easy to say that sale/leaseback structures with REITs are dead, especially if your leases are dead in the water. But then you have to ask, why are they dead in the water, and why did you enter into long-term leases in the first place? You could have always financed your properties with debt at 70% to 80% loan-to-value, but the odds are you wanted to recapture some of your equity for growth (or your retirement), and there is always a price you pay for essentially leveraging your property 100%. The real benefit of a sale/leaseback, in addition to the cash you take out, is that everything above the lease payment is yours. The REIT gets its fixed lease return,... Read More »
Brookdale Buys Eight NHI-Owned Communities
Brookdale Senior Living exercised its purchase option on eight assisted living communities that it operated on behalf of the owner, National Health Investors. The transaction was hinted at in NHI’s third quarter earnings report, which noted the properties as being held for sale. And Eric Mendelsohn, President and CEO, confirmed in the Q3 earnings call that the purchase price would start at a base of $37 million, with a fair market value component as high as $5 million which NHI and Brookdale would split 50-50. In the end, Brookdale paid $39.26 million, or $116,845 per unit. The eight communities, which were located in three states and totaled 336 units, contributed 2019 GAAP revenue of... Read More »
CCRCs Are Not Dead, and Happy New Year
Two recent CCRC sales prove the point that this market can thrive. You know one of my favorite refrains by now. CCRCs are not dead. And two recent transactions prove my point. At the end of December, David Reis and his Senior Care Development, together with their equity partner Fundamental Advisors, closed on the sale of The Clare in downtown Chicago. This 338 unit/bed CCRC opened during the Great Recession and was forced to sell for 20 cents on the dollar with occupancy at 34%. Today, occupancy is at 98%, average entrance fees are back to $740,000, and they just sold it to LCS for about $320,000 per unit/bed. Talk about a great return on investment. LCS had been a minority investor and... Read More »