More transparent market data needed for seniors housing, expert says

The seniors housing and care sector has made noticeable progress towards developing transparent data, but it still lags behind other real estate classes, according to one of the nation’s most renowned real estate experts.

Clear, consistent information remains elusive, said Dr. Peter Linneman, speaking Thursday at the National Investment Center for the Seniors Housing and Care Industry’s 18th annual conference n Chicago. A professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, Linneman called on industry leaders to reach consensus on operational metrics and definitions.

He also said that more attention needs to be paid to market penetration and the way the sector positions itself. For example, the tendency to focus heavily on long-term demographics (such as the baby boomer bulge) is unlikely to resonate with investors today, he noted.