In many cities, senior housing growth has plateaued. Over saturated markets have led to stagnant occupancy rates. According to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing and Care, 2017 ended with the national occupancy rate at 88.8 percent, down 70 basis points year-over-year. The greatest stagnation takes place in markets with low barriers to entry, such as Atlanta, Dallas and Denver, reports CBRE. Yet there are markets that are still ripe for investment. They come with their own challenges but they stand a greater chance of success. Below are MoneyRate.com’s five best bets for senior housing investment.   California San Diego and San Jose offer plenty of opportunities for construction and development—once you get past the high barriers to entry, like high land costs and low availability. It can take years for a project to break ground but once it does your class A property can thrive.   Arizona This dry desert state has done a marvelous job of absorbing new supply. Occupancy rates remain high, leading analysts to believe that there is more room for growth.   Florida The sunshine state remains popular with seniors. More seniors live in Florida than anywhere else in the United States. Their life expectancy is third-highest in the nation, meaning there are plenty of golden years in need of beautiful abodes.   Maine The northern gem ranks among the top five states for retirement. It ranks just after Florida in terms of its senior population. The state offers low crime rates and relatively low to moderate land prices, which can help keep housing prices affordable for seniors. Washington Seattle is the wildcard of the list. National Real Estate Investor lists the city due to its increase in construction and the presence of major tech giants—assuming retirees want...

Did you know that Baby Boomers are the second largest demographic in multifamily housing? Most companies only spend five percent of their advertising budget (and even less effort) on this growing group. Don’t be like them. We’ve got eight tips to master online marketing to Baby Boomers. State your cost—clearly—and why your property is worth it. This fundamental tip is especially relevant to Boomers. They have a lot of money to invest in companies that meet their needs. According to this Nielsen report, Boomers currently control about 70 percent of all disposable income in the US. In the next 20 years, they are set to inherit $13 trillion more. If your property meets their needs, they won’t need sales tricks to buy in. Ensure that your marketing story explains how your property can meet and exceed their expectations. They will be willing to pay top dollar. Highlight the conveniences of renting. Many Boomers opt to rent so that they can explore other interests without the burdens of homeownership. The amenities that set your rentals apart from homeownership are valuable selling features. As former homeowners, many Boomers know that property maintenance is hard work. Boomers will appreciate the assurance of prompt maintenance services. Highlight residents’ access to Online Maintenance Requests through Yardi RentCafe®. The tool will appeal to their desire for convenience. Tell the story of the active, hip Boomer. Boomers don’t want to be reminded that they’re aging. This generation focuses on an active lifestyle and exploring new interests. Feature local hiking trails, parks, and your community fitness classes on your website and social media. Let them envision living the lifestyle that they crave while in your community. Note that Boomers not done living it up. While some are caregivers and part-time babysitters for...

With its user-friendly interface and advanced health and safety features, the Apple Watch Series 2 may be the perfect wearable for senior citizens. While wireless earbuds, dual cameras and the death of the audio jack dominated the post-game analysis of Apple’s 2016 Keynote, the Apple Watch updates demonstrate the genuine potential of today’s wearable technology, especially for senior citizens. While the first Apple Watch proved a bit of a disappointment, the Series 2 raises the bar with enhanced functionality and modern design. Combined with an updated watchOS and a slew of new apps, the Apple Watch Series 2 provides health and safety options perfectly attuned to the needs of today’s aging population. Safe and Sound The original Apple Watch arrived with plenty of choices for security-minded users. Over the last year, developers have been hard at work designing emergency alert apps. Dialing 911 during an emergency may seem relatively straightforward, but apps like HelpAround provide a sort of panic button that notifies authorities and a list of designated contacts when activated. Now the watch itself makes it even easier to reach out during a catastrophe. Pressing and holding the side button activates the watch’s SOS function, placing an immediate call to 911. The watch then automatically sends a message to designated contacts with location information and a map. After the call, the watch itself will display medical ID information, including age and allergies and other important information. The flashiest Apple Watch upgrades announced at the keynote include waterproofing and a new ceramic body almost impervious to the dents and scratches that plague most wearable devices. In terms of safety and security, but the device’s built-in GPS is what really shines. By incorporating the watchOS maps, the Series 2 can also display routes and maps...

In the U.S., the impending wave of aging baby boomers has sparked a cultural shift in senior living industry, inspiring thousands of new projects and products. But what about the rest of the world? According to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report Aging in the 21st Century, “the population of people over 60 will reach 1 billion within the decade.” Even more eye-popping, 80% of the world’s seniors will live in developing countries. As the UNFPA explains, “While the trend of aging societies is a cause for celebration, it also presents huge challenges as it requires completely new approaches to health care, retirement, living arrangements and intergenerational relations.” “People everywhere must age with dignity and security.” Exporting Strategies Stateside, senior living providers have already begun to plan for the impact of millions of seniors by offering new alternatives and greater options in an effort to woo future residents. However, even more tantalizing than the millions of U.S. senior citizens poised to enter retirement are the hundreds of millions of Chinese and Indian citizens who will soon turn 65. As Forbes contributor Benjamin Shobert points out in a recent piece for the New York Times, U.S. senior living providers are perfectly positioned to capitalize on the rise of the international senior population. “With the realization that we are all living longer in mind, now is the time for American and European senior living companies to begin laying the groundwork for the globalization of senior living.” Looking East For Shobert, China and India top the list of potential markets ripe for western-style senior living offerings. By 2050, the number of Chinese citizens over 65 years in age will number well above the entire U.S. population. In consideration of this expected demographic explosion, U.S. senior care companies...

As the saying goes, location isn’t just the most important thing in residential real estate; it’s also the second and third most important, too. A recent report released by the Urban Land Institute (ULI), “America in 2013”, reveals a growing preference among young adults to live in urban environments and mixed-use communities with reliable, convenient transit service, in close proximity to jobs and entertainment destinations. Gen Y-ers preference for city living may come as no surprise yet the same trend may be noticed among Gen X-ers and Baby Boomers. As empty-nesters develop a taste for traveling, sustainable lifestyles and relaxed living, renting becomes a viable alternative to home ownership. Moreover, apartments in the cities offer great amenity packages that often times surpass the comfort that you could afford in a suburban single-family residence where you have to deal with maintenance, replacement, upkeep, wear and tear, and potential depreciation. Based on a nationwide survey of 1,202 adults conducted between January 16 and February 3, 2013, the report suggests that demand will continue to rise for infill residential development that is less car-dependent, while demand could wane for isolated development in outlying suburbs. In addition, data shows that people have come to value location and sustainability over unit size and proprietorship. Among all respondents, 61 percent said they would prefer a smaller home with a shorter commute over a larger home with longer commute. Fifty-three percent want to live close to shopping; 52 percent would prefer to live in mixed-income housing and 51 percent prefer access to public transportation. As the largest demographic group today, Gen Y or Millennials, who are also the most racially and ethnically diverse cohort, are expected to have the most profound impact on urban growth patterns and land use. Fifty-nine percent...