July 22, 2025 – 60 Seconds with Steve: What Do People Really Think?
At our Q2 2025 webinar, 82% of attendees preferred buying over building despite aging inventory. Labor scarcity (48%) topped workforce concerns, while 50% cited cost as the main reason seniors avoid communities, not COVID-19, which only 5% noted.
Transcript
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.
60 Seconds with Steve: Brookdale Senior Living, What’s Next?
Brookdale shareholders rejected Ortelius’s nominees, sticking with current leadership amid occupancy gains. Some see missed opportunities for new expertise. Share price hopes vary, but real value growth will require major ops and capital improvements.
60 Seconds with Swett: The Great Debates of Senior Care
Join us Thursday, July 17 at 1pm ET for our Second Quarter Investor Call, sponsored by Ziegler, featuring The Great Debates of Senior Care—tackling hot topics like demand, cap rates, build vs. buy, and tech. Expect lively discussion, case studies, and audience input!
60 Seconds with Swett: M&A Activity Tops 350 Deals in H1:25
Q2 2025 saw 176 announced deals, bringing the first-half total to 355—on pace to match 2024’s record 716. But U.S. deal volume dipped to 129, signaling a possible slowdown. Still, strong Q3–Q4 activity and portfolio deals could keep the market healthy.
