operating margin – Ryan M Saul

Over the past several years, interest rates have remained extremely low. The 10 year US Treasury rate (a common benchmark for financial instruments) reached an all-time low in July, 2012, at 1.53% and today is around 1.8%, the Federal Funds Rate has been close to 0% for years and the Fed made its first rate increase this past December. The 10 Yr Treasury hit an all-time high in August, 1981, at 15.32% and has averaged 4.64% since 1870. Thus, there is a high likelihood that interest rates will increase as they revert back to the historic mean.

Interest rates are a measure of an investor’s desired rate of return. An interest rate, or a rate of return, is made up of three components, risk, inflation, and time value of money (allowing someone else to use your money). The theoretical risk free investment is a US Treasury or FDIC insured savings account/CD. Thus, all other investments can be benchmarked by these indexes. The greater the perceived risk of an investment, the greater the spread, or “risk premium”, will be for that investment over the US Treasury. Today, average capitalization rates (rates of return/risk premium) for assisted living facilities are around 7.5%, or about 500 basis points above the 10 US Treasury. This is the risk premium investors place on assisted living versus the alternative of investing in a “risk free” US Treasury bond. When the rates increase on US Treasury bonds, typically cap rates increase on senior living communities (or any investment), assuming the risk premium stays the same.

To determine the value of a senior living community, the Net Operating Income (NOI) is divided by the Cap Rate.

Net Operating Income (NOI) /Cap Rate = Value – (the higher the cap rate, the lower the value).

Thus, as interest rates, and cap rates increase, values go down. Below are several examples:

NOI = $600,000, Cap Rate = 7%, Value = $8,571,429

NOI = $600,000, Cap Rate = 8%, Value = $7,500,000

NOI = $600,000, Cap Rate = 9%, Value = $6,667,000

As you can see, for every 1% increase in the cap rate, the value drops by over 11%. Thus, if interest rates continue to rise over the next several years, it could dramatically affect pricing. If an owner has a desire to sell their community anytime in the next several years, now might be an opportune time.

For a complete analysis on how interest rates can affect your community’s value, both now and in the future, contact Jason Punzel, Senior Living Investment Brokerage, INC, at 630-858-2501 x 233 or [email protected]

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I’m often asked when is the best time of year to list a seniors housing or nursing home asset? We are all used to residential real estate agents telling us to list in the Spring while the weather is starting to change (at least for us Northerners).

Does it matter for seniors housing communities?

Yes and no. While there is not the seasonality in the seniors housing market as there is in the residential market, there are good and less optimal times for getting buyers’ (even institutional buyers’) attention.

I would argue that we are entering into one of those sweet spots as we get into the middle of September. Typically, Senior Living Investment Brokerage, Inc. has its highest volume of listings in September and early October.

Why is that?

During the Labor Day / beginning of October time frame, Buyers have made it through the Summer and are looking to deploy capital before the end of the year. They are hoping to make one last push to meet their aggressive beginning of the year expansion goals.

With a typical 3-4 month closing period, now is as good of a time as any to consider listing your property with Senior Living Investment Brokerage, Inc. We can help you procure the right Buyer, who can close the transaction prior to year-end. Many Buyers are looking to “get money out the door” by December 31st and this may give you an advantage in coercing those groups into making a more aggressive bid than they would in the middle of the year.

If you have any questions on the topic of this post or would like a confidential valuation of part or all of your seniors housing portfolio, please contact Matthew Alley at 630-858-2501 ext. 225 or [email protected].

The post When is the best time to list a seniors housing or nursing home community? appeared first on Senior Living Investment Brokerage.