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ARTICLE · 04 MARCH 2026

Why Senior Housing Requires A Different Playbook For Acquisitions

Goodwin Procter LLP
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Senior housing transactions sit at the intersection of real estate, healthcare regulation, and resident care, making them fundamentally different from other commercial real estate transactions.

United StatesReal Estate and Construction
Krista DeGroot
Krista DeGroot
Alex Jacobs
Alex Jacobs

Introduction

Senior housing transactions sit at the intersection of real estate, healthcare regulation, and resident care, making them fundamentally different from other commercial real estate transactions. Institutional investors are increasingly investing in this asset class based on changes in demographic demands and limited new supply. The baby boomer generation is the wealthiest generation in history, controlling approximately $85 trillion in US household assets,1 and they have the financial wherewithal to afford extended stays in senior living facilities. As of January 1, 2026, the first US baby boomers have started to turn 80 years old. The 80-plus population group in the nation is projected to double from 14.7 million in 2025 to 29.4 million in 2045.2 This "silver tsunami" has created a demand for senior living facilities, which are generally immune to economic downturns. As one investor quipped to the audience at a recent real estate industry conference,

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