Mike Acton, head of research and strategy at AEW, told the REIT Report podcast that with interest rates remaining high, and likely to stay that way for some time to come, the next couple of years for real estate are going to be all about income growth.
That income growth is going to be generated through fundamental property investment and asset management, Acton said. That involves picking the right property in the right location, controlling expenses, keeping it occupied, being smart about capex, and having the discipline to sell it when it's time, he noted.
“These are all sort of old school real estate skill characteristics. That's what's going to be rewarded in the marketplace over the next handful of years. It's not going to be taking risk and hoping for yield compression. It's going to be growing income the old-fashioned way,” Acton said.
Acton also said that this is a good entry point into the market, with yields the highest they've been in at least a decade and most assets trading below physical replacement cost. “Those are great entry point signals but it's not broad based,” he noted. Today, it’s very much a sector, location, and property-specific market, he stressed.
Meanwhile, Acton pointed out that senior housing has emerged as a standout sector, attracting significant investor interest. With about 70 million baby boomers approaching the ages suitable for senior housing, this sector presents a unique opportunity, albeit challenges remain regarding affordability and delivering a range of options for different income levels, he noted.