Student Housing Project

[Tom Ott]

Hello BP World!

Smartland has recently expanded into the world of Student Housing and I am looking for some opinions on this kind of investment.

Background:

We have secured a building on a small college campus in Cleveland that currently does not offer student housing to its students on campus. The only option students have is about 20-30 miles away. We are semi-working with the school to offer student housing for the first time on campus.

My Questions for all of you are:

How have you invested in student housing? Do you purchase small properties on campus, or do you own apartment buildings?

I have an idea of what to expect when managing a dorm, but I am wondering if anyone has any experience with it? Did reality differ from expectations? Explain the differences between managing a dorm vs. managing a large apartment complex.

Please give me any opinion you may have on Student Housing? I am eager to learn more from actual experience, not just books and websites! 

Thanks for your help!