Student Housing Apt or NOT

[Damian Smith]

Was in the due diligence process of purchasing a student housing building , the numbers made sense but now this pandemic. 

Not sure if school will be open and at what capacity, how will parents behave? how to navigate this uncertainty. I hear folks running to Sec 8 programs for properties . Whats an investor to do.  Feedback appreciated

[Account Closed]

I know some schools are still deciding what classes will look like in Fall 2020, including whether they will be in person or online. Unfortunately if the college near your student housing building is still deciding, you're in a tricky spot to know whether there will be many (if any students) returning to campus this next semester.

Regarding how parents will behave, I think parents will be more cautious, and I also think they will prefer that their college students live with less roommates. Many colleges are actually considering only allowing one student per dorm this fall. One question is what will colleges do when it comes to precautionary measures/taking temperatures of students/enforcing social distancing guidelines. 

If I was a parent considering a living space for my college student in the current climate of things, I'd also be considering what travel into and out of their living space looks like, along with what amenities will look like. For example, do students have to take an elevator to get to their floor - how do we ensure social distancing practices for lots of students trying to take an elevator? Also, is there a shared laundry space, and if so, how big is it? Will students easily be able to do their laundry, or are multiple washers and dryers in a tiny room that really only one person should be allowed in at one time?

I know these are not exactly answers - just things to think about. I've also attached some articles that I thought were interesting, that may be helpful:

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2020/05/18/its-not-so-much-when-colleges-reopen-its-also-how

https://universitybusiness.com/how-is-covid-19-impacting-student-housing/

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/19/us/college-fall-2020-coronavirus.html