Medical Office (MOB) transaction volume has slowed during the past year. Within the top 50 metros Revista recorded $7.14B worth of MOB trades from 3Q18 to 2Q19

In recent weeks we've seen significant volatility in the stock market along with increasing fears of a recession. After all, this is now the longest market expansion in history. It can't continue forever, right? MOBs have long been considered somewhat insulated from market shifts - but what does the data say?

For four straight years, medical office building sales have topped $11 billion in annual volume, according to Revista data. However, so far in 2019, MOB sales have slowed a bit, with the volume coming in at $1.5 billion in Q1. And while the volume in Q2 has to be compiled, it was certain to be bolstered by the $1.25 billion purchase of the CNL Healthcare Properties MOB portfolio by Welltower Inc. (NYSE: WELL).

Supply/demand and Rent trends will begin appearing in Revista’s products which will enable subscribers to better analyze macro market risks and opportunities.

2019 MOB deal volume continues the cooling trend after coming off historical highs in 2017. While total volume may be down, a theme continues - private investors represent the greatest percentage of acquisitions.

There’s a widespread notion that opportunities to open new urgent care centers (UCCs) in the United States have, for the most part, run their course. The main culprits, it would seem, have been an over-saturation of such facilities in affluent suburban and Sunbelt markets and a somewhat restrictive payment model that left many patients with higher co-pays than typical doctor visits.

In the past twelve months, over 21 million square feet of medical office space have been delivered across the country. More than 35% of that has been condensed in 10 markets.

Deal reinforces strategy of creating value by packaging MOBs into large portfolios With MOB sales off to a somewhat slow start in early 2019, the closing of the sector’s second-biggest arm’s length deal of all time is sure to bolster the volume for the year. On May 15, Toledo, Ohio-based Welltower Inc. (NYSE: WELL), which has invested more than $6 billion in a variety of healthcare asset types since coming off the sidelines in early to mid-2018, reported that it closed on its previously announced $1.25 billion acquisition of 55 MOBs from Orlando, Fla.-based CNL Healthcare Properties, a non-traded healthcare real estate investment trust (REIT).

Medical Office Building (MOB) capitalization rates are trending up from their lows set in late 2017 and early 2018. The average cap rate for MOBs was 6.7% in the 1st quarter of 2019..

Although 22nd in rank for population, Charlotte is one of the fastest growing cities in the nation. Over the past 10 years the population has grown almost 60%! In 2010 the population rank was only 33… Affordable housing and lower cost of living paired with rapid economic growth and a hot job market has generated a population magnet.