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?

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.

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.

Overall transaction volumes for Medical Office Buildings (MOB) were down in 2018 versus 2017. According to Revista’s Year End 2018 Medical Real Estate Transactions report

Attendees of this year’s Revista Medical Real Estate Investment Forum (MREIF) in San Diego received take home data briefs as a part of their attendance. One such brief profiled several interesting insights regarding transaction activity

In past metro highlights we’ve talked about growth markets with lots of construction activity, interesting markets with innovative health systems, metros with the highest sales volume, but what about the tightest markets? The ones with the highest rent growth, the most expensive pricing and the lowest vacancy? Flipping through our Metro Rankings report, San Francisco clearly fits the bill.

Over the past year or so there have been many headlines speaking to how hot the medical real estate sector is. You see them pop up in your email or news feed: "Sales volume is at all time highs"..... "New investors are entering the sector right and left"...."Medical Real Estate Hitting Post Recession Peak". At times like this, many investors are getting priced out of the 'cream' offerings that trade and the heavy weight health system construction projects. So it would stand to reason that those interested parties would look elsewhere....and they are.

As REITs pull back on acquisitions and focus more on refining their portfolios, private equity groups have more than taken up the slack. Total healthcare real estate transaction volume may have cooled ever so slightly - but not much - and so far this year, private investor buyers are making up 76% of that total.

The Mid-Year Revista transactions report has been released and is available to subscribers. Check out some of the highlights!