The population of Americans retiring will accelerate over the next two decades, creating unprecedented opportunities for builders, developers, operators and investors to produce new seniors housing to fulfill this group’s broad spectrum of needs. “The demand for housing will be across the board,” says Charles Bissell, national practice leader for Dallas-based Integra Realty Service’s seniors housing and healthcare specialty practice. “This housing needs to include a mix of senior apartments and independent and assisted living offerings.”

The population of Americans aged 55 and older is growing at a rapid pace. According to Census data and National Association of Home Builder projections, this group will swell from 59.3 million in 2000, comprising 21% of the population, to 76.6 million in 2010, or 25% of the population. And it will only keep growing from there, as Baby Boomers continue to enter retirement age: By 2014, some 85.3 million will fall into this category, representing 26% of the population.

Older Americans most likely to move into some form of senior living facility, specifically those aged 65, 75 or 85, are expected to grow at respective paces of 3%, 2.9% and 2.1% annually between now and 2030, according to Integra. The firm projects that this translates to a need for at least 94,000 new seniors housing units or beds per year between 2010 and 2030, which is roughly 1.9 million housing units—a 60% increase in supply...

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