DALLAS—The student-housing sector is hot, and a Dallas-based firm—not to mention a trio of panelists—gave vivid proof why in the first two sessions of RealShare Student Housing in Dallas on Wednesday.

In the opening talk, “Get Your Facts Straight,” Axiometrics' Taylor Gunn, a research analyst with the firm, cited numerous statistics about the sector. Among them:

• Expansion has taken off in the last four or five years, with the average delivery doubling the historical average.
• Leasing velocity is improving year-over-year, with an 88 percent preleasing among Top 20 universities.
• Annual rent growth is stable.

Gunn unveiled one area her firm focuses on, enrollment growth across universities, called a “Map of Axio 160,” and closed her presentation with predictions for the near term. Gunn said, while supply is down compared to last year, occupancy should remain stable at an 95-96 percent average. She also anticipates supply levels will remain moderate.

“We expect the sector to remain stable if not better in the next years,” she said.

In the conference's second session, “Growing Pains or Growth Spurt,” moderator Ryan Lang, senior managing director at ARA, A Newmark Co., led a spirited discussion about the trajectory of the sector, from its beginning to where it is now.

“A lot has changed since the first generation, with its 20-acre tracts with heavy amenities,” said Frederick Pierce, president and CEO of Pierce Education Properties LP.  “I think the opportunity lies as a value play.”

He pointed to the example of the University of Texas at Austin, where a West Campus property might have 1,000 beds, but one in the Riverside submarket might be half the size.

“But you still need to deliver a really good product,” he added.

The conversation took a turn to talk about capital and how to go about drawing interest in investing in the sector.

“For awhile, there was no core private equity,” said John Preiss, CCIM, chief investment officer at The Preiss Co. “Then the space got more and more respect, then it came your big private equity groups started allocating a piece to private equity.”

As is the trend in commercial real estate, the panel finished up its discussion talking about walking—and how walkability effect the success of these types of properties.

“Resort-style amenities need to change,” said Armand Charbonneau, chief investment officer of Diamond Realty Investments Inc. “I'm a parent. [Older-style] amenities had a style and a pizazz but they also have a sunset to them and I think we're going to see a trend to more academic-type of amenities.

“Especially as we get into more density, closer to campus, rooftop amenities are going to get more prevalent,” he said.