DALLAS—Transaction strategies took center stage at RealShare Student Housing's last panel session on Wednesday in Dallas.
Moderator Wayne D'Amico, CCIM, president and principal of Wayne D'Amico & Co. Inc., led the discussion which included three panelists: Kelli Carhart, managing director of production and sales, central region at Freddie Mac; Justin Gronlie, vice president, Harrison Street Real Estate Capital LLC; James Martha, CCIM, managing director, TIAA-CREF; and Kevin White, acquisitions director, alternative multifamily, Virtus Real Estate Capital.
With student housing increasingly becoming a viable investment model, luring high-net worth individuals, private equity fund managers and foreign players, the panelists spoke about their unique perspectives in the industry.
As for individual investment strategies, Martha said he views the largest public universities as the best model for value-add opporunities, while Gronlie said his firm's mentality has evolved over the years.
“We've come around to more of a portfolio approach,” he said.
White agreed: “We're taking more of a blended approach. It's not easy and a lot of deals are broken for a reason.”
Meanwhile, Carhart remains optimistic about the sector.
“I'd like to think we'll sharpen our pencils for any situation,” she said.
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