Don't Forget the Moms and Pops

DALLAS-During 2012, the student housing REITs acquired large portfolios to either boost market presence and/or to enter particular markets. Given this, and given the fact that the large players have been active active in recent years, does this mean the sector is being taken over by the institutions, REITs and pension funds?

Not really. Student housing experts tell GlobeSt.com that, while the REITs and institutions prefer the core, class A properties, there is more to the sector than the core, class A properties. That remainder, for the most part, is owned and managed by smaller, private entities. The profile of these entities includes everything from private capital groups and high net-worth entities to local mom-and-pop concerns.