Bethesda, Maryland – December 7, 2016
Walker & Dunlop, Inc. (NYSE: WD) (the “Company”) announced today that it has originated over $1.3 billion of student housing financing year to date through October 31, 2016. Student housing loans account for over 10 percent of the Company’s total year to date multifamily financing.
With strong occupancy levels and increasing rents, student housing properties have become a popular asset class for investors seeking attractive yields in the commercial real estate space. A greater percentage of millennials than in any other generation have attained a Bachelor’s degree, a trend that is expected to continue. Increased enrollment coupled with the growing propensity of students to live on or near campus has created a shortage of student housing across many colleges and universities in the United States. Multifamily investors and developers have been able to capitalize on this supply shortage, often choosing to reposition outdated properties to meet the expectations of student renters today.
Walker & Dunlop Executive Vice President and Multifamily Chief Production Officer, Don King, commented, “Student housing financing has become an increasingly attractive multifamily submarket for many borrowers, but it requires specialized knowledge of the market’s evolving trends and financing requirements. Walker & Dunlop has decades of experience financing student housing properties across the country, allowing our team to efficiently navigate the unique financing options for our borrowers and deliver competitive loan terms for any property within this niche sector.”
The following transactions are examples of the Company’s student housing financing capabilities:
23Twenty Apartments - Ames, Iowa
Equinox Apartments - Madison, Wisconsin
The Lodges at Glenwood - Provo, Utah
More information on Walker & Dunlop’s experienced student housing finance professionals is available on the Company’s website, www.walkerdunlop.com.
About Walker & Dunlop
Walker & Dunlop (NYSE: WD), headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is one of the largest commercial real estate services and finance companies in the United States providing financing and investment sales to owners of multifamily and commercial properties. Walker & Dunlop, which is included in the S&P SmallCap 600 Index, has over 600 professionals in 28 offices across the nation with an unyielding commitment to client satisfaction.