Healthcare Providers Push Forward with Significant Construction or Renovation Projects

Some healthcare providers are making large capital investments in their facilities.  Here are some articles that evidence this:

For plenty of good news from Kentucky, see Hospital Boom Continues in Kentucky at http://www.lanereport.com/10881/2012/09/hospital-boom-continues/. 

For some good news from Florida, see Florida Hospital to announce $270 millions plan for three women’s health towers at http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-09-18/health/os-florida-hospital-womens-health-20120917_1_orlando-health-towers-capital-investment.

And of course we can’t forget the $1.1 billion project by Johns Hopkins, which some have called the “hotel-like hospital project”.  Here is just one of many articles on this project:  Johns Hopkins unveils new hospital, at http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/bs-hs-new-hopkins-hospital-20120126,0,5336130.story.

2012: "The Real Year of the (Healthcare) REIT"?

2011 has been often referred to as the “Year of the REIT” – but 2012 looks to be even more REIT-tastic than 2011.  REIT capital raised only halfway through 2012 totaled more than 65% of the capital raised in all of 2011; and when one looks at just healthcare REITs, that percentage jumps significantly to 80%.  What's the healthcare REIT secret?  “Looking at a wide variety of metrics, healthcare REITs are the top income-producing property type and produced current average dividend yields of 4.6%.  By comparison, industrial REITs produced a 3.5% yield, while office and apartment REITs produced yields of 3.3% and 2.8%, respectively.”  It's easier to get investor money when recent history reflects that you are going to give them better returns.  In other words, “People invest in the REITs because of the returns they produce.” 

Read more at:  Senior Housing News' Healthcare REITs Set Record With $7.5 Billion Capital Raise Through Mid-Year, by Alyssa Gerace

(http://seniorhousingnews.com/2012/10/11/healthcare-reits-set-record-with-7-5-billion-capital-raise-through-mid-year/)

Medical Office Building Built to Resist Severe Weather

Given the intense weather of late, I wanted to share this item.  Pee Dee Nephrology, in Florence, SC, is the first medical office building in the nation to earn the Fortified for Safer Business Designation.  The building is designed to resist property damage caused by hurricanes, high winds, earthquakes, wildfires, lightning and hail. 

Read more at http://www.usgnn.com/newsDesignation2012111.htm and http://www.midlandsconnect.com/news/story.aspx?id=820086.