Data from the recently released 1Q 2026 NIC MAP Seniors Housing Actual Rates Report showed that:
- In the first quarter of 2026, year-over-year rate growth across all rate categories for independent living properties moderated from the record highs reported in early 2025. In March 2026, year-over-year growth in in-place and asking rates were 6.1% and 7.4%, respectively, representing a deceleration compared with March 2025. Meanwhile, year-over-year growth in initial rates stood at 2.3%.
- Assisted living properties continued to report relatively strong year-over-year rate growth across all rate types in the first quarter of 2026. In March 2026, year-over-year growth in in-place, initial, and asking rates were 6.5%, 7.8%, and 7.2%, respectively, representing an acceleration compared with March 2025.
In the first quarter of 2026, discounts between asking and initial rates widened for independent living properties compared to the year-earlier level. In contrast, assisted living properties saw discounts narrowing from the previous year.
- Average initial rates for independent living properties were 11.2% ($543) below asking rates in March 2026, equivalent to a 1.3-month discount on an annualized basis, up from the 0.8-month discount in March 2025.
- For assisted living properties, average initial rates were 7.3% ($515) below asking rates in March 2026, translating to a 0.9-month discount on an annualized basis, compared with a 1.0-month discount in March 2025.
Additional key takeaways are available to NIC MAP subscribers in the full report.
About the Report: The NIC MAP Seniors Housing Actual Rates Report provides aggregate national data from over 300,000 units within more than 2,800 properties across the U.S. operated by over 65 seniors housing providers. Visit the NIC MAP website for more information.