Winning Strategies: Navigating a Hyper-Competitive Senior Housing Market

Recorded live at Blueprint's 2026 Summer Summit on July 30th, this episode brings together Tim Sanders, SVP at Ventas, and Philip Kayden, CIO at Health Wave Partners, for a candid look at how capital is being deployed in today's senior housing market.

Tim shares how Ventas, a $60 billion enterprise with roughly 800 senior housing assets across the U.S. and Canada, completed more than $8 billion in acquisitions since January 2024. Phil explains how Health Wave's tightly defined buy box allows his team to make deal decisions within days, with more than $250 million closed so far this year.

Together, they break down how to win by owning your channel rather than competing in an overcrowded market, why strong operator relationships matter more than ever, and what to do when projected rate growth doesn't materialize. They also touch on how supply dynamics factor into underwriting.

Whether you're an investor, operator, or capital partner, this conversation offers practical insights into competing and succeeding in one of commercial real estate's most active sectors.