The Jacobson Company Buys Gainesville Student Housing Community

Completed in 2020, the property provides easy access to the University of Florida.

Liv+ Gainesville. Image courtesy of The Jacobson Co.

The Jacobson Company has acquired Liv+ Gainesville, a 618-bed student housing community in Gainesville, Fla., adjacent to the University of Florida.

The sellers, a joint venture of Stark Enterprises and Campus Advantage, developed the property, after landing a $43.8 million construction loan funded by U.S. Bank back in 2018, according to Yardi Matrix data.

Completed in 2020, Liv+ Gainesville spans 11.4 acres and comprises a four-story building with 235 units across a mix of studio to six-bedroom floorplans, varying from 351 to 1,795 square feet. Units are equipped with laundry facilities, smart TVs and high-speed internet. Community amenities include a fitness center, swimming pool, 24-hour market, resident lounge, study lounger, a clubhouse, a dog park and pet spa.

Located at 1900 SW 13th St., the community is less than a mile from the University of Florida campus and Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Numerous dining and entertainment options are within walking distance of the community, while Gainesville city center is some 2 miles northeast of the property.

University of Florida’s strong student housing fundamentals

The University of Florida is among the top 15 institutions with the largest sales volume for student housing transactions, recording a total of $75.2 million year-to-date. Moreover, UF’s annual rent growth clocked in at 9.3 percent as of June, a recent Yardi Matrix report shows. Currently, there are 42 properties serving students at the University of Florida, totaling 26,353 bedrooms.

Additionally, three properties are under construction at the campus, totaling 1,971 bedrooms, according to the same data provider. In May, a partnership between PeakMade Real Estate and Blue Vista Capital Management secured $93 million in financing for Theory Gainesville, an 861-bed community adjacent to the University of Florida.