Hackberry Lane Expands Student Housing Portfolio to 4,000 Beds
Hackberry Lane acquired roughly 1,650 beds near University of Florida and University of Alabama, pushing its total portfolio to approximately 4,000 beds.
Hackberry Lane, a vertically integrated student housing investment and operating firm, has closed multiple acquisitions near the University of Florida and the University of Alabama, adding approximately 1,650 beds to its growing portfolio, the New York-based company announced Nov. 6, 2026.
The transactions bring Hackberry Lane's total capacity to roughly 4,000 beds, cementing the firm's position as an active player in the off-campus, or shadow-market, student housing sector. Both universities fall within what the firm designates as core SEC — Southeastern Conference — markets, a geographic focus it has consistently prioritized.
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The deals reflect Hackberry Lane's sustained confidence in student housing demand clustered around major state flagship universities in the Southeast. The shadow market segment, which encompasses privately owned rental housing adjacent to campuses rather than purpose-built dormitories, has drawn increasing institutional attention as enrollment at large public universities has remained resilient.
Vertical integration — meaning the firm manages both investment and day-to-day property operations in-house — is central to Hackberry Lane's strategy, a structure the company says supports tighter operational control and returns across its expanding footprint.
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