Completion of a $931 million seniors-housing acquisition in Canada was significant for both Chartwell Seniors Housing Real Estate REIT and Heath Care REIT, as the 8,187-suite transaction makes Chartwell the largest provider of seniors housing in the country and gives Health Care its first foothold in the growing Canadian market.

Ventas has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 16 private-pay communities from affiliates of Sunrise Senior Living and its institutional joint venture partner for $362 million.

Prudential Real Estate Investors is set to make a big impression in the seniors-housing sector, having raised $568 million for its newest and largest seniors-housing fund.

It has taken nearly three decades, but seniors housing has surfaced as a vibrant star in the U.S. real estate universe. The foundation has been set for a new generation of seniors housing products, which will begin to emerge in the year ahead. By Mel Gamzon.

Longtime seniors housing real estate expert Mel Gamzon offers insights into the seniors housing market. 2011 was a big year for seniors housing and healthcare REITs, and Mel explores what strategies companies are likely to develop in 2012.

Ziegler has facilitated a tax-exempt bank direct purchase on behalf of seniors housing company Covenant Retirement Communities. The direct purchase came in the form of two series of bonds totaling approximately $59.1 million and representing the first multi-state bond issuance by the Illinois Finance Authority.

Specialty investment bank Ziegler has helped Greystone Communities take a big step forward with the development of The Terraces at Bonita Springs, a continuing care retirement community in Bonita Springs, Fla., with the closing of an approximately $143.2 million issue.

A privately owned Chicago firm has just purchased Oak Point, a 870-unit seniors manufactured-home community in Middleborough, Mass., for $55 million.

Harrison Real Estate Capital, on behalf of Harrison Street Real Estate Partners III L.P., has just completed an off-market transaction for an eight-property seniors-housing portfolio for approximately $125 million.

Multiple reports out of the seniors-housing sector all seem to be saying the same thing: Things are going very, very well. Studies by NIC MAP and Senior Housing Investment Advisors are both bullish on the sector’s outlook.