Insights following the 2025 5th Annual Interface Active Adult Conference
Author: Laurie Schultz, Co-founder and Principal, Avenue and Viva Bene
I recently joined fellow industry leaders at the 5th Annual Interface Active Adult Conference in Dallas—an event that elevates dialogue around age-restricted living and the growing 55+ market. From candid conversations during my panel with fellow CEOs to engaging discussions with participants who chose my roundtable topic the day prior, it was clear: the active adult housing sector is undergoing a profound and necessary evolution.
The Rise of the “Renter by Choice”
At Avenue and through our Viva Bene brand, we’re witnessing a new generation of older adults who are redefining what retirement—and community—looks like. Today’s active adult renter is no longer someone simply downsizing due to necessity. Many are cashing out in a sellers’ market, ready to travel, take up new hobbies, or reconnect with purpose after leaving the workforce. They are choosing to rent—not because they have to, but in many cases, because they want freedom from maintenance, the flexibility to live more fully and the opportunity to engage with others.
Evolving Expectations Require Industry Innovation
One of the strongest themes I took away from the conference is that our industry must move beyond legacy models. Historically, senior living hasn’t focused on 55+ rentals. But today’s younger boomers—and yes, even Gen Xers—demand more. They’re informed consumers looking for community, convenience, and wellness rather than institutional settings or outdated assumptions about aging. If we don’t innovate, we will be left behind.
Healthcare + Housing: A Converging Opportunity
One of the most compelling conversations centered on the integration of housing and healthcare—something we’re putting into action at Viva Bene. Our collaboration with Sevi Health allows residents to readily access primary care, care navigation and chronic care management services, with direct-to-insurance billing including Medicare. This proactive model enhances resident wellbeing and aims to reduce health decline, thereby offering significant potential to positively impact individuals’ quality of life and address our nation’s escalating health costs.
Partnerships as a Strategic Advantage
In today’s economic environment, we must get creative about controlling costs without sacrificing quality. One key theme at the conference was how strategic partnerships can help optimize operating models. Whether through healthcare providers like Sevi or through other forward-thinking entities seeking to serve aging adults, collaboration is no longer optional—it’s essential. From an investment standpoint, partnerships like the one we have with Sevi reduce operational risks associated with traditional senior housing such as staffing, equipment, liability and the like.
Why Midmarket Active Adult Multifamily Makes Financial Sense
During the event’s developer panel, my Avenue and Viva Bene Co-founder Michael Mattingly, shared data that reinforces the viability of this model. Active adult rentals not only see higher retention rates (often 80%+ annually) but also longer lengths of stay than traditional multifamily. That kind of resident stickiness—combined with a steady stream of prospects from a growing, underserved population—makes the case for investment even stronger.
Vertical Integration: A Unique Advantage
Lastly, one of the differentiators Mike discussed was Avenue’s vertically integrated approach. Having development, construction, and investment under one roof makes us more agile than others to respond in real-time to economic and market fluctuations. Especially in times of uncertainty, nimbleness isn’t just a luxury—it’s a necessity.
Looking Ahead
The energy and insights shared at Interface’s 2025 Active Adult Conference were a clear reminder: the senior living sector, and housing overall, is at an inflection point. I understand that investors are shy given turbulent economic times. But the economy will always be unknown. Traditional continuum of care and other senior living retirement communities — including high-end luxury offerings — will continue to serve niche needs. But they will not address a pressing, real-world gap to serve the forgotten middle, older adults who question how they’ll afford housing and healthcare as they age.
Rapidly changing population headwinds among Boomers and Gen Xers are real. The housing, senior living and healthcare industries are converging. Collectively, we have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to reshape what aging can look like for the next generation. At Avenue and Viva Bene, we’re committed to leading that charge with price-attainable rental living environments that foster both physical and emotional health, support purposeful living and embrace a new model to “age well in place.”