Morgan Stanley Investment Management, through its Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing (MSREI) division, and The Scion Group have announced a joint venture to acquire student housing communities in Oxford, Mississippi. The investment totals $262 million and includes properties located within two miles of the University of Mississippi campus. The portfolio consists of 600 apartments, townhomes, and cottages with over 2,000 beds.
Will Milam, Head of U.S. Investments at MSREI, stated: “We are pleased to acquire this high-quality portfolio of student housing communities at the University of Mississippi offering a variety of product types and price points.” He added that the region's supply-demand dynamics have led to strong financial performance for these assets.
The acquisition includes College Town Oxford on the west side of the campus. This transaction was completed earlier this month. Other properties south of the campus and in downtown Oxford are expected to close by the third quarter of 2025. TSB Capital Advisors facilitated financing for these acquisitions.
Rob Bronstein, CEO of The Scion Group, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “We are excited to enter this new joint venture with MSREI and appreciate their confidence in Scion.”
Student housing near major colleges remains an attractive investment due to steady enrollment demand and limited supply. MSREI manages 43 student housing properties across the U.S., totaling 17,700 beds.
The Scion Group is recognized as a leading owner/operator in off-campus student housing globally with over 94,000 beds across various markets in the U.S. They manage more than $10 billion in assets.
Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing has been active for over three decades with offices worldwide managing $53 billion in real estate assets. Morgan Stanley Investment Management oversees $1.6 trillion in assets globally as part of its diverse service offerings.