Sonida Senior Living sets $250 million acquisition budget for 2026 as it integrates CNL Healthcare merger

Sonida Senior Living announced it will allocate roughly $250 million to acquisitions in 2026 while continuing to integrate the senior‑housing portfolio obtained from its March merger with CNL Healthcare Properties. The company has already bought seven communities comprising 620 units for $150.2 million, not including transaction costs, and has about $98 million of purchases under contract. As of early November, management of 19 of the 54 former CNL communities had been transferred to Sonida’s platform, with transition plans in place for the remaining properties. Q3 2026 same‑store net operating income rose 15.6% year over year to $52 million and occupancy reached 88.6%.

The $250 million acquisition plan adds significant growth capacity for Sonida and may boost future NOI, but it also raises leverage, which the company expects to bring down to a 6‑6.5 times target through cash flow and asset sales. Investors should watch how the integration of the remaining CNL assets and the planned sale of eight non‑core properties affect cash generation and debt levels.

  • 1Sonida expects to spend about $250 million on acquisitions in 2026, including both completed and contracted purchases.
  • 2The merger with CNL Healthcare Properties closed on March 11 in a transaction valued at roughly $1.8 billion.
  • 3Approximately $98 million of acquisitions were under contract as of November 5.
  • 4Sonida bought seven communities with a total of 620 units for $150.2 million, excluding transaction costs.
  • 5Management of 19 of CNL’s 54 senior‑housing communities had been moved to Sonida’s platform by November 1.
  • 6Q3 2026 same‑store net operating income was $52 million, up 15.6% on a pro forma basis from the prior year.

Sources