Student housing pros: We've got a disorderly marketplace on our hands. Colliers Co head honcho Nathan Collier says basic student housing could be built much more economically, but the market isn’t biting.

It’s an amenity war, Nathan tells us. Students want flashy (and costly!) options like jumbotron screens by the pool and over-the-top clubhouses, so that’s what he’s building. That's also pushing Collier Cos to develop more, rather than acquiring. It’s more expensive, but students and parents like having a brand-new facility.

Students choose and parents veto, Nathan says, but right now they don’t seem to be vetoing much. Parents want a sense of security and a strong program of academics for their kiddos, especially at first-tier schools like the University of Georgia or the University of Florida, but they also want their kids to enjoy college.

Collier Cos is hot on Florida (the company is based in Gainesville); it's building 656 units at the University of South Florida in Tampa, a project that'll deliver in mid-July. It's also building some grad student housing for young professionals in Gainesville.

Nathan will speaking at Bisnow's annual Student Housing event in Philadelphia this year on June 14. It's the must-attend conference for student housing professionals, so buy your tickets today and join us for a truly special event!