Self Storage Income

Self storage analysis is a guessing game. Or at least, it was.  But everything has changed. In this episode, Noah Starr, CEO of TractIQ, returns with an announcement that fundamentally changes the way we find and buy self storage deals. For years, an investor’s biggest advantage wasn’t having a ton of capital or mastering operations. It was information. And with everyone being overly protective of their data, the self storage industry was actively killing itself. But not anymore. TractIQ’s latest release puts verified occupancy and financial performance data in the hands of everyday investors—not just the REITs. Having this data available at scale levels the playing field for smaller operators and allows them to make better business decisions across the board. Whether you’re looking to buy your first self storage facility, increase revenue, or hire a property management company, you no longer have to depend on peripheral metrics and projections. The lights are on. We weren’t supposed to have this data for years. But now that it’s here, you have everything you need to take advantage of one of the best times to buy self storage. What you’ll learn in today’s show: How TractIQ’s latest release levels the playing field for smaller investors Finding better self storage deals with new occupancy and financial performance data Why better data creates more opportunity (not competition) in your market Why self storage analysis has largely been a “guessing game” over the last five years How to use competitor data to hire the right property management company — TractIQ Deal for SSI Community Members - https://tractiq.com/special-pricing  TractIQ - https://tractiq.com/  Noah’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/noah-starr 

There’s a strategy that smart investors use to take down multiple self storage deals in a relatively short amount of time, all while “recycling” the cash they initially put into that first deal. Tony McNickle and Dennis Pham used this exact blueprint to buy their first two deals, and it won’t be long before they’ll have built an entire portfolio of cash-flowing self storage facilities. After connecting through our Inner Circle community just a few years ago, Tony and Dennis formed a partnership, combined their capital, and melded their expertise in small business and commercial real estate. It was the perfect pairing, as within a few months, they already had their first deal under contract—a 20,000-square-foot, mom-and-pop facility they were able to improve and stabilize before pulling 150% of their cash back out. Then, with confidence and capital from that first deal, Tony and Dennis took down a much larger, 71,000-square-foot property and plan to repeat the process all over again. In this episode, they walk through both of these deals, discuss the many advantages of partnerships, and share the hybrid management model they’re using to streamline self storage operations while maintaining a personal touch.   What you’ll learn in today’s show: How Tony and Dennis found, bought, and stabilized their self storage facilities “Recycling” 100% (or more) of your capital with a cash-out refinance Supercharging your investments and scaling fast through the power of partnerships Nurturing face-to-face seller relationships to find better self storage deals Simple, high-ROI upgrades to implement within your self storage business — Join the Self Storage Income Community - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/inner-circle  DXT Partners - https://www.dxtpartners.com/ 

2026 could be the biggest year for self storage investors since 2008. What happens starting in 2026, and going all the way through 2030, could change your life forever if you’re in the game.   Read any self storage industry news, and it says the same thing: “Oversupply! Low Demand! Rate Cuts!” But this surface-level story doesn’t show what’s really about to happen. The self storage market is about to undergo a reversal that most operators have never seen. An “explosion” in wealth that will make many owners rich, not only in cash flow but in equity. This isn’t just speculation—I’ve got the data to prove it.   In today’s show, I’m giving you my full 2026 self storage industry outlook, sharing the seven factors that could trigger a ticking time bomb of demand that could explode in the coming years, bringing massive wealth to owners, while many investors will wish they had gotten into self storage earlier.    But not every market will see the same effects. Don’t worry, I’m outlining exactly what’s coming.    What you’ll learn in today’s show:   The wealth “explosion” coming for the self storage industry in 2026 - 2030 One thing that will trigger a new wave of demand for self storage in America  A 2008 repeat? Why we haven’t seen buying opportunities like this in years  A supply squeeze like we’ve never seen: what happens when demand peaks as supply craters? Cap rate compression? This could be your last chance to get severely underpriced deals Markets with the most (and least) opportunity for rising storage demand in 2026 (and beyond)  — Grab AJ’s Newest Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 - https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865/  Invest with Cedar Creek Capital - https://cedar.cc/ 

2025 was a pivotal year for the self storage industry—but 2026 is about to be even bigger. We could get opportunities we haven’t seen in 15 years, but the buying window won’t last long. We’re taking full advantage, and in today’s episode, we’re outlining our exact 2026 plan.   We’re ringing in the New Year by sharing what we bought, sold, refinanced, and decided to hold in 2025. In the middle of 2025, things started to change—quickly. We’ve been buying up self storage as fast as we possibly can, because if you knew what we do, you wouldn’t be waiting on the sidelines. Interest rates are gradually falling, Americans are ready to move again, and storage demand could be rising. But sellers…they’re tired. The past few years have been hard, and you can take advantage.   The buying window is wide open, but it won’t last long. And this isn’t just blind faith. I’ll share the facts that tee up 2026 as a crucial year for growing wealth in self storage, plus how small investors can get ahead and build massive wealth once the “explosion” coming for storage starts to count down. And yes, I’ll even share a hint at my 2026 outlook and when I expect opportunities to reach their peak.    What you’ll learn in today’s show: Why 2026 could be the year that self storage “explodes” and demand surges  What we bought, sold, and refinanced in 2025 (and what we’re buying more of in 2026) How long the buying window for self storage deals will last (get on it!) Enormous opportunities for small investors as the Baby Boomer fire sale continues  Can’t find deals? This is precisely what we’re doing to get opportunities sent to us Our 2026 self storage outlook and investing plan for the next year  — Join AJ’s Self Storage Income Community!  - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/inner-circle  Self Storage Income 315 - Self Storage Could Be the Biggest Winner of Lower Interest Rates - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/podcasts/self-storage-income-2/episodes/2149089861 

Imagine walking up to a self storage facility and renting a unit from your phone. Next month, you need to upgrade, and you can do it immediately, again from your phone. When you move out, you schedule a date from your phone and walk away. This is what automated self storage looks like, and if your facility doesn’t sound like this example, you could be in for a big wake-up call.   Alec Peeples from Storeganise saw this in real-time. After living abroad in Asia for 10 years, he saw what true “manless” self storage automation looks like. No full-time managers, just simple move-ins and move-outs for customers. Now, Storeganise works with over 1,500 facilities in more than 50 countries, and Alec gets to see what the future looks like before it gets to the U.S.    In this episode, Alec is breaking down the two things you need to implement to increase your revenue and lower your expenses, how Asian self storage facilities are years ahead of their American counterparts, and the exact tech stack you can start using today to automate your self storage facility, do less, and make more.    What you’ll learn in today’s show: How to automate your self storage facility, even if you’re in a small town or have a small facility  How to increase your profits even when rent raises are getting harder and harder to pull off  What Asian self storage facilities are doing to make it unbelievably easy for customers to move in  No more reserving units? Why many of Alec’s facilities are doing away with reservations altogether  The exact tech stack Alec recommends for self storage operators  — Connect with Alec on LinkedIn! - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alec-peeples/  Storeganise - https://storeganise.com/  Check out this episode on self storage in Brazil! Self Storage Income 263 - The Man Who Taught an Entire Country to Start Using Self Storage - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/podcasts/self-storage-income-2/episodes/2148876376 

The self storage industry has finally bottomed out, and today’s guest believes there are more deals now than ever. He’s seizing the moment and buying self storage facilities left and right because in 18 months, these deals could completely dry up—leaving many wishing they had invested in self storage.   In this episode, Conner and George sit down with Ben Gottfredson, who, just a few years ago, depleted his life savings to build his first self storage facility. Since then, he has started his own private equity fund and scaled his self storage business to 15 facilities. But the truth is that Ben would still be stuck on his second deal if he hadn’t developed soft skills and forged invaluable partnerships that helped him rapidly grow his net worth and create lucrative investing opportunities for many close friends and family members.   Today, he’ll show you how to do just that—build out your network and teams in a way that allows you to grow your portfolio as quickly as possible. Ben also opens up about the blunders he made on past deals, from buying while the market was at its peak to cutting corners when stabilizing his facilities, so you don’t repeat his costly mistakes! What you’ll learn in today’s show:   How Ben has scaled from one to 15 self storage facilities in only a few years Why now is the best buying window the self storage industry has seen in years The top-down and bottom-up approaches to building your self storage business Fast-tracking your investments through education and networking How to scale your portfolio faster with smart investing partnerships “Underrated” soft skills that provide rare self storage investing opportunities — 🔵 Join Inner Circle https://www.selfstorageincome.com/inner-circle  ▶️ Buying Your First Facility in a Small Town w/ Ben Gottfredson | SSI Podcast #217 - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/podcasts/self-storage-income-2/episodes/2148265195  🚛 Big Storage Ventures - https://www.instagram.com/bigstorageventures 

Self storage investing isn’t always smooth sailing, but the market tends to reward those who stay the course. From wild construction-site break-ins to complex newspaper-building conversions, this self storage investor has seen it all—yet he’s still built a multimillion-dollar storage business that supported his family after a health incident took away his main source of income. In today’s episode, AJ and Conner are chatting with Wayde Elliott, founder of StoreIT. When spinal fusion surgery forced him to leave his successful dentistry practice of 20 years, Wayde turned to the only backup plan he had: self storage. Since going all-in, he has scaled to roughly a dozen self storage facilities across California and Oregon. Despite taking on ground-up developments and complex conversion projects, sharp self storage analysis, collaboration, and persistence have helped him carve out his own corner of the market where even REITs struggle to compete. Stay tuned for not only a wealth of sage advice but also one of the most bizarre break-in stories you’ll ever hear—involving secret tunnels, missing cameras, and an exhausting cat-and-mouse chase!   What you’ll learn in today’s show:   The wildest self storage break-in story we’ve ever heard  How Wayde built a self storage portfolio that allowed him to leave his high-paying career The “hack” that helps you dodge rookie mistakes and scale your portfolio faster Blending automation and on-site supervision with the hybrid management model What you must know before tackling a self storage conversion project Why doing “difficult things in difficult times” gives you a competitive advantage — 🔸 StoreIT: https://storeit.com 📸 Wayde’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waydeelliottdmd 🔵 Join Inner Circle: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/inner-circle 🌳 Work with someone experienced in self storage loans at Live Oak Bank! https://www.liveoakbank.com/business-loans/self-storage/ 🎙️ Do you have a great story to share on the SSI or AJ Osborne podcasts? You can now apply here! https://form.asana.com/?k=TGU88eU0bFTFW1iHcckuTA&d=1203571084143207 📉 Take advantage of today’s market conditions and invest with us: https://cedar.cc/invest 

After one self storage investment, Darren and Jyoti Osten knew they wanted out of residential real estate. They had bought rental properties, a fixer-upper, and an apartment building, but none were as profitable or passive as self storage investing. Now, six years later, they have four self storage facilities and a small, but stable, portfolio that they run from over 1,000 miles away.    When a property manager brought Darren and Jyoti a self storage deal at a time they were tired of the toilets and tenants of rentals, they made the leap. They loved it so much they bought one more, then another, then decided to self-manage, and buy another one. They knew nothing about self storage management from the start, but quickly were able to raise rents, get higher-quality tenants, and do a big self storage expansion on one of their facilities.    Today, they’re sharing the easy moves they made to raise their facilities’ rents, get more revenue, increase security, and fix delinquency. Plus, how they 2x-3x-ed one facility’s value with an expansion project, giving them much higher revenue. You can do this, too, even if you’re working full-time and even if you have no experience.   What you’ll learn in today’s show:   Why you should self-manage your own self storage facilities (makes much more money!) Don’t want to deal with rental properties? Storage might be your best option  Expanding your storage facility and the cost to double the space (plus a 0% down loan to try) Why occupancy is not that important and how to get higher revenue with fewer customers Easy online marketing that any self storage facility can implement to fill up faster     — Juniper Investors - https://juniperinvestors.com/index.html    Join the Self Storage Income Community!  - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn 

Financing is a necessary hurdle to clear when buying a self storage facility, and in this market, it’s more crucial than ever to explore all your self storage loan options and get creative when structuring deals. The good news is, you likely have even more negotiating power today than in years past!   In this episode, AJ and Conner are pulling back the curtain and sharing multiple financing strategies you can use to fund your next self storage deal. First, they dig into seller financing and share the three-option approach they use to win over hesitant owners. Then, they discuss Small Business Administration (SBA) loans that, when done right, allow you to put as little as 10% down. They also cover several methods of raising private capital, from pitching opportunities to close friends and family to bringing on a hard money lender.   With these financing strategies, you may not even need the bank to get into a proven asset class like self storage. Once your self storage business is stabilized, follow AJ and Conner’s refinancing tips to lock in great terms on a long-term loan!   What you’ll learn in today’s show: Several ways to fund your next self storage facility (even without the banks) The secret to pitching seller financing as a win-win for both sides Three golden “rules” to follow when structuring a seller financing deal Putting as little as 10% down on a self storage facility with an SBA loan What every investor must know when refinancing into a more “permanent” loan Links:  🌳 Work with someone experienced in self storage loans at Live Oak Bank! https://www.liveoakbank.com/business-loans/self-storage/ 🎙️ Do you have a great story to share on the SSI or AJ Osborne podcasts? You can now apply here! https://form.asana.com/?k=TGU88eU0bFTFW1iHcckuTA&d=1203571084143207 📖 Get AJ's book that teaches you everything he knows about self-storage https://a.co/d/aRSKcSq 📉 Take advantage of today’s market conditions and invest with us: https://cedar.cc/invest 

This husband and wife skipped rental properties and went straight to self storage investing. They kept hearing the regrets from other investors saying “we wish we scaled faster.” So, why wait to scale to bigger properties when you can just buy them from the start? That’s exactly what Matthew Rojas and Jingwen Ni did, and they have zero regrets.   It took Matthew and Jingwen two years to find the perfect self storage investment. But, the waiting was worth it. They landed a seller financed, completely full, storage facility with 30%-40% room to increase rents. How did it go with the current customers? They’ll share the entire story from finding the first facility to negotiating, raising rents, and automating it with software and smart upgrades.   But they didn’t stop. Now, they have two self storage facilities—the newest being a high cash flow “land lease,” that few storage owners even know is possible. Beginners, this is the repeatable model to follow to get your first, second, or third self storage facility!   What you’ll learn in today’s show:   Why you should skip rental properties and go straight for self storage and commercial real estate  How to get the perfect self storage investments sent to you from brokers and wholesalers  Raising rents by 30%-40% with very few move outs (do what Matthew and Jingwen did!) “Land leasing” self storage facilities for high cash flow and big tax benefits  Why occupancy does not matter in self storage, what you should focus on instead    — Join the Self Storage Income Community  - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/ssi-membership  Go Beyond Properties - https://gobeyondproperties.com/   

You’ve found a self storage deal, but to get to the closing table, you’re also going to need a lender. For many new investors, self storage financing is the most intimidating part of the process, but in this episode, Conner and George will share everything you need to know to get your first or next self storage facility fully funded.   The truth is that self storage is one of the least-defaulting asset classes today, and with one simple but crucial mindset shift, you’ll stop feeling like you’re “asking for money” and start confidently presenting attractive opportunities to banks, partners, and investors. You’ll learn how to speak the lender’s language and the keys to getting approved for a self storage loan.   We’ll also walk you through a checklist of essential documents, tips for analyzing self storage deals, and resources that will connect you with the best lenders. Plus, we’ll show you how to use debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) as a powerful negotiation tool and how to craft a business plan that gives lenders the confidence to partner with you. What you’ll learn in today’s show:   How to find a great lender for your first or next self storage deal Using debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) as a powerful negotiation tool Crafting a business plan that makes your self storage facility stand out Essential documents to have ready when working with a lender Why you should always talk to multiple lenders when funding a deal The massive advantage self storage has over other asset classes   — Learn More About Feasibility Studies - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/feasibility  Email info@selfstorageincome.com to Be Connected to a Lender Self Storage Analysis 101: How to Underwrite a Self Storage Facility - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4u4-OJbhnA  Live Oak Bank - https://www.liveoak.bank/ 

You can live hundreds of miles away from your self storage facility and still run it successfully. Just hear from Bill DeWaal and Korbin Smoot, founders of Better Self Storage. They’ve got 19 facilities across multiple states and run self storage management to perfection with a team of VAs, a director of operations, and without having to fix, overlock, or inspect a single unit.   You can invest from anywhere in the country, or even anywhere in the world, and this is how you do it.   Bill and Korbin are what a solid partnership looks like. Korbin is chasing deals while Bill is making sure the facilities make sense. Their formula clearly works, as now they have 19 facilities and are experts in self storage remote management. Plus, they’ll share what a great partner looks like, so you don’t get into the self storage business with a bad actor.   Don’t know what to buy when sellers are still asking too much, but the numbers won’t budge? Bill and Korbin define their buy box for small, scalable remote facilities, and how they easily increased revenue by 300% at one facility, and the impressive outsourcing they do so these two can focus on building their portfolio, not managing units. Plus, underwriting (analysis) tweaks they’ve made to ensure they’re getting a deal, not a dud, and how to compete with the REITs who drop prices fast and furiously.    What you’ll learn in today’s show:   What makes a great self storage partnership, and how to find someone who plays off of your strengths Remote managing a sizable self storage investment portfolio (it’s more than possible) How to use virtual assistants (VAs) to clear hours of work off your plate every day The real reason you want to buy multiple facilities in the same market (so much less work) Bill and Korbin’s buy box for small, but seriously profitable, self storage facilities  Setting your self storage rates when the big facilities around the block are offering fire sales   — Join AJ’s Self Storage Income Inner Circle - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/inner-circle  Better Self Storage - https://www.betterselfstorage.com/  Korbin's Contact Information: KorbinSmoot@gmail.com, 801-505-2334 Bill’s Contact Information: 801-910-0594 __ 🌳 Work with someone experienced in self storage loans at Live Oak Bank! We seriously love them. https://www.liveoakbank.com/business-loans/self-storage/  📑 Our Self-Storage Feasibility Studies will help you speed up the process in understanding markets, potential risks, and analyzing the facility itself.  https://cedar.cc/feasibility-studies/  📖 Sign up for Our Weekly Newsletter: https://ajosborne.com/newsletter

You’re about to make an offer on a self storage investment. You’ll need two things: an LOI (letter of intent) and a PSA (purchase and sale agreement). You may need to use one or the other or both, depending on your situation, but not having these two contracts could be stopping you from getting your first or next deal done.    Today, AJ and Conner explain precisely what a PSA and LOI in real estate are, the key difference between these two crucial contracts, and how to use them to make offers on facilities that owners can’t ignore. This is how the pros get self storage deals done. No verbal offers. No handshakes. This is when it gets legit.   You found a self storage investment you like…what do you do now? Do you use an LOI vs. PSA first in commercial real estate? We’ll walk through which contract to use when, what to include in an LOI and PSA, the contingencies to add that ensure a seller can’t wrongfully back out, and why you always negotiate with the seller before you get one of these signed.   The next time you and a seller sign these agreements, you’ll be on your way to your next self storage deal.   What you’ll learn in today’s show:   What an LOI and PSA are in real estate (and when to use each of them) What to include in your initial offer to a seller (timeline, price, contingencies, and more) The one contract that stops a seller from coming back to you to ask for more Why you always negotiate with a seller before you sign one of these contracts  Seller not responding? What to send them to show that you’re a legit buyer  Sign Up for My Newsletter Here:  https://ajosborne.com/newsletter 🌳 Work with someone experienced in self storage loans at Live Oak Bank! We seriously love them. https://www.liveoakbank.com/business-loans/self-storage/ 📑 Our Self-Storage Feasibility Studies will help you speed up the process in understanding markets, potential risks, and analyzing the facility itself.  https://cedar.cc/feasibility-studies/

This is the biggest opportunity in self storage since 2008. Last time we were at this stage in the cycle, I was on the cusp of building a $100M+ self storage business. I bought when conditions were almost identical to what we’re seeing today, and now, I’m gearing up to buy even more. But here’s the best part: beginners can get in on this, too. Today, I’m showing you how.   This could be your $100M opportunity if you know what’s coming down the pipeline.    Things are getting eerily similar to the situation after the Great Financial Crisis (2008). Interest rates are coming down, housing activity is going up, cap rates are compressing, and occupancy rates may be ready to rise again. This was almost exactly how conditions were in the early 2010s when I was heavily building my self storage business. Don’t believe me? I’ll prove it with data in this episode.   We’re buying now—and we’re buying a lot. If you’re debating investing in self storage or growing your portfolio, this episode will be crucial for you. I’m putting my money where my mouth is, investing millions of my own capital to grow my portfolio.    Do not miss this stage of the cycle.    What you’ll learn in today’s show: Why 2025 may be mirroring the aftermath of the 2008 Great Financial Crisis  The best time to buy in 20 years? I’ll prove why it could be 2025 and 2026  A $10M bet I’m making on self storage investments (I’ll explain why I’m bullish) The massive discounts we’re seeing in the market (we’re buying at 2015 prices) Where we’re buying self storage facilities and states/areas we feel confident in   Learn more about Heritage Fund investment opportunities:  https://go.cedar.cc/faq    https://go.cedar.cc/welcome *Accredited investors only. Limited capacity.*

What happens when interest rates spike, self storage demand dips, and REITs start a race to the bottom with rent prices? You’ve got the current state of the self storage industry, with shifting market dynamics that have made things difficult for smaller investors over the last few years. The question now is, where do we go from here?   Interest rates have had a ripple effect throughout the self storage industry, leaving smaller investors wondering how they can build wealth with self storage investing while REITs and private equity have a stranglehold on many major markets. AJ, Travis Morrow, and Lance Watkins break it all down in a session from this year’s SSI Live Event. There’s reason for optimism heading into 2026 and beyond, but investors will need to adapt to major changes if they want to coexist with the bigger players.   Savvy market analysis is more crucial now than ever, and adopting technology is no longer optional—even if you’re investing in rural areas. Fortunately, everyday investors now have access to data that wasn’t available to them just a few years ago. Whether you’re developing or buying self storage facilities, these insights will help shape your strategy going forward and give you an edge in your market! What you’ll learn in today’s show: How to compete with institutional investors (REITs) charging rock-bottom rates Why investors must analyze self storage deals more conservatively in 2026 How technology is transforming self storage (and how you could get left behind) The massive opportunities small investors have in secondary and tertiary markets Strategies that will help you determine whether to invest in a new market How rising interest rates created a “ripple effect” throughout the self storage industry — Tract IQ: https://tractiq.com/ 🌳 Work with someone experienced in self storage loans at Live Oak Bank! We seriously love them. https://www.liveoakbank.com/business-loans/self-storage/

Today’s guests bought six self storage facilities in just four years, all while working full-time jobs, and during a time of rising interest rates. They had zero experience, no self storage background, and have only used their own money. How did they grow so quickly, and what’s the secret to scaling your self storage business? These are the bootstrapped self storage investors to hear from.   In 2020, self storage investments weren’t on Nick and Steven May’s radar. But after hearing an episode of this podcast, they decided it might be their next great opportunity. Luckily, a small vacation market two hours south of them had old, poorly-reviewed facilities around. So they did what everyone with little experience and a desire to invest should do: started calling owners without expectations. One owner was willing to sell, and the ball started rolling.   Fast forward four years from their first purchase, and Nick and Steven have six facilities, all in the same market. They’ve gotten better at negotiating, underwriting self storage, and running their business. How did two guys scale to 150,000+ square feet in self storage space without any prior experience? Today, they’re sharing exactly how they did it.    What you’ll learn in today’s show:   How to build your self storage business even while working full-time, even with no experience  Why waiting out stubborn sellers is worth it (and why you always submit an offer) The basic tweaks you can make to turn an underperforming facility into an over-performing one  Investing in self storage with high interest rates (why it still works in 2025) The secret to scaling your storage portfolio while working a full-time job  Where to find more   📷 Steven’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevenmay_realestate/   🚣 Lake of the Ozarks Self Storage: https://lakeoftheozarksselfstorage.com/ 🌳 Work with someone experienced in self storage loans at Live Oak Bank! We seriously love them. https://www.liveoakbank.com/business-loans/self-storage/   📑 Our Self-Storage Feasibility Studies will help you speed up the process in understanding markets, potential risks, and analyzing the facility itself.  https://cedar.cc/feasibility-studies/  📚 Get my FREE self storage starter pack to learn how to analyze, underwrite, and operate your next storage investment: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/start-podcast  📰 Sign Up for My Newsletter Here:  https://ajosborne.com/newsletter   

How do you know your first or next self storage investment is worth the money?    This is how you do self storage analysis in six steps, even if you’ve never invested in storage before. With the most basic of numbers, you can analyze a self storage facility to see if it’s a worthwhile deal. And you don’t need any experience in commercial real estate or self storage underwriting models to do these calculations—you just need some time.   We’ll take you all the way from defining your “buy box” (know what you want to buy) to estimating expenses and revenue, running the numbers, and the extra “margin” we add in every single self storage deal to ensure it’ll be profitable.   Plus, what a good self storage investment looks like and how to secretly get your competitors’ rent prices so you’ll know just how much your facility can bring in.   Your first or next self storage deal is close—let’s make sure it’s a home run!   What you’ll learn in today’s show: How to analyze a self storage facility from scratch, even if you have no prior experience The secret way to know your competitors’ pricing and how occupied they are  Why you must design your “buy box” before you analyze a single storage deal When to go from quick to full underwriting vs. pass on a so-so deal  The two biggest self storage expenses that you cannot ignore (or you’ll get burned!)    🌳 Live Oak Bank: https://www.liveoak.bank/      📉 TractIQ: https://tractiq.com/     📑 Our Self-Storage Feasibility Studies will help you speed up the process in understanding markets, potential risks, and analyzing the facility itself. https://cedar.cc/feasibility-studies/   📖 Get AJ's book that teaches you everything he knows about self-storage https://a.co/d/aRSKcSq 📉 Take advantage of today’s market conditions and invest with us: https://cedar.cc/invest 

This is the biggest thing to happen to the self storage industry in years.    Last week, the Fed made their much-anticipated decision to cut rates. In the weeks leading up to the decision, interest rates fell sharply, reigniting the homebuying process for hundreds of thousands of Americans sitting on the sidelines. Rate cuts and mortgage rate declines will have momentous effects on the self storage market, and, I believe, will usher in a new cycle for self storage investing and wealth creation.   We, up until recently, have been going through a self storage recession. What most self storage investors don’t know is that some 40% of our customers come from moving alone. Raise interest rates, stop home purchases, and you cut off the lifeblood of the storage business. But now, that’s changing—and it’s changing in a major way.   In this episode, I’m going to explain why the Fed made their decision now (and whether they were too late), what lower interest rates mean for the self storage industry as a whole and your facility’s occupancy, and what I’m doing to prepare for this next cycle.   This is going to be HUGE.   What you’ll learn in today’s show: Interest rate update and the Fed’s recent decision to (finally) cut rates  What happens to self storage when rates fall (even by a small margin) How lower interest rates could bring back rent increases for storage facilities  My investing plan if rates continue to trend downward  Why the Fed changed their tone and what their new verbiage means  — Sign Up for the Self Storage Income Newsletter! - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/  📑 Our Self-Storage Feasibility Studies will help you speed up the process in understanding markets, potential risks, and analyzing the facility itself.  https://cedar.cc/feasibility-studies/ 

This one small-town storage facility has made today’s guest over $500,000. And if you’re interested in buying your first storage facility, there’s no better inspiration than this. With one self storage investment, Braedon Haertling has added another 9-5-sized income stream and increased value by close to $1,000,000, all while working a full-time job. He had no experience, but a lot of drive, and didn’t do anything you can’t.   Braedon tried the rental property route, but scaling to 100+ doors didn’t seem like the best bet. Why buy 100 rentals when investing in storage units can get you to 100 doors with just one purchase? Thankfully, Braedon knew of someone who may be too busy to run their storage facility anymore. He gave them a call, scored a $0-down self storage facility, and the rest is history.    Got a 9-5? You can invest in self storage. Got kids and a family to take care of? You can invest in self storage. Think you need to know everything before getting your first facility? You couldn’t be more wrong. Thanks to simply taking action, Braedon now has a six-figure-producing self storage investment, $500,000+ in equity, and is hungry for his next deal!   What you’ll learn in today’s show: How to use the “seller carry” strategy to buy a self storage facility for $0 down Creating massive value ($1,000,000!) with simple improvements to your storage facility  Is your town too small for self storage? How Braedon gets 90%+ occupancy in a 3,200-person town  One big mistake Braedon made, but later turned it into a substantial payday  Why you should NOT quit your job to invest in self storage (unless…) — Grab AJ’s Book, _Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0_: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/book  Braedon’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thestoragemat/ Braedon’s TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thestoragemat 🌳 Work with someone experienced in self storage loans at Live Oak Bank! https://www.liveoakbank.com/business-loans/self-storage/ 📑 Our Self-Storage Feasibility Studies will help you speed up the process in understanding markets, potential risks, and analyzing the facility itself. https://cedar.cc/feasibility-studies/ 

Buying a storage facility? Make sure you spot any of these 12 self storage investing red flags. If you’re able to avoid them successfully, you could be buying a killer next investment, with high occupancy, high rates, and steady cash flow. After investing in dozens of self storage facilities, with millions of rentable square feet, we’ve nailed down the 12 deadly self storage red flags that can prevent a facility from taking off.  There are two types of red flags: the ones you can fix, and the ones you can’t. The fixable ones might mean you have a serious opportunity within your market, and you can flip that red flag to a green one. The unfixable red flags…that’s another story. Don’t worry, we’re going to spell out each so you know which red flags to run from, and which could make you money.  We’re talking about red flags like: declining populations, too much supply, high vacancy, weak local economics, poor visibility (online and on the street!), and more. Do you think you know which you can fix? Think again, we’re giving you the exact list of self storage red flags.  What you’ll learn in today’s show: The 12 self storage investing red flags every investor should be aware of  Is a declining population always a bad thing for storage? How to stop your competitors from building near you and boosting supply The “secret” way to find out how occupied other facilities are in the area  How much should your self storage customers make? We’ll share the perfect income range  Which red flags can be flipped to green flags so you can profit! — Register Now for SSI Live - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/live-event  Get 1-on-1 Coaching from Conner! - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/coaching   Work with someone experienced in self storage loans at Live Oak Bank! https://www.liveoakbank.com/business-loans/self-storage/ Do you have a great story to share on the SSI or AJ Osborne podcasts? You can now apply here! https://form.asana.com/?k=TGU88eU0bFTFW1iHcckuTA&d=1203571084143207 Get AJ's book that teaches you everything he knows about self-storage https://a.co/d/aRSKcSq Take advantage of today’s market conditions and invest with us: https://cedar.cc/invest