If you are trying to expand your self-storage portfolio, but have run into a wall called available capital, you may have looked into the Reg. D 506 structure under the JOBS Act. But a proposed change to this opportunity may yield even greater potential. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review the pending change and what the impact might be.
Aug 12, 2025•10 min•Ep. 128
The self-storage industry for larger owners is much more in peril than what they claim, yet many investors fail to heed the warning signs. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review why most large U.S. operators are in big trouble and how to learn from their mistakes.
Jul 28, 2025•10 min•Ep. 127
In many self-storage loans today, there’s one major question for the borrower: “do you want a fixed rate or floating?”. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the good and bad of each option and how you can make your own decision based on your perception of the future.
Jul 15, 2025•11 min•Ep. 126
America is filled with uncertainty, yet many storage owners have the mistaken idea that these challenges are quietly behind them. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review many of the headwinds the self - storage industry is facing and how to best position yourself to survive these shocks.
Jul 01, 2025•10 min•Ep. 125
While copper and soybeans are some of the best-known commodities to trade, self-storage facility owners are also dependent on commodity pricing of their units. And there are certain winners and losers in this trading environment. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review the future of the storage commodity and pick the winners and losers.
Jun 16, 2025•10 min•Ep. 124
When performing due diligence on a self-storage facility, the questions you ask have a huge impact on gathering facts – especially regarding the costs of capital improvements or maintenance projects. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review the questions to ask and the questions to avoid.
May 26, 2025•10 min•Ep. 123
Many buyers feel the least of their worries is the actual date of closing, but that’s not true. There’s a strategy to closing on a deal that can determine just how smoothly the transition goes. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the impact of the closing date you choose (or get railroaded into choosing).
May 12, 2025•10 min•Ep. 122
Many of the self-storage deals out there are wholly unappealing. So what does it take to make a storage facility acquisition compelling? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the metrics behind evaluating a property and come to some conclusions on what should make you interested as well as what should make you run away.
Apr 29, 2025•11 min•Ep. 121
There’s an old saying “when the tide goes out you find out who was swimming naked”. And with all of the economic chaos in the U.S. right now, the tide certainly appears to be going out. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review strategies to not be caught swimming naked.
Apr 14, 2025•10 min•Ep. 120
It costs money to build or buy a billboard, and for many people that means getting a loan. But how can you find a lender and get a loan when you are just starting out? In this Billboard Mastery podcast we’re going to explore this topic and discuss some real-life methods to make lending attainable.
Apr 01, 2025•10 min•Ep. 119
U-Haul has historically been a great source of information on population movement. On a regular basis they publish the results of “one-way” rentals that give insight into both where Americans are going but also where they’re leaving. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the meaning behind the latest numbers.
Mar 17, 2025•11 min•Ep. 118
A contract is a legal agreement that is signed by both parties – and sometimes you have to alter that basic agreement to get one or both parties to execute it. But how far can you go in modifying these documents? In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review what’s acceptable and not, as well as what the ramifications are as you edit a standard agreement.
Mar 04, 2025•11 min•Ep. 117
Webster’s Dictionary defines a “trap” as “a situation in which people lie in wait to make a surprise attack”. We’re all familiar with doing this to mice using a spring and a piece of cheese. But some self-storage owners use this same principle when selling their storage property. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to discuss the common traps that some sellers use and how to diffuse them.
Feb 18, 2025•11 min•Ep. 116
Every self-storage facility seller has two basic traits that guide their decision-making: 1) emotional and 2) rational. How you appeal to and guide these factors can be a key ingredient to forging a successful deal. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to drill down on how to use these attributes to your benefit.
Feb 03, 2025•11 min•Ep. 115
There are too many people extolling the virtues of self-storage investing that have a stake in convincing you of false narratives. They will claim that demand is growing when, in actuality, occupancy in plunging. They will tell you that a market is "hot" when, in reality, it's a buyer's market. In this Self-Storage University podcast we're going to explore why you can't really trust anyone in the storage industry and must rely only upon what you can tangibly see or discover yourself.
Jan 21, 2025•10 min•Ep. 114
There is a lot of pain and suffering among self-storage owners that paid too much for their facility, didn't operate it effectively, bought in the wrong location, or have been obliterated by competition. These type of situations often lead to mortgage default. So you do you buy self-storage properties in default? In this Self-Storage University podcast we're going to explore how default occurs, review how it is often addressed by banks, and discuss the steps required to buy a property in default...
Jan 03, 2025•8 min•Ep. 113
Bluffing is not just a part of playing poker – it’s also found in working with self - storage facility sellers. In this Self - Storage University podcast we’re going to explore some of the most common seller bluffs and how to diffuse them.
Dec 20, 2024•9 min•Ep. 112
There is $2 trillion of commercial real estate mortgage debt coming due over the next two years. Given the low values and occupancy of much of these holdings, it’s assumed there will be a “commercial mortgage apocalypse” as a result. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review this event and where it currently stands.
Dec 04, 2024•9 min•Ep. 111
Understanding The "Crocodile Defense" Maybe it’s a slip-and-fall claim or someone who make the false assertion that you sold their unit for non-payment in contradiction to the law. Regardless of the problem, a smart move is to adopt the "crocodile defense". In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review what this means and how you can use this theory to better your odds of prevailing
Nov 19, 2024•9 min•Ep. 110
You don’t have a deal until both parties have signed. So what do you do when the seller is dragging their feet? Is there a way to push them along? That’s the focus of this Self-Storage University podcast, in which we explore the methods available to get the seller to get out their pen and actually sign your deal.
Nov 05, 2024•9 min•Ep. 109
Webster’s Dictionary defines an “appraisal” as “an expert opinion of value”. But sometimes the expert gets it wrong and your deal can collapse under the weight of that mistake. In this Self-Storage University podcast, we’re going to explore what the options are when the appraisal comes in too low.
Oct 15, 2024•8 min•Ep. 108
Everyone likes to talk about giant storage deals because they associate size with “sexiness”. However, the truth is that many of those big deals are total failures and there’s nothing attractive about losing money. Instead, for many investors in self-storage, smaller deals offer greater safety and financial returns. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore why smaller deals are often a better choice.
Sep 27, 2024•8 min•Ep. 107
Most every self-storage property you look at buying seemingly has three sets of books: 1) what the seller promises you 2) the Profit & Loss statements they give you and 3) the tax returns. And the problem is that often these three different viewpoints don’t align. What does that mean and what can you do about it?
Sep 13, 2024•8 min•Ep. 106
Most real estate buyers have an endless attraction to what are called “hot markets”. But this pursuit has some disastrous results for most self-storage buyers. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the truth about “hot markets” and how to approach them properly.
Aug 26, 2024•9 min•Ep. 105
Seller carry, bank debt, conduit financing – those are the typical ways you finance a self-storage facility. But there’s another method that rarely gets discussed: “hard-money” lending. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the concept of hard-money loans and drill down on the risks associated with this alternative funding source.
Jul 28, 2024•8 min•Ep. 104
Whether you’re building a storage facility or just getting routine maintenance completed, you can’t really be in the storage business without working with contractors. But there is a certain etiquette to this relationship that is essential to protect your interests. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to discuss how to properly structure your relationship with contractors and avoid their typical pitfalls.
Jul 09, 2024•9 min•Ep. 103
Every loan must bear interest, and when you borrow from a bank that number is typically non-negotiable. However, with seller financing the interest rate is subject to negotiation. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore strategies for determining the correct interest rate on seller-carry debt.
Jun 26, 2024•8 min•Ep. 102
When it comes to getting a loan on a self-storage facility, the better you are at attracting banks the better your loan options will be. So how can you build your lender popularity? In his Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review some the basic steps and skills that will make you a more desirable bank customer.
Jun 11, 2024•7 min•Ep. 101
One of the cardinal rules of investing in a self-storage facility is making sure you have your downside protected. To help facilitate this analysis, many buyers and lenders will “stress test” the proposed deal to see if they can survive the “worst case” scenario. In ths Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the correct way to “stress test” a deal and what the key metrics need to prove in order to go forward.
May 28, 2024•8 min•Ep. 100
There is around $2 trillion of commercial real estate loans coming due in the next two years, and there’s an anticipated $1 trillion of losses when those loans renew, thanks to the terrible performance of office and retail properties. And most of this financial catastrophe will fall upon regional banks that may well fail and send the entire banking industry into a freefall, similar to what happened in the Texas Savings & Loan crash of 1987. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going...
May 14, 2024•10 min•Ep. 99