The self storage industry is about to see a major shift in 2025. If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines or waiting out market turbulence, now’s the time to get in the game. We’re entering a new cycle with plenty of opportunities for new investors, but if you blink, you’ll miss out!

In today’s episode, AJ and Conner are reflecting on 2024 and offering a high-level view of what’s to come in 2025. Along the way, we’ll be answering your questions! Tune in to learn how YOU can take advantage of huge investing opportunities in the coming year. We cover some of the best ways to find and fund self storage deals, where to find your “boots on the ground” when investing remotely, how to leverage your retirement accounts to invest, and much more.

Want to know how to analyze a new market and where to set rent rates? We’ll show you how! But that’s not all. We’ll also share the tools, software, and systems WE use to manage our investments and keep our facilities secure. Worried that your customers will get left behind as you implement new technology? Not to fear—use our strategy to bring them along!

What you’ll learn in today’s show:

Live Oak Bank: https://www.liveoakbank.com/business-loans/self-storage/

Hummingbird: https://www.tenantinc.com/products/hummingbird

UniFi: https://ui.com/camera-security

Radius: https://www.radiusplus.com/

ESRI: https://www.esri.com/

📌 Make self storage management easier than EVER with our podcast sponsor Tenant Inc. - https://www.tenantinc.com/

Buying vs. building storage units: which is the better choice, especially for beginners? Is buying a pre-fab (kit) facility better than building one from scratch? Or does buying a run-down self storage facility with value-add potential outperform building due to lower costs? We brought back an all-time favorite episode with investor Matt Wallace to get you some answers.

Matt has done both—buying and building storage units. He’s taken run-down facilities and made them top performers, as well as taking a plot of land and turning it into a 100% occupied self storage facility. Which one does HE think is the better investment? And would he advise a beginner to start with self storage new builds? 

In this episode, Matt gives a masterclass on the pros and cons of building storage units, who should (and shouldn’t) be doing it, what you MUST know before you start building, and how he “makes” phenomenal self storage deals that most other investors miss. 

What you’ll learn in today’s show:

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Connect with Matt: https://wealthfit.com/expert/matt-wallace/ 

Connect with Ben, Cedar Creek’s Debt Expert: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjamin-benditson-291a6010/ 

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📌 Make self storage management easier than EVER with our podcast sponsor Tenant Inc. - https://www.tenantinc.com/

🎙️ 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 new 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 isn’t going to be a regular podcast episode. So many of you want to get into self storage, build your business, scale bigger, find financial freedom, and achieve the impossible. I’m directly talking to every one of you in today’s episode as I share the most critical trait of successful people, one that has helped me scale to a level I didn’t even know was possible. If you listen and learn from what I’m about to share, your world will change for the better.

Everyone is trying to show you the step-by-step plan to build wealth/a business or buy real estate. The problem? They never discuss the one specific skill that you MUST cultivate if you’re going to succeed in this business. As soon as I learned what it was and how to use it, I was able to make better decisions, grow faster, and spot opportunities that 99% of people will overlook.

You can essentially make your own luck (like I have) if you take what I’m saying to heart. If you’re tired of feeling tired, want to go out and make yourself proud, and build something that will help you and your family, 2025 is the year to do it. So, before 2024 ends, listen to this episode. You won’t regret it.

What you’ll learn in today’s show:

Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0: https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic-ebook/dp/B0D67CJXTZ

This seasoned investor stumbled on self storage just four years ago, and now he’s selling off his rental properties to buy more. Why? Right now, new investors with limited capital can profit from self storage in rural markets where larger firms are unwilling to go. There’s cash flow, appreciation, and, surprisingly, plenty of demand!

In the last twenty years, Derek Weaver has dabbled in just about every area of real estate. He’s been a licensed realtor. He’s managed large rental portfolios for other investors. He’s even bought his own single-family and multifamily rental properties. His latest venture? Self storage! He had no idea what he was doing when he “accidentally” bought a dilapidated, 66-unit facility, but taking action and learning on the fly has allowed him to stabilize the property and add another three to his portfolio!

In today’s episode, Derek shares why now is the perfect time for new investors to start buying self storage. He’ll show you which types of facilities to target, how to maximize your square footage (and income) with portable units, and the systems and processes you need to scale your self storage business!

Insights from today’s episode: 

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Email Derek:

[email protected]

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📌 Make self storage management easier than EVER with our podcast sponsor Tenant Inc. - https://www.tenantinc.com/

🌳 Work with someone experienced in self storage loans at Live Oak Bank! https://www.liveoakbank.com/business-loans/self-storage/

🎙️ You can now apply here to be a guest on Self Storage Income, the AJ Osborne podcast OR the Drunk Real Estate Show! https://form.asana.com/?k=TGU88eU0bFTFW1iHcckuTA&d=1203571084143207

📖 Get AJ's new book that teaches you everything he knows about self-storage https://a.co/d/aRSKcSq 

President-Elect Trump’s economy could change the course of the self storage industry, but will it be for the better? There are many “what ifs” after the Republicans took the presidency, House, and Senate in the 2024 election. Will inflation return? Could interest rates finally fall back down to reasonable levels? Will homebuilding get easier, prompting more moves and, by proxy, more self storage demand? In this episode, we’re sharing our raw opinions on what Trump’s economy could mean for Americans.

We’re tackling a few critical subjects before making any predictions about where Trump may take the economy: mortgage rates, government spending, inflation, and recession risk. Trump said he’ll lower interest rates, giving Americans an affordability boost. This would be terrific for self storage, but are lower interest rates really under his control? What about government spending? Lowering it could help curb inflation, and Trump’s cabinet looks EAGER to slash these budgets.

But, with such an economic overhaul, will we be steered toward a recession, and if so, is that a bad thing? How will this affect YOUR ability to buy (and manage) a self storage facility? Should now be the time to wait to see what happens next? Stick around because we’re getting into it all. 

What you’ll learn in today’s show:

📌 Make self storage management easier than EVER with our podcast sponsor Tenant Inc. - https://www.tenantinc.com/

📉 Have your feasibility study done by MY team! https://cedar.cc/feasibility-studies/

🎙️ 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 

Listen to this episode BEFORE you buy a storage facility! Things have changed dramatically in the self storage industry, and some of the advice from even just a few years ago has become essentially obsolete. If you want to succeed in self-storage investing, you need to know what makes a good/bad investment in 2024. To help with your self storage research and analysis, Jonah Hall, President of Cedar Creek Capital, is on to share his EXPERT tips on analyzing a self storage facility and market. 

First, we’re getting into exactly what changed in the industry over the past five years. Since the pandemic, self storage has NOT been the same. Because of that, beginners can get overly optimistic about their first self storage investment, leading them to buy deals that DON’T work out as well as they had hoped. How do you get around this and ensure you only buy facilities that will perform? Jonah shares his advice in this episode.

Plus, we’re touching on current cap rates, how unit size preferences are dramatically changing, and signs that a market is oversaturated with self storage. AJ and Jonah reveal the “indicators” they look at before investing in a market to know whether the area is worth it. New to self storage or ready to buy another facility? Don’t miss this episode! 

What you’ll learn in today’s show:

Links:

📌 Make self storage management easier than EVER with our podcast sponsor Tenant Inc. - https://www.tenantinc.com/

🌳 Work with someone experienced in self storage loans with our sponsors 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 new book that teaches you everything he knows about self-storage https://a.co/d/aRSKcSq

Why are multifamily investors selling off their assets to move into self storage? From the inside, it’s easy to see: self storage management lets you build wealth way faster. What do we mean? In this episode, we’re putting multifamily and self storage side-by-side, discussing the good and the bad about managing each asset and why self storage may be your best bet to raise property values and boost your income quickly. If you own residential real estate, this episode might just convince you to switch sides. 

So why are multifamily and self storage so different? They’re both commercial real estate, rely on debt, and have sizable demand. What most investors don’t realize is just how different the management styles are. In self-storage, you can raise rates quickly, thrive even with high turnover, and make operational changes that can skyrocket property values. This is much different than multifamily.

However, even though self storage is an investment property powerhouse, there are still some serious downsides you need to be prepared for if you switch from residential to storage. To help you mitigate them, we’re sharing how to automate your facility (even if it’s REALLY small) and what we do on day one of owning a new self storage facility to boost its value immediately. 

What you’ll learn in today’s show:

Links:
📌 Make self storage management easier than EVER with our podcast sponsor Tenant Inc. - https://www.tenantinc.com/

🧐 Want to know if you've found a good deal? Have a feasibility study done by OUR TEAM: https://cedar.cc/feasibility-studies/

📖 Get AJ's new book that teaches you everything he knows about self-storage https://a.co/d/aRSKcSq 

If you’re trying to buy your first self storage deal, odds are, you don’t have the entire purchase price sitting in cash in your bank account. So, today, we’re teaching you exactly how to raise capital for real estate, using other people’s money to buy your first or next self storage facility and get the best returns for your investors. If you want to scale in self storage, this is how you do it, and there are many (MANY) takeaways from this episode that you can’t miss.

Most people don’t know this, but I NEVER used to raise money for my self storage deals. We were self-funded for most of our existence, and for the longest time, I never wanted the weight of handling other people’s money on my shoulders. That was until people we knew wanted to get in the self storage game WITHOUT running the facilities themselves. They trusted me, saw my track record, and asked to get in. I accepted, knowing that it was wrong NOT to help others build wealth with an asset that gave me so much.  

So, whether you’re someone with multiple facilities who thinks now is the time to raise capital or a brand new beginner with no money (but a lot of energy!) to invest, we’re teaching you exactly how we raise capital, the common pitfalls beginners must avoid, how to form partnership structures, and why I never EVER “ask” for money when doing my self storage deals. 

What you’ll learn in today’s show:

📌 Make self storage management easier than EVER with our podcast sponsor Tenant Inc. - https://www.tenantinc.com/

🌳 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 new 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 

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 

The self storage industry is seeing a BIG shift that could lead to a “transfer of wealth” for many self storage owners, operators, and buyers. For the past two years, we’ve dealt with stubborn sellers, banks on tight lending budgets, high interest rates, and lower occupancy rates, but something is starting to change. If you want to get into self storage investing, this is GOOD news for you.

Today, AJ and Conner discuss the shift they’re seeing in real-time in the self storage industry. They talk about how reasonable sellers are returning to the market, the “signal” the Fed is giving for the future of self storage and real estate, why it’s okay to feel like you’re failing in today’s market, and whether or not you should wait for the presidential election results to make a move on your next investment.

But that’s not all! AJ shares some of the secrets he learned from the last market crash, including how to “make” self storage deals instead of waiting for them to come to you! Plus, the reason he paid $1,000,000 extra for a property that, on paper, looked like a total dud! 

What you’ll learn in today’s show:

Join Our Self Storage Income Community - https://tinyurl.com/ssicommunity

or

Join AJ’s Inner Circle - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/inner-circle 

📌 Make self storage management easier than EVER with our podcast sponsor Tenant Inc. - https://www.tenantinc.com/

🌳 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 updated book that teaches you everything he knows about self-storage https://a.co/d/aRSKcSq 

You DON’T need to be doing million-dollar deals to build wealth with self storage. Take it from Justin James, who, at only twenty-six years old, has two self storage facilities, both of which cost him as much as many people’s houses. He’s had his ups and downs, like the recent fire that burned one of his buildings, but he’s STILL bullish on self storage, especially the smaller facilities that pack much better potential.

We brought Justin on to talk about how someone with zero experience can get started and the best properties for someone just getting into the self storage game. He shares how he found the properties, finances them, manages them, and dealt with what nobody wants to deal with—an early morning call from the fire department.

But Justin isn’t the only one who sees huge potential in small self storage properties. AJ is a BIG fan of this investing strategy and shares why these overlooked facilities might be the key to the best returns in the industry. If you don’t have a ton of experience or money to start investing, worry not. Justin is a prime example of how anyone (yes, even you!) can get started today. 

What you’ll learn in today’s show:

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Justin’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/justinjameslive/

📌 Make self storage management easier than EVER with our podcast sponsor Tenant Inc. - https://www.tenantinc.com/

🌳 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 new book that teaches you everything he knows about self-storage https://a.co/d/aRSKcSq