The Source of Commercial Real Estate The Opportunity in Self Storage is Right Now with Joe Downs
Apr 22, 2025
Joe Downs, CEO of the Bellrose Group and expert in self-storage, discusses the immense opportunities available in the self-storage market today. He shares his inspiring journey from financial advisor to successful investor, emphasizing resilience and innovative management techniques. The conversation highlights how technology and changing customer behavior are reshaping the industry. Downs also addresses risks like market saturation, while maintaining an optimistic outlook driven by demographic shifts and e-commerce growth, urging listeners to seize the moment.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Self-storage Investment Opportunity
- Self-storage is a golden opportunity due to its fragmented market mostly owned by mom-and-pop operators.
- Small facilities can be bought under $1 million and improved with institutional management for value growth.
Joe's Path to Self-storage
- Joe Downs' journey to self-storage was paved by various reinventions including financial advising and distressed debt buying.
- He found self-storage was a fragmented and overlooked niche and now focuses on buying and teaching about it.
First Self-storage Deal Win
- The first self-storage deal was a neglected property owned by industrial investors who didn't want it.
- After fixing management and operations, they bought it for $1.5 million and sold it for about $3 million in less than two years.