Self Storage Investing

Send us a textWhat happens when a college senior aiming for luxury development ends up dominating the self-storage industry instead? Scott Meyers sits down with Cory Bonda, co-founder of Prestige Storage Capital, to explore Cory’s unexpected journey into self-storage and how he scaled from moonlighting in Columbus to managing a rapidly growing, vertically integrated storage empire. The conversation dives deep into Cory’s acquisition strategy, the value of fixed-rate debt, lessons learned through explosive growth (and pandemic curveballs), and the cautious yet innovative approach Prestige takes with technology and AI.  Listen For:0:46 From Student to Storage: Cory's Accidental Entry into the Industry4:02 How Prestige Storage Exploded Post-20206:22 Why Fixed-Rate Debt Fueled Smart Growth During Volatile Times10:16 How AI is Revolutionizing Hub-and-Spoke Storage Models16:28 2025 and Beyond: Strategy, Expansion, and the Top 25 Goal CONNECT WITH GUEST: CORY BONDALinkedIn  | Website CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.

Send us a textWhat happens when self-storage meets artificial intelligence? Scott Meyers and Joe Downs reunite right after their Mastermind and Academy events to dive deep into the game-changing role of AI in the self-storage industry. Fresh from coaching hungry investors through their first deals, they shift gears into a passionate discussion about AI’s transformational power—from automating market analysis and underwriting to building personalized dashboards and internal GPTs that replace hours of manual work. With Joe’s infectious excitement and Scott’s strategic insight, this episode delivers a powerful look at how leveraging AI can drastically speed up, simplify, and supercharge success in real estate investing—especially self-storage. Listen For:1:17 Seal the Deal: Whale hunts, masterminds, and champagne for first deals4:23 Hungry Dogs and First Wins: The energy of new investors and what fuels momentum11:00 AI Revelation: How Joe realized he's spending 50% of his time learning AI19:05 Market GPT is Here: The birth of Belrose’s self-storage-specific AI30:52 Redefining Industry Norms: Why common metrics like supply index might be outdated CONNECT WITH GUEST: JOE DOWNSLinkedIn  | Website CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.

Send us a textWant to future-proof your storage business? It starts with systems, scale—and a bit of AI.Scott Meyers welcomes Steve Raposa from Mini Mall Storage Properties, who shares his unique journey from military service to hospitality and finally to becoming a key player in the self-storage world.  They explore how franchise systems and hospitality efficiency directly translate into scalable, streamlined self-storage operations. From the impact of AI on underwriting and marketing to the importance of charitable giving and personal growth, this episode dives deep into what it means to run and scale a modern storage business in a data-driven world  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR4:12 Franchise Thinking in Self Storage7:08 Can AI Make Storage Smarter?12:16 Zoning, Data, and the AI Revolution14:40 AI's Impact on Labor and Marketing18:32 Giving Back: Veterans & St. Jude Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH STEVEN RAPOSALinkedIn | Mini Mall StorageCONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.

Send us a textIs the economy heading for a soft landing… or a “touch-and-go”? Scott Meyers is joined with economist Mark Vitner, to unpack why commercial real estate got overpriced during the low-rate era, how self-storage cap rates often move differently from other asset classes, and what falling market rates plus clearer tariff policy could mean for deals ahead.Vitner flags a likely 75 bps easing path and a housing cool-stress-relief scenario (mortgages in the 6–6.5% band), with meaningful improvement showing up around April next year.  He also maps migration winners (Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia; continued heat in Dallas, Houston, Miami, Charlotte, Raleigh) and why that churn is good for storage—plus practical advice for operators and new investors alike. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR7:01 How ultra-low rates inflated CRE values8:40 Why self-storage cap rates can buck the trend13:55 Vitner’s “touch-and-go” landing and 75 bps roadmap27:51 Florida’s out-migration—and the Carolinas surge29:28 Today’s hottest metros for storage demand  Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH MARK VITNERLinkedIn | Website CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.

Send us a textCan AI truly replace the human touch in self-storage?  Scott Meyers welcomes Mason Levy, founder of Swivl, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming customer engagement across the self-storage industry. From its surprising roots in healthcare and cannabis tech to powering over 4,700 self-storage facilities today, Swivl is revolutionizing the contact center model with its AI-driven platform. The conversation dives deep into conversational AI, human-in-the-loop systems, future-proofing tech stacks, and why personalization still matters in an automated worldWHAT TO LISTEN FOR0:56 The Accidental Storage Tech Founder5:48 What Makes Swivl Different From Just Another Chatbot?10:31 Smarter Gate Codes & SMS: Real-Life Use Cases20:59 Swivl’s Future: Voice AI, Contact Center Suite & More32:55 The Human Side of Storage: Why Empathy Still WinsLeave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH MASON LEVYLinkedIn | Swivl CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.

Send us a textWhat does it take to turn a family carport business into a multi-state RV storage powerhouse? Scott Meyers talks with Travis Bailey, owner of Park’n Shade, about the booming demand for covered RV and boat storage. Travis shares his journey from working summers in his dad’s business to buying it outright, and the evolution of RV storage from a niche service to a necessity driven by rising vehicle values and customer expectations. They discuss market demand, construction challenges, regional trends, solar integration, and how cautious growth has fueled Park’n Shade’s steady expansion across eight states.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR0:58 How a Carport Company Became an RV Storage Leader3:06 Surviving the 2008 Downturn7:56 The Shift from Luxury to Necessity in Covered RV Storage17:54 Why Some Developers Are Sitting Out (and Others Aren’t)24:29 Industry Crystal Ball: Where Covered RV Storage Is Headed Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click  CONNECT WITH TRAVIS BAILEYLinkedIn | Park‘n Shade | CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.

Send us a textIs your storage facility leaving money on the table? Scott Meyers sits down Greg Ellsworth—president of Toy Storage Nation and founder of Self Storage Consulting Group—to explore the evolving world of self-storage and RV/boat storage. Greg dives into why the old-school "build it and they will come" model is outdated and how data-driven design and multi-use flexibility are the keys to maximizing ROI. From RV amenities and pro-storage for contractors to the booming demand for truck and toy storage, Scott and Greg reveal how innovative development, smart entitlements, and reading between the zoning lines can unlock value in overlooked land.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR1:22 From College Grad to Storage Consultant4:41 Why Operations Must Influence Design9:11 The “Crystal Ball” Approach to Feasibility Studies14:19 How Rising Interest Rates Reshaped Solid Deals23:27 Why Boat & RV Storage Demand Isn’t Slowing Down33:49 Turning “Worthless” Land Into Storage Gold Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH GREG ELLSWORTHSelf-Storage Consulting Group | Self Storage Consulting Group | Toy Storage Nation | EmailCONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | InstagramFollow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.

Send us a textSpeed, data, and AI are transforming self-storage—and those who master them are winning big. Scott Meyers sits down with Jean-Michael Diei, founder of PropRise, to explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the way storage investors and operators source deals, navigate zoning, and optimize operations. From his childhood steeped in tech and entrepreneurship to building cutting-edge AI tools for real estate, Jean-Michael shares actionable insights on beating the competition, scaling faster, and working smarter.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR0:53 Jean-Michael’s AI-Powered Backdoor into Self-Storage4:06 How AI Is Transforming Real Estate Acquisition Teams9:07 Zoning Secrets: Using AI to Read City Council Signals14:07 Inside PropRise: The AI Treasure Map for Finding Deals16:22 Case Study: Doubling Deal Flow with Smart Data18:37 Why Speed Wins: AI as the Ultimate Competitive Edge Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH JEAN-MICHAEL DIEIPropRise | LinkedIn CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.

Send us a textWhat if you could invest alongside a mastermind — with just $5,000? Scott Meyers welcomes Brian Davis, co-founder of Spark Rental, to dive deep into the world of passive investing. Brian shares his winding journey from subprime mortgages to building an investment club that democratizes real estate deals, giving everyday investors access to big-league opportunities. Together, they explore risk, reward, due diligence, international living, geo-arbitrage, and the lessons hard-earned from surviving 2008. This conversation will challenge how you think about wealth building — and maybe even make you want to book that one-way ticket abroad.WHAT TO LISTEN FOR1:02 – From Psychology Major to Hard Money Lender3:13 – How 2008 Wiped Out My Job and Portfolio6:59 – Inside the Spark Rental Investment Club15:22 – Expat Life: Abu Dhabi, Brazil, and Beyond24:20 – Why Sponsor Risk Trumps Market Risk35:24 – How 50 Investors Spot What One Might Miss Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click  CONNECT WITH BRIAN DAVISSpark Rental | LinkedIn | Instagram

Send us a textThis is a Replay of an episode first published in November 2023. Rick Gibson made his living successfully as a lawyer for nearly four decades. But it was a noteworthy book that made the case for him to think about investing. Rich Dad, Poor Dad.That book inspired Rick to leave corporate America and form an investing team with his sons in real estate. Today Gibson's portfolio includes mobile home parks and storage facilities, which he was able to grow and sell to a real estate investment trust. And along the way Rick has come to see the importance of community in the self-storage industry, highlighting the value of Scott’s mastermind group in providing resources and support. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR4:16 The Role of Family and Legacy in Business10:30 The Importance of Community and Networking18:16 Adapting and Thriving Through Economic Cycles21:16 Leveraging Experience and Collaboration for Success Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one clickABOUT RICK GIBSONRick was a lawyer by trade in the St Louis area for 37 years. As an investor, his family business owns 80 single family rentals, six mobile home parks and nine storage facilities. He’s also involved in passive investing with another half dozen storage facilities and three different storage funds. CONNECT WITH RICKEmail  CONNECT WITH USWebsite | You Tube | Facebook | X | LinkedIn | Instagram Follow so you never miss a NEW episode! Leave us an honest rating and review on Apple or Spotify.