Self Storage Investing

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.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.

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.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.

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.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.

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.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.

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.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.

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 | InstagramClick here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.

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.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.

Send us a textThis is a Replay of an episode first published in December 2023. You might call Mark Hutchinson an active passive investor. He takes pride in using the Infinite Banking Concept (IBC) to build capital. IBC involves using specially constructed dividend-paying whole life insurance as a means of building capital and then borrowing whenever interest would be paid to others. Mark explains the concept is a flexible and self-governed system that allows for investments in a variety of asset classes without restrictions. However, it requires discipline and time to build capital.  WHAT TO LISTEN FOR5:30 The Infinite Banking Concept11:56 Flexibility and Control in Financial Management20:24 Strategic Use of Policy Loans for Investments29:51 Building Liquidity and Tax Advantages Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click ABOUT MARK HUTCHINSONMark is a seasoned investor over the last four decades.But the global economic crisis 2008 was the last straw for Mark. Like others, he suffered significant losses an realized the importance of finding strategies that could mitigate or remove market risk. That’s when he connected with the Infinite Banking concept. CONNECT WITH MARKWebsite | Email CONNECT 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.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.

Send us a textThis is a Replay of an episode first published in March 2024. The heart and hustle behind the Meyers’ self-storage empire. This episode shares the personal and professional evolution of the Meyers’, from overworked landlords to self-storage magnates. Christina opens up about their initial leap of faith into the industry, while Scott details their transition into education and mentorship, shaping the country's leading self-storage community. The couple candidly explores the balance of business and marriage, sharing invaluable insights on partnership and conflict resolution. Topping off their narrative, they delve into their mission-driven business model, which has not only spurred financial success but also ignited a passion for philanthropy, leaving a lasting impact on communities and setting a heartfelt example for entrepreneurs everywhere. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR3:22 - The Road to Teaching5:04 - Family Dynamics in Business9:39 - Behind the Scenes Insights19:48 - A Future Focused on Philanthropy Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click CONNECT WITH CHRISTINAWebsite | You Tube| Facebook| X | LinkedIn | InstagramCONNECT 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.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.

Send us a textWhat do you get when you combine a data-driven investor, an overloaded entrepreneur, and the future of self-storage? A revolution. Scott Meyers sits down with Noah Starr, CEO of Tract IQ, to unpack his wild journey—from quitting his corporate job, to acquiring his first facility all in the same week—and how those life-altering decisions set him on a path to transform the self-storage industry through data. Noah explains how pain points in the underwriting process led him to acquire and rebuild Tract IQ, a powerful data platform that's reshaping how investors analyze deals and mitigate risk. Scott and Noah dive into transparency, rent control legislation, investor pitfalls, and why the next phase of the industry belongs to those who understand—and act on—the data. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR2:07 The Wildest Week: Job Quit, Engagement, House & First Facility3:09 From Investor to Tech CEO: The Birth of Tract IQ8:13 The Power Shift to Third-Party Management13:21 The Data Doesn't Lie: Rent Trends & Transaction Lows14:38 California’s Rent Control & the Rise of Transparency22:21 Hedge Funds, Overbuilding, and Overconfidence31:02 If Noah Were Investing Again: What He’d Do Differently Leave a positive rating for this podcast with one click  CONNECT WITH GUEST:NOAH STARR, Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer of Tract IQWebsite | LinkedIn | About Noah | YouTubeCONNECT 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.Click here to get more information and register for the Academy November 6-8, 2025, in St Augustine, FLA.