Episodes
158
Latest episode
Oct 2026
Language
EN-US
Welcome to the Self-Storage University Podcast, where you will learn the correct way to identify, evaluate, negotiate, perform due diligence on, renegotiate, finance, turn-around and operate self-storage facilities. And your host is a partner in one of the largest real estate portfolios in the U.S. with nearly $1 billion of holdings, Frank Rolfe.
There’s an old expression that “it takes money to make money”. And the same is often true of self-storage properties as you need some capital for a down payment to put a deal in motion. For many operators, this means finding an investor to contribute money to the deal. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review the steps to attracting and signing up a capital partner.
America is going through some significant changes at the moment, and some of these factors are so large they have become “megatrends” – the name coined by John Naisbitt to acknowledge forces so large you have to be aligned with them to succeed. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review these new shifts and how to maneuver around them.
When it comes to financing, an appraisal can be an aid or a death sentence. And with interest rates nearly double from their all-time lows, the modern storage facility appraised value can be a shocker. In this Self-Storage University podcast we're going to review how appraisals work, why they're often bad news, and what you can do to push back in a limited way.
There are a lot of self-storage properties in financial trouble, and certainly more to come. The doubling of interest rates since 2022 and excessive over-building has created a market in which distress is common. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the correct game plan for buying distressed self-storage facilities.
It’s not uncommon for a self-storage facility owner to manipulate their numbers in hope of deceiving you into paying a higher price that is not justified by the current net income. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the different methods sellers use to alter and hide their actual performance.
Many self-storage buyers look for direction from real estate brokers. But in today’s market, that can often lead to bad investment choices. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review some of the untruths that the brokerage community is telling buyers as well as what you really need to know.
Given the current lending upheaval with storage facilities, obtaining seller debt is a welcome change from traditional banks. But there are some minimum thresholds regarding seller note construction that you need to be aware of. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore the science behind these minimum standards.
Around 30% of all self-storage CMBS properties are on a “watch list” for default, and while the industry has fared well overall, there has been a change in attitude away from a standard practice called “extend and pretend”. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to explore what this lender action is and what it means for the self-storage industry going forward.
Some Self-Storage deals have securitized “conduit” debt on them, which can create complications due to a requirement called “defeasance”. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review what this is exactly and strategies to minimize or eliminate it.
Forging a good deal in today’s climate requires creativity. And common tools to make the numbers fit – and ensure performance – are “escrows” and “earn - outs”. In this Self-Storage University podcast we’re going to review how to use these concepts when crafting a deal.
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Ann Carden
Holly Jean Jackson
Dr. Allen Lycka
Jessica Lorello and Maddison Donchez
Mark Mowrey, CFA
