Send us a text How do you buy a self-storage facility when interest rates are climbing and banks are tightening up? In this episode of the Self Storage Investing Podcast, host Joe Downs welcomes Belrose Group’s VP of Acquisitions, Jack Pezzino, for a conversation into how they pulled off a real-world self-storage acquisition using seller financing. Together, they break down their purchase of a 60,000+ sq. ft. "pro storage" facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, highlighting how they st...
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Send us a text How do you buy a self-storage facility when interest rates are climbing and banks are tightening up? In this episode of the Self Storage Investing Podcast, host Joe Downs welcomes Belrose Group’s VP of Acquisitions, Jack Pezzino, for a conversation into how they pulled off a real-world self-storage acquisition using seller financing. Together, they break down their purchase of a 60,000+ sq. ft. "pro storage" facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, highlighting how they st...
Send us a text What’s the real cost of a bad self-storage deal? Try six figures…and that’s if you’re lucky. Joe Downs teams up with operations and acquisitions expert Jack Pezzino to uncover the real-world mistakes that separate self-storage winners from warning signs. With decades of experience and more than $50M in deals under their belt, the Belrose Group duo dives into the costly blunders new investors make, everything from believing national headlines over local data, to underestim...
Send us a text Ever wonder how a great-looking self-storage deal turns into a financial disaster? Joe Downs sits down with acquisitions expert Jack Pezzino to uncover the most common and costly mistakes new investors make when diving into self-storage. From market analysis missteps to overlooked tax reassessments, Jack shares real-world examples and battle-tested strategies that can save you tens, even hundreds, of thousands of dollars. Together, they walk through the struct...
Send us a text Is this the moment to get bold with your next self storage move, or the moment to back away? Scott Meyers sits down with broker and former principal investor David Perlleshi of Franklin Street to unpack why today’s selective market may actually be the best buying climate since the mid two thousands. David traces his path from acquiring and expanding mom and pop facilities in the Carolinas to brokering nearly two hundred properties nationwide, giving him a rare view from b...
Send us a text What if failure in one business is exactly what launches your success in another? Scott Meyers sits down with Ramel Newerls, a former residential real estate investor who turned a frustrating eviction moratorium into a self-storage empire. From owning 40+ rental units to managing multiple storage facilities, Ramel shares how a single tenant’s need sparked an epiphany that changed his financial trajectory. He dives into the exact strategies that got him direct-...
Send us a text This is a REPLAY of an episode first published in April 2024. Software solutions are helping manage all aspects of maintaining facilities, from tracking tasks and schedules to providing insights on operational improvements. In this episode, Jadob Pandl and Bob Linneman of NodaFi join Scott to highlight the importance of having a centralized system for facility operations, especially for new entrants in the industry. They also discuss the potential for technolo...
Send us a text What if the most powerful leadership move you could make started before 4 a.m.? Scott Meyers peels back the curtain on his famously intentional 3:53 a.m. wake-up routine. He shares how this early start gives him a daily edge, not just in productivity, but in spiritual clarity and decision-making as a business leader. With stories from the trenches, scientific backing, and biblical wisdom, Scott shows how winning the morning leads to winning your direction.&nbs...
Send us a text Is self storage the new co-working frontier? Scott Myers peers into the future of an industry that’s evolving faster than ever. Gone are the days of rows of metal doors and dusty hallways—today’s facilities are sleek, smart, and multi-purpose, designed to serve not just people’s possessions but their businesses, creativity, and community connections. Scott unpacks how tech-enabled design, e-commerce integration, and hybrid business models are redefining storag...
Send us a text Is self-storage really making a comeback in 2025? You bet—and the signs are everywhere. Scott Meyers breaks down why the sector isn’t crashing—it’s stabilizing and quietly setting the stage for a strong rebound in 2026. Scott uses fresh data and boots-on-the-ground insights to explore current vacancy trends, slowing supply, and the emergence of tech-forward, sustainability-driven upgrades that are becoming competitive edges. He outlines the three big trends sh...
Send us a text This is a REPLAY of an episode first published in March 2024. Success is not a secret—it's a mindset. In this episode, Scott unpacks the critical mindset shifts and practical strategies that have propelled his self-storage business forward. By emphasizing the importance of hard work over talent, the power of goal setting, and the necessity of surrounding oneself with smart, driven individuals, Scott provides a roadmap for growth. Scott dives into the habits th...
Send us a text This is a REPLAY of an episode first published in October 2023. Luke Wong uses always has his head up for potential opportunities but when it comes to trusting your gut he says that’s really the key. He trusts his gut to help him make business decisions and powerful relationships in the self-storage industry. He also shares the importance of having a mentor and getting the right education in commercial real estate. WHAT TO LISTEN FOR 2:41 Passive Investments...
Send us a text Can a family of four with full schedules really break into self-storage investing? Adam and Kirby Leiby from Raleigh, North Carolina, just proved it's possible, and they brought the kids along for the ride. In this first episode of a special new series “First Deal First Dive” episode of the Self Storage Investing Podcast, guest host Joe Downs connects with the Leibys, recent grads of Scott Meyers’ academy, to unpack how they went from Instagram ad skeptics to proud...
Send us a text What happens when a Navy vet and a sales pro ditch Wall Street and go all in on self-storage? 🔑 Scott Meyers welcomes back Rod and Christin Blunk, a dynamic husband-and-wife duo who went from 401k failures to self-storage success. They share how losing big in the 2008 crash sparked a mission to build real wealth—leading to over 400 real estate transactions and, eventually, a pivot to self-storage. From navigating the highs and lows of working together, to building a...
Send us a text Is your self-storage pricing strategy bleeding cash while you’re sitting at 90% occupancy? Scott explains one of the most urgent and transformative trends in the self-storage industry today… dynamic pricing and AI-powered revenue optimization. As markets soften, promotions spike, and new supply floods the industry, savvy operators are turning to real-time data-driven pricing models to protect margins and outsmart the competition. Scott breaks down exactly h...
Send us a text When real operations experience meets brokerage, better deals get done. Scott Meyers welcomes back Alex Erbs for a dynamic conversation about his transition from running a multi-state self-storage management company to becoming a full-time broker with EqiCap Commercial. They dig deep into what makes for a successful third-party management relationship, why many operators misunderstand what management companies actually do, and how Alex's hands-on experience gives him a c...
Send us a text From 20 to 250: What Happens When Self-Storage Management Grows Too Fast? Peter Smyth returns to the Self Storage Podcast to share his explosive journey, from managing 20 facilities to nearly 250 in just one year. He outlines the challenges of hypergrowth, from client churn and employee scalability to building systems that can handle everything from rural RV lots to urban mega-facilities. Peter and Scott talk hiring for skill versus experience, the role of AI ...
Send us a text What 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...
Send us a text What 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 t...
Send us a text Want 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 ma...
Send us a text Is 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 mea...
Send us a text Can 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...
Send us a text How do you buy a self-storage facility when interest rates are climbing and banks are tightening up? In this episode of the Self Storage Investing Podcast, host Joe Downs welcomes Belrose Group’s VP of Acquisitions, Jack Pezzino, for a conversation into how they pulled off a real-world self-storage acquisition using seller financing. Together, they break down their purchase of a 60,000+ sq. ft. "pro storage" facility in Wilmington, North Carolina, highlighting how they st...
