Longer-form thinking on where the market goes.
15 white papers
By Garrett Byrd Storage Authority Franchise Buy versus build gets treated like a personality quiz. Are you patient. Do you like risk. None of it decides anything. Three things do: how much cash you can lock up for three years, how long you can go without a distribution, and whether your spread survives being half…
For years, success in self-storage was often measured through growth. More facilities. More markets. More acquisitions. More square footage. More development activity. That mindset made sense during a period when demand was expanding, capital was widely available, rental rates were rising, and population movement…
Seven (7) Self Storage Misconceptions (some old, some new) that will cost you dearly if you are not prepared. The self-storage industry’s reputation as a simple business has driven a rise in interest from first-time investors, real estate investors, entrepreneurs, and institutional capital. Headlines highlight…
In self-storage, the line between a routine maintenance task and a costly capital project is often thin, and usually defined by timing. A single unchecked roof seam or faulty HVAC equipment can quietly escalate from minor inconvenience to major expense. The most successful operators understand that maintenance…
If your target market already looks overbuilt on paper, why are the most successful operators in the country still breaking ground there? The industry loves to quote square feet per capita as the single magic number for market viability. We have all heard the rule of thumb: if it is under 7 or 8 square […] The post…
Real estate makes more multi-millionaires than any other investment vehicle. It is easy to invest in real estate because there are many options, such as: buying and owning yourself, the stock market REITs, partners, limited liability partners etc. It could be single-family homes, apartments, raw land, self-storage,…
December has a reputation for being a “quiet” month in self-storage. Moves slow down, leasing traffic dips, and holiday travel takes priority over storage shopping. But the story is more nuanced than it first appears. When you look closely at December renter behavior, seasonal inventory patterns, and short-term…
In today’s self-storage market, data isn’t just a byproduct of doing business — it’s a blueprint for better decisions. Operators who know how to read and act on data gain a measurable edge: smarter pricing, stronger occupancy rates, and better forecasting of customer demand. As competition heats up and customer…
Residual Income or Reduced Performance? The Real Cost of Going Man-Less. The idea of a completely “man-less” self-storage facility generating pure residual income is appealing. Recently, I read a social media post from an owner who claimed to operate a self-storage facility three states away with no manager, no…
Discover why 2026 is your year to start in self-storage. From easier entry with new tech to tax benefits and a strong market outlook, learn the 7 key reasons. The post Seven reasons why 2026 is the best year for YOU to get started in self-storage appeared first on Radius+ .
Artificial intelligence is becoming part of nearly every business conversation, and self-storage is no exception. Operators, developers, investors, lenders, and acquisition teams are all beginning to ask how AI can help them move faster, analyze more efficiently, and make stronger decisions. The opportunity is…
Self Storage Underwriting Starts With the Market Self storage underwriting is no longer just a spreadsheet exercise. In today’s environment, the strongest investors, developers, and operators are underwriting from the market up, not the property down. That shift matters because self storage performance is highly…
By Marc Goodin Most investors start where they should: the numbers. They review rents, absorption, supply, expenses, taxes, site costs, and projected returns. Those inputs are essential, but they also create a dangerous illusion. They make a deal feel more certain than it really is. The reason is simple. A pro…
#1 Physical Land Data: Topography? Wetlands? Flood plains? Easements? Environmental concerns? Shape? Acres? I get a call a week from developers saying they have a perfect property. But could only describe one and a half of these Land data points. #2 Zoning Data: Zoned for self-storage? Yard Setbacks, Impervious…
In the self storage industry, many independent operators feel the pressure when one of the Big Five REITs: Extra Space Storage, Public Storage, CubeSmart, National Storage Affiliates Trust, or Life Storage announces expansion into their market. These corporate giants bring vast capital, automated facilities, and…