Self-storage might not be the flashiest investment, but it’s a powerhouse for building long-term wealth. In this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan sits down with Mark Helm, a self-storage expert, investor, and author of “Creating Wealth Through Self-Storage.” As the co-owner of Nexus Commercial Advisors and developer of Storage World Analyzer, he brings deep industry knowledge and practical insights for investors looking to diversify.
Jonathan and Mark explore how Mark transitioned from a commercial real estate broker to a self-storage investor and why this asset class is highly localized and recession-resistant. Mark explains his strategies for evaluating occupancy levels, dynamic pricing, and the benefits of conversions and expansions. He also discusses the five key performance indicators he tracks for every facility and manager and the growing role of technology in the industry.
During the episode, you’ll hear more about the following:
- When a REIT acquisition director showed him the financial potential, Mark became intrigued by the high rental rates, lack of tenant improvements, and ability to schedule capital expenses in self-storage.
- He recognized the potential of self-storage as an asset class that could generate steady cash flow with lower capital expenses than other commercial properties.
- Acknowledging the increasing role of automation and technology in self-storage, Mark still believes in having on-site managers to maintain strong relationships with tenants.
Self-storage has many benefits, and veteran self-storage expert Mark Helm is passionate about teaching others how to embrace it to create wealth.
If you want to learn more about Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing Podcast, check out https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/221/.