Self Storage Income

AJ Osborne
  • 4.9 (588)
  • Investing
  • Updated Weekly

The authority on creating wealth and income through self storage. Find our video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoaCszL7eN9T7EixaJgL49WTLsT-CWLD1

  1. 6d ago

    368. How to Find Self Storage Facilities with Hidden Upside (and Red Flags to Avoid)

    How do you know if a self storage facility is a home-run deal or a ticking time bomb? Right now, the self storage industry is ripe with opportunity. We’ve bought more self storage facilities in the last 12 months than we did in the previous three years combined, and these deals are some of the best we’ve seen in several years. But not every distressed facility is a hidden gem. Some deals look great on paper but are actually traps—facilities that never fill up, attract low-paying tenants, and have little to no value-add potential. So, what really separates a great deal from a bad one? It all comes down to market-driven opportunity and operator-driven vacancy. Today, I’m sharing how to spot the difference using two real-world case studies—a pair of distressed facilities we stabilized through a combination of savvy marketing and strategic rent increases. I’m digging into market signals, rental rates, supply and demand, and other key factors that will tell you whether you’re buying upside or just inheriting someone else’s problem.   What you’ll learn in today’s show: The biggest differences between value-add opportunities and “bad” deals Two market demand signals to watch for when analyzing self storage deals How to determine if distress is market- or operator-related A realistic timeline for stabilizing an undervalued self storage facility Real case studies (with real numbers!) from our own self storage portfolio   — Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0: https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865    This Just Unlocked REAL Cap Rates, Occupancy, and More for Any US Market w/TractIQ CEO Noah Starr: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/podcasts/self-storage-income-2/episodes/2149256841

    368. How to Find Self Storage Facilities with Hidden Upside (and Red Flags to Avoid)

  2. Sep 22

    367. 5+ Ways to Boost Self Storage NOI and Property Value (Our Exact Playbook)

    People have self storage all wrong. Today, we’re giving you the truth, and it flies in the face of how most view the asset: Self storage investing is not passive. That might sound like a drawback, but it’s actually one of self storage’s greatest advantages. It’s active because it’s a business. And if you treat it like one, you’ll find there are countless ways to increase revenue, cut expenses, and create real value. Too many investors view self storage facilities like residential rental properties. Get a tenant in, charge market rent, and hopefully make a profit. But with a self storage facility, you have far more control over how the property performs. Today, we’re showing you exactly how to do things like optimize pricing, improve occupancy, automate self storage tasks, reduce waste, add new revenue streams, and more. The best part is, if you pull the right operational levers, you’re not just increasing NOI. You’re fundamentally changing the asset’s value. And that’s what most people miss. Yes, self storage is hands-on. It’s definitely not passive. But that’s exactly what makes it such a powerful investment. What you’ll learn in today’s show: The truth about self storage investing (that most get wrong) Simple ways to drive self storage NOI (and value) higher The massive advantage that new self storage investors have right now How to eliminate waste and redundancy within your business Essential tools and software for running your self storage business — Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 : https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865    Join the Self Storage Income Community to learn how to buy, build, and scale your self storage portfolio: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn-yt?el=pc-episode-367

    367. 5+ Ways to Boost Self Storage NOI and Property Value (Our Exact Playbook)

  3. Sep 15

    366. This Just Unlocked REAL Cap Rates, Occupancy, and More for Any US Market w/TractIQ CEO Noah Starr

    This could be the biggest change to self storage industry data in years. For the entirety of its existence, the self storage industry has relied on guesswork to estimate competitor and market cap rates, occupancy, rental rates, and demand. Most self storage data is tied directly to REIT-run facilities—the biggest, most expensive facilities in the U.S.   What about the small investor? Now, they have access to the data only the powerful players had for decades.    Earlier this year, when we brought on Noah Starr from TractIQ to announce the biggest data transparency change in self storage history, we didn’t think he’d be back less than a year later to give us so much more to share. We’re giving it all away in today’s show: real cap rates in tertiary markets, actual occupancy rates from operators, the supply pipeline of new facilities coming to the market (and the ones that have been abandoned), and much more.   If you’re a small operator in a small town, you can use this data to see what’s happening in your specific market to make better offers, increase your NOI, and beat the competition more easily than you’d imagine.   Noah even shares a new announcement that will change the game for anyone building storage.   What you’ll learn in today’s show: Real cap rates in smaller markets and why facilities are selling for far less than you’d imagine  Cash flow is back! The profit spread is widening for self storage as we speak REITs continue to consolidate (why AJ is buying more self storage than ever before) Will demand boomerang back as home sales begin to edge higher? The surprising statistic that shows just how behind 80% of mom-and-pop operators are (your competition!)  - Grab the Full Self Storage Data Report Now!: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/storage-industry-report?el=pc-episode-366  - Self Storage Deals Just Got MUCH Better in 2026 (Huge Announcement) w/Noah Starr: https://youtu.be/eoi825L7ag8?si=8V5VDllc0kMSCqqQ  - The #1 Lie Costing Self Storage Investors Millions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wztYSZ5fc90

    366. This Just Unlocked REAL Cap Rates, Occupancy, and More for Any US Market w/TractIQ CEO Noah Starr

  4. Sep 8

    365. How Much Money Does Self Storage Make?

    How much does a self storage facility cost, and how much can you make owning a storage facility? AJ has three recent real deals, all from Self Storage Income members, to show you the real cost, revenue, cash flow, and equity numbers that small investors are seeing in 2026. And even though these numbers look impressive, they’re not rarities.   Self storage is changing, and the deals are getting better, sometimes by the day. AJ has bought more storage in the past twelve months than the past few years combined. Why? Sellers are waking up to reality and realizing that they can’t ask for high prices while interest rates are elevated.   This is a huge opportunity to buy a poorly-operated facility, improve operations, increase cash flow, and sometimes make seven figures in equity along the way. AJ’s going to prove it’s still possible by walking through three real deals, all with sizable cash flow and equity, using simple, beginner-friendly strategies any new self storage investor can repeat.   What you’ll learn in today’s show: How much self storage facilities are actually making in 2026 (and how much they cost) The simple value-add improvements small storage owners can make to increase their revenue and facility value Why AJ is buying significantly more self storage now than in the past (a repeat of 2013?) How one small investor financed a facility at just 1% down (and made a 23x return) The buy, improve, refinance, and repeat strategy to scale your storage facility faster — Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 - https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865 Join the Self Storage Income Community to learn how to buy, build, and scale your self storage portfolio: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn-yt?el=yt-ep365 Episode 321. How We (Remote!) Manage Our 19-Facility Self Storage Business - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/podcasts/self-storage-income-2/episodes/2149107392 The Real Numbers Behind a $2M Self-Storage Deal (Case Study)- https://youtu.be/2tWBihDx-Y0?si=MEVtcIUkCuXx7llL This Family Closed a $247K Storage Deal in 2025 (Here’s How)- https://youtu.be/kxRCsk1YtG8?si=jFlIGmRnvRr6c80L

    365. How Much Money Does Self Storage Make?

  5. Sep 1

    364. The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up a Self Storage Facility (First 30 Days)

    Buying a self storage facility is a major milestone, but closing the deal is only the beginning. The real work starts when you take over self storage operations. When closing day finally arrives and you get the keys, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by everything that suddenly lands on your plate. But in those first few weeks, one overlooked detail or mistake could set your self storage business back thousands of dollars. We want to help you avoid exactly that. Today, we’re giving you the ultimate checklist—a full laundry list of things to do before and immediately after you close. Follow these steps to fully stabilize your self storage facility and have it running smoothly in roughly two to four weeks. We’re covering all of your first steps—everything from setting up your property management software and transferring crucial tenant information to putting utilities in your name and much more. These details are easy to overlook if you’re not careful, and the consequences can be severe. Consider this your cheat sheet for taking the reins and getting your facility firing on all cylinders!   What you’ll learn in today’s show:   Our complete checklist for setting up your self storage facility (in 30 days) The most crucial steps for mastering self storage operations The biggest mistakes new self storage investors make when buying a facility What should happen on day one after taking over a self storage facility How to get your next facility running smoothly within two to four weeks — Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865  Join the Self Storage Income Community to learn how to buy, build, and scale your self storage portfolio: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn-yt?el=pc-episode-364  Learn more about Hummingbird - https://www.tenantinc.com/products/hummingbird

    364. The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up a Self Storage Facility (First 30 Days)

  6. Aug 25

    363. How to Find “Hidden” Self Storage Deals in 2026 (Our 3-Part Playbook)

    For months, we’ve been saying the same thing: The self storage industry has finally turned a corner. We’re now in a buyer’s market, and we’re seeing some of the best self storage deals in years. But if that’s the case, where are these deals? We’re answering this exact question on today’s episode. Of course, you can find self storage facilities the “normal” way—by building your buy box and giving it to your broker to pull properties already listed for sale. But some of the deepest discounts and greatest wealth creation opportunities come from buying off-market, mom-and-pop facilities with huge value-add potential. And today, we’re providing a three-part strategy anyone can use to find them, even if you’re brand new to self storage investing. We’ll even share a few case studies of real self storage investors who have been able to create several hundred thousand dollars in value by using these exact tactics. Whether you’re on the hunt for your first self storage facility or looking to grow your portfolio, these time-tested strategies will help you do just that! What you’ll learn in today’s show: Our three-part strategy for finding off-market deals in 2026 Case studies from self storage investors who bought off-market properties Creative ways to find mom-and-pop, value-add self storage opportunities How to develop your own self storage network from scratch How to foster the right mindset for finding self storage deals __________ Join our group, the Self Storage Income Community to learn how to buy, build, and scale your self storage portfolio. While also being around supportive people with similar goals!   https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn-yt?el=pc-episode-363  Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 : https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865 How to Win Friends and Influence People : https://www.amazon.com/dp/0671027034

    363. How to Find “Hidden” Self Storage Deals in 2026 (Our 3-Part Playbook)

  7. Aug 18

    362. 3 Steps to Get Your First Self Storage Facility This Year

    By the end of this episode, you’ll have everything you need to buy storage facilities—not just any facility, but the facility that is best for you.   This is the exact pre-acquisition checklist Conner uses to get prepped to buy self storage investments. Not only can it help speed up your timeline to your first storage facility exponentially, but it will also make buying every facility after that even easier. If you wonder how Conner and AJ invest at scale and can move on deals so quickly, this is how it’s done.   We’ll walk you through everything you need, from finding lenders and insurance to getting your buy box set up and connecting to brokers who will send you deals, and finally making offers on facilities that fit your exact criteria. This is everything you need to go from zero self storage investments to your first one under contract, and by next week, you could have deals filling up your inbox if you follow Conner’s checklist.   What you’ll learn in today’s show: The three things you need to find, offer on, and buy your first self storage investment It is not too early to talk to a lender and why you should be calling them before the deal hits your inbox The exact buy box you can send to brokers that will get them to send the right deals to you Submitting LOIs (letters of intent) and PSAs (purchase and sale agreements) before closing How to get on mom-and-pop owners’ good side so they offer you the chance to buy first —   Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 : https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865  Work with someone experienced in self storage loans at Live Oak Bank! https://www.liveoakbank.com/business-loans/self-storage/  Check out this episode next: The Last Time Self Storage Did This, We Made Millions (You Have 2 Years) - https://www.selfstorageincome.com/podcasts/self-storage-income-2/episodes/2149240630  Join the Self Storage Income Community to learn how to buy, build, and scale your self storage portfolio: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn-yt?el=yt-episode-362

    362. 3 Steps to Get Your First Self Storage Facility This Year

  8. Aug 11

    361. The Last Time Self Storage Did This, We Made Millions (You Have 2 Years)

    Small self storage investors, you’ve got just two years to take advantage of one of the greatest wealth creation opportunities we’ll likely ever see. We’ve officially reached the midway point of 2026, and things look a little different than most were predicting only 12 months ago. But one thing has happened as expected: self storage is approaching equilibrium again, and we’ve entered an exciting phase in the market cycle. With interest rates unlikely to fall, sellers are finally accepting reality and are coming to the table with deals. And we’ve seen this shift play out firsthand in our own business. We’ve bought more self storage facilities in the last six months than we did in the last three years combined. The market has absorbed new supply, deals are available at better prices, and more sellers are motivated to move their assets. Meanwhile, the REITs are making moves that give us a clear picture of what we can expect over the next few years. The question is no longer what’s going to happen, but who will take advantage before the market shifts again. What you’ll learn in today’s show: An update on the current state of the self storage industry Why operators are more motivated to sell today than they have been in years The two-year window for buying undervalued self storage deals What small investors should do now before new supply comes online What the REITs are telling us about where self storage is headed — Grab AJ’s Book, Growing Wealth in Self-Storage 2.0 : https://www.amazon.com/Growing-Wealth-Self-Storage-2-0-Post-Pandemic/dp/1735258865  Join the Self Storage Income Community: https://www.selfstorageincome.com/learn?el=pc-ep361

    361. The Last Time Self Storage Did This, We Made Millions (You Have 2 Years)
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4.9
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About

The authority on creating wealth and income through self storage. Find our video podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoaCszL7eN9T7EixaJgL49WTLsT-CWLD1

Information

  • Creator
    AJ Osborne
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    364
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Copyright 2020-2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Self Storage Income

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