What the Jobs Report, CPI, and Bond Market May Be Telling Us About Interest Rates
It has been a while since I used an SBA loan to develop some storage, but I am in a deal where we are using it now for a boat and RV development. We are racing to get it closed by Sept. 14 because the deal was underwritten at today’s interest rates, and if rates go up...
Self-Storage Myth Number 2: REITs Outperform Small Self-Storage Owners
I hear partners, people I coach, and investors ask the question, “How can a smaller independent owner compete today with REITs or a big institutional player today? They have a lot more money and people, and their cost of capital is so low.” Valid question, but the...
Mark Helm’s Self Storage Outlook for 2026
In 1995, I had an Acquisition Director for Storage Trust, a REIT at the time, tell me “Basically, self-storage is a boring and slow industry. Not many changes.” That is certainly not the case in 2026. This industry is evolving and evolving at a fast clip. Watch on...
The Greatest Economic Shift of Our Lifetime Is Already Underway
An Uncomfortable Reality I hesitated to make this video. I don’t want to sound alarmist or like I am trying to scare people. I’ve seen multiple market cycles over the years. But what I believe is approaching now is very different from anything we’ve seen before. For...
The Dark Side of The Self Storage Industry and the Upcoming Bootcamp In Jan. 2026
I was glad to see Ron Matejko’s article online about the Slate article on self-storage pricing tactics. I read the same article. Ron is an associate editor for Inside Self Storage. I have been on and off my soapbox over the years about self-storage pricing strategies....
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