Category: Sponsored

Rising Operational Costs in 2025? 4 Ways Operators are Offsetting the Pain

While we know that for many self-storage operators, property taxes in their markets continue to create challenges, many others are also experiencing the strain of inflation and other increased operational costs. But at Janus International, we’re seeing some solid strategies that are working for our customers. Read on for tools and ideas that can help offset increasing costs within the self-storage industry. Payroll: When was the last time you “audited” your site for the most frequented times of the day? What did you find? Are you making your technology work…

JLL Capital Markets Led the Financing Efforts for Liberty Storage Center in Jersey City, NJ

JLL Capital Markets announced today that it has arranged construction financing for Liberty Storage Center, a 103,530-square-foot, to-be-built self-storage facility in Jersey City, New Jersey. JLL worked on behalf of the borrower, Tulfra Realty Company, to secure the construction loan with Fulton Bank, NA. The property will be leased and managed by Public Storage. Liberty Storage Center is located at 300 McGovern Dr. in the southern portion of Jersey City, the second most populous city in New Jersey. Jersey City has benefited from a nearly 30% increase in residents since the…

2025 Outlook – by, Ben Vestal of Argus Self Storage Advisors

It’s that time of year when we reflect on the lessons learned in 2024 and set our sights on the new year. Without question, 2024 proved to be a very challenging year. There was real anxiety related to soft market fundamentals, rising interest rates which made most investment reports irrelevant, and pricing discovery on every deal. In many ways, 2024 was not that much different than 2023. What we do know is that the investment market has continued to evolve and the overall outlook for 2025 is cautiously optimistic. Over…

Self-Storage Investment Sales Update

The self-storage investment sales market at the end of 2024 is still in price discovery with the bid-ask spread divided based on asset type with the market split into several distinct buckets; core market stabilized, certificate of occupancy/lease-up, small market and development opportunity. Distressed deals have not surfaced in a material way and will likely be limited to a small handful of assets, primarily new construction in oversupplied markets with high levels of non-recourse debt.  A slowing of new development should help stabilize struggling markets in 2025-2026! CORE MARKET –…

Eight Self-Storage Properties Trade to New Owner in Memphis MSA, TN

JLL Capital Markets led the sales efforts on behalf of Gelt Venture Partners for the portfolio, which totals more than 3,500 storage units JLL Capital Markets announced today that it has completed the sale of an eight-property self-storage portfolio, totaling more than 3,500 storage units and 485,000 rentable square feet, and is located in the greater Memphis, Tennessee area. JLL’s Self Storage Capital Markets team represented the seller, Gelt Ventures, in the sale of the portfolio to Mini Mall Storage Properties. The portfolio consists of over 485,000 square feet of institutional-quality…

StorTrack’s National Pricing Trends Report: 3Q 2024

Overview The self-storage market in 3Q 2024 reflected an industry-navigating transition, pressured by elevated interest rates, inflation, and regional oversupply. Average street rates declined 0.9% quarter-over-quarter and 2.3% year-over-year to $1.49/sq ft., while promotional rates dropped more steeply by 10.2% year-over-year to $1.20/sq ft., signalling heightened competition and increased reliance on discounts to maintain occupancy. This competitive pressure stems from oversaturation, driven by a surge in pandemic-era development that left many new facilities struggling to stabilize in overbuilt markets. Despite these challenges, demand for climate-controlled units and premium features remains…

SBA 504 Debt Refinance Just Got Easier

The SBA has introduced important updates to its 504 refinance program, enhancing flexibility and benefits for business owners. Here’s a brief overview of the changes: Expanded Access to Working Capital Previously, borrowers could take out up to 20% of the appraised collateral value for working capital during a refinance, limited to an 85% loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. The new guidelines eliminate this 20% cap and increase the LTV limit to 90%, providing businesses with more financial options Eased Refinancing Restrictions on 7a and 504 Loans Before, businesses had to demonstrate a…

Self-Storage Investment Surge: Key Transactions and Trends from the Second Half of 2024

Overview StorTrack data shows steady activity in the self-storage sector in the second half of 2024, with 110 transactions completed across the United States. To date, multi-operators and REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) each represented over 40% of the total transaction volume, with investment activity largely concentrated in the Southeast. Multi-operators were especially active in the Midwest, completing five transactions involving Storage Rentals of America facilities in Michigan and Illinois. Meanwhile, REITs focused their efforts primarily on the Southeast, with Florida standing out as a key market. Transaction Breakdown by…

Development in Self Storage: A Lesson in Delayed Gratification

Self-storage development has emerged as a compelling opportunity in the real estate market, offering steady returns and economic resilience. However, success in this sector often requires embracing the principle of delayed gratification – the ability to forgo immediate rewards for greater long-term benefits. The delayed gratification comes in the form of appreciation, depreciation, cash flow, and the ability to use amortization, which provides several key advantages: Equity growth: In an example of a $10M new development, your initial $1.5 million (15% down) investment using a SBA loan could grow to…

Q3 2024 Self-Storage REIT Report Insights: Key Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

Join StorTrack’s Christine Wachsman and James Breunig, along with Andrew Jones of JustStorage, as they discuss key takeaways from the REITs’ Q3 reports. The conversation covers industry resilience amid revenue dips, demand shifts, and challenges from severe weather events like Hurricane Milton. They also examine rising competition, strategic third-party management, West Coast development costs, and strategies for adapting to a dynamic market. About StorTrack StorTrack is the leading provider of self-storage market data and analytics, providing operators, investors, and developers with actionable insights. Our tools help clients understand pricing trends,…