CalculateRealEstateROI

Property Types · 11 min read

Self-Storage Investing: An Introduction

The asset class with the highest cap rates and the lowest operating intensity.

Why Self-Storage Works

Recession-resilient demand, sticky tenants, simple operations, and cap rates typically 100–200bps above multifamily. Lower per-square-foot construction cost.

Underwriting Differences

Look at occupancy AND square-foot ECRI (existing customer rate increase). The real money in storage is annual rent bumps to existing tenants — not new lease-up.

Entry Strategy

Most retail investors enter via syndications, not direct ownership. A 50K-sqft facility is a $3–8M project — well above SFR scale.