The Commercial Real Estate Investor Podcast

Self-storage has been one of the hottest commercial real estate asset classes for years, but most investors leave a tremendous amount of value on the table. In this week's episode, I walk through a real self-storage project we're actively expanding and show how adding units—not just raising rents—can dramatically increase a property's value and cash flow. Alongside self-storage operator and designer Jamie from Storage Designer, we break down the numbers, site planning, and strategy behind turning unused land into a high-return investment. What you'll learn: • Why adding units can create far more value than simply increasing rents • How to identify underutilized land at existing self-storage facilities • The economics behind modular storage containers and phased expansions • Real-world examples of creating 5x returns on capital improvements • How to evaluate access, layout, customer experience, and site design • The difference between serving residential customers and small business tenants • Why storage operators should think carefully about unit mix, sizing, and expansion strategy If you're evaluating self-storage opportunities—or already own facilities with excess land—this episode will show you how experienced operators think about maximizing value through expansion rather than waiting for appreciation. Sponsored by www.CRECentral.com

Most commercial real estate investors are fishing in the same crowded waters. They're refreshing Crexi, scrolling LoopNet, and competing against dozens of buyers for the exact same deals. Then they wonder why everything feels overpriced and nothing pencils. The reality is that many of the best opportunities never make it to the public listing sites. In this week's Office Hours, I'm breaking down how off-market deals actually get done, why brokers quietly shop their best opportunities to a small group of trusted buyers before ever listing them publicly, and how you can position yourself to get access. I'll also walk through real examples, including a Chattanooga office tower I bought for $1.8 million and sold 15 months later for $4.6 million, plus an off-market RV park sourced by a member of the CRE Accelerator that's projected to grow from a $1.5 million acquisition to more than $5 million in value after a turnaround. If you're tired of losing bids, competing with everyone else for the same listings, or wondering where experienced investors are finding deals that never seem to hit the market, this episode is for you. Sponsored by www.CRECentral.com

In February 2019, I wired $575,000 to a title company and closed on my first commercial real estate investment. A former community bank in a Nashville suburb. Two other buyers had already walked away from the property. I should have seen that as a warning. Instead, I saw an opportunity. For the next 12 months, I wasn't so sure. Between a surprise $20,000 HVAC replacement, vacancies that lasted longer than expected, and several underwriting assumptions that turned out to be wrong, I spent a lot of time wondering whether I had just made the most expensive mistake of my career. Thankfully, I hadn't. In this week's video, I'm breaking down the entire deal from start to finish. The negotiation strategy that got me $175,000 off the asking price, how I structured the capital stack with only $115,000 of my own cash, the mistakes that nearly derailed the investment, and the eventual sale that turned a $575,000 purchase into a $740,000 exit just two years later. If you've been analyzing deals, underwriting opportunities, and waiting for the "perfect" first investment to come along, this story is for you. What We Cover The two-offer negotiation strategy that got me $175,000 off the asking price. How I structured the capital stack with a $460,000 bank loan, $100,000 in investor equity, a $125,000 line of credit, and just $115,000 of my own cash. The $20,000 HVAC mistake that hit me two months after closing and the lesson it taught me about due diligence. The three underwriting assumptions I got wrong and how they nearly broke the deal. What I promised investors, how I raised capital, and how the partnership was structured. The complete breakdown of the exit, including what the property sold for, what investors received, and what the deal returned to me. The one thing that actually separates investors who buy their first commercial property from those who spend years talking about buying one. If you want the same framework we teach inside the CRE Accelerator—from defining your buy box and underwriting deals to structuring capital stacks and avoiding costly mistakes—you can learn more here: https://accelerator.crecentral.com/575k Sponsored by www.CRECentral.com

Most investors hear "1031 exchange" and immediately think the same thing: Avoid capital gains taxes. And while that's true, it's also why so many investors use the strategy incorrectly. A 1031 exchange is one of the most powerful wealth-building tools in real estate, but it should be part of a long-term portfolio strategy, not a last-minute reaction when you're getting ready to sell a property. In this week's Office Hours, I break down the 1031 playbook most investors get wrong, including the common mistakes that force people into bad deals, how to think strategically about exchanges, and one little-known variation that could completely change how you approach acquisitions. Here's what you'll learn: → How a 1031 exchange actually works and why it's a tax deferral strategy, not tax elimination → Why some investors are better off paying the capital gains tax and waiting for a better opportunity → The mistake investors make when they focus on saving taxes instead of improving their portfolio → How debt replacement works and why failing to understand it can create an unexpected tax bill → How residential investors can use a 1031 exchange to move into commercial real estate → The exact timelines, rules, and deadlines that can make or break an exchange → What a reverse 1031 exchange is and how it allows you to buy your next property before selling your current one → How experienced investors use 1031 exchanges, depreciation, and refinancing together to compound wealth over decades Whether you're considering selling a rental property, looking to reposition your portfolio, or simply want to understand how sophisticated investors continue scaling without triggering massive tax bills, this episode will give you a framework for thinking about 1031 exchanges the right way. Sponsored by www.CRECentral.com

Before most investors ever make an offer, they convince themselves there are no deals left. The market is too competitive. Prices are too high. Everything worth buying is already gone. So in this Office Hours session, I decided to test that theory. I pulled up a random city, found an industrial property live, and underwrote the entire deal from scratch in about 30 minutes. No preparation. No cherry-picked example. Just the exact process I use to evaluate whether a deal deserves a second look. Along the way, I break down how I identify the best locations for flex space, what numbers matter most during underwriting, how I stress test a deal before making an offer, and why most investors eliminate opportunities long before they ever run the math. What You'll Learn: How to identify the best areas of any city for flex and industrial investments Why many investors look in the wrong locations and overpay for deals A step-by-step walkthrough of how I quickly evaluate industrial opportunities The simple underwriting framework I use to determine whether a deal is worth pursuing How to stress test rents, renovation costs, and exit assumptions before making an offer Common mistakes investors make when analyzing small industrial and flex properties What separates a deal worth chasing from one you should walk away from How I found, analyzed, and validated a potential industrial deal in real time And most importantly, you'll see that finding and underwriting commercial deals doesn't have to be complicated when you have the right process. Sponsored by www.CRECentral.com