Discover How Joe Downs Raised $15M and Acquired 20+ Self-Storage Facilities Worth $52M in 6 Years
What does it take to scale from zero to over $52 million in self-storage assets in just six years? In this insightful episode, Joe Downs reveals how he raised $15 million and built a portfolio of over 20 self-storage facilities by mastering off-market deals, partnering strategically, and adapting to market conditions.
What does it take to scale from zero to over $52 million in self-storage assets in just six years?
In this insightful episode, Joe Downs reveals how he raised $15 million and built a portfolio of over 20 self-storage facilities by mastering off-market deals, partnering strategically, and adapting to market conditions. He breaks down his transition from multifamily to self-storage, explains how he built a vertically integrated team from scratch, and shares the exact steps that helped him launch and scale a real estate investment company while still working his W2 job. If you're an investor looking to break into self-storage—or scale fast—Joe’s story is a must-listen.
5 Key Takeaways from Joe Downs’ Episode:
- From Multifamily to Storage:
Joe started in multifamily but found more scalability, deal flow, and operational control in self-storage. - Off-Market Deal Mastery:
Nearly all 20+ facilities were sourced off-market, using direct mail, broker relationships, and seller outreach. - Built a Vertically Integrated Team:
Joe hired third-party management initially but quickly transitioned to a fully integrated in-house team across operations, construction, and marketing. - Raised $15M with Limited Prior Experience:
By building trust, showing transparency, and proving capability, Joe successfully raised millions—even before having a massive track record. - Balanced Scaling While Employed:
Joe built the business part-time at first, making strategic hires and systemizing early so he could transition out of his W2 and into full-time investing.