What are the three most recession-resistant asset classes in real estate?

Even in challenging economic times, multifamily, mobile home parks and self-storage perform quite well.

Sergio Altomare built a portfolio of small multifamily properties while working full-time in technology for the Federal Reserve.

But in 2018, Sergio was having a hard time getting deals to pencil. He anticipated a market correction and pivoted to self-storage.

Today, Sergio is Cofounder and CEO of Hearthfire Holdings, a real estate private equity and development firm that manages over $50M in self-storage assets.

On this episode of Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing, Sergio joins Garrett and me to discuss the benefits of investing in self-storage.

Sergio describes the financing challenges he’s facing in his business right now and shares his outlook for the self-storage market moving into 2024.

Listen in for Sergio’s insight on using data to find deals and find out if self-storage is the right real estate investment for you!

Key Takeaways

How Sergio got into self-storage

  • Built portfolio of small multifamily with wife while working W-2
  • Became full-time real estate investor when daughter was born
  • Anticipated market correction in 2018, pivoted to self-storage

What Sergio likes about self-storage

  • Real estate investment and business with dynamic pricing
  • Process and data-driven, allows for incredible efficiencies

Sergio’s approach to managing self-storage

  • Self-managed at first to learn self-storage business
  • Sites don’t need full-time manager, largely online business

How Sergio finds self-storage deals

  • Full-time acquisitions team uses data to identify opportunities
  • Relationship-driven, collaborative industry

Sergio’s self-storage market outlook for 2024

  • Utilization growth, increasing housing costs good for self-storage
  • Opportunities in markets that are 30% to 40% renters

The biggest challenges Sergio is facing right now

  • Downtick in occupancy with fewer people moving
  • Hard to find financing for self-storage deals

Sergio’s insight on the barrier-to-entry for self-storage

  • Zoning = biggest obstacle
  • $15M for ground-up development, $5M for existing facilities

What Sergio has learned from his biggest failures

  • End up spending more when try to save money on contractors
  • Lessons in bad personnel decisions, not selling at right time

Why Sergio invests in GoBundance

  • Surround self with people who inspire him to be better
  • Accountable for growth as leader and business owner

How Sergio’s definition of success has changed over time

  • Wants to share learnings and inspire others to do well
  • Includes being more intentional father, present with family

Connect with Sergio Altomare

Hearthfire Capital

Hearthfire on Facebook

Hearthfire on Instagram

Sergio on LinkedIn

Email [email protected]

Connect with Michael Blank

Michael on Facebook

Michael on Instagram

Michael on YouTube

Michael on TikTok

Apartment Investor Network Facebook Group

Email [email protected]

Resources

Learn More About Deal Maker Live

Explore Michael’s Mentoring Program

Join the Nighthawk Equity Investor Club

Schedule a Call with Michael’s Team

Download Michael’s Free eBook

Review the Podcast on Apple Podcasts

Financial Freedom with Real Estate Investing by Michael Blank

GoBundance

EO

Podcast Show Notes