221: Creating Wealth and Leveling The Playing Field in Self-Storage with Mark Helm
Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing
Release Date: 03/03/2025
234: Unbiased and Apolitical Economic Forecasting For Now and the Future with Lauren Saidel-Baker
Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing
Politics is often blamed for economic shifts, but there are usually more factors at play. Today’s guest is an economic expert who explains how it can impact investors and buyers alike. On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan interviews Lauren Saidel-Baker, an economist with ITR Economics, the oldest privately-held, continuously operating economic research and consulting firm in the U.S. ITR Economics was founded in 1948. Jonathan and Lauren start the discussion by explaining how ITR Economics predicts economic shifts and how Lauren became an economist with ITR...
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233: My Long History With Accessory Dwelling Units
Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and their cousin, detached accessory dwelling units (DADUs), can offer tremendous benefits and add value to a property. On this solo episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan shares his long history with ADUs and DADUs, beginning with his childhood. He outlines the main differences between ADUs and DADUs and the regulations that can impact them in your particular location. You’ll hear how these units can offer independent living spaces to teenagers and young adults while keeping them close, the benefits of using them as short- or mid-term...
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232: How To Invest Together and Think Differently About Real Estate with Paul Shannon
Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing
Making mistakes and learning from them is all part of the real estate investing game. Today’s guest shares the lessons he’s learned along the way, especially when it comes to syndications. On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan interviews Paul Shannon, a fund manager at InvestWise Collective. Paul has acquired more than 200 residential units by recycling equity and JV. He is a limited partner who has invested in more than 40 deals as a passive investor. Paul is also the co-host of PassivePockets, a BiggerPockets podcast on passive investing. As Jonathan and...
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231: Creating Impact Equity Through Real Estate Syndications with Randy Smith
Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing
For many investors, it takes a while to become comfortable with syndications. For today’s guest, he tried other real estate investing methods before becoming a syndication expert. Today’s episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing features Randy Smith, founder of Impact Equity. He brings over 25 years of experience in corporate sales and leadership to real estate investing and launched Impact Equity in June 2022. Randy’s company helps investors spend money with world-class operators across several projects. He also launched RAI$E Capital Coaching and Consulting to help new...
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230: Why Notes Are Hands-Off Real Estate Investments with Nathan Turner
Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing
Notes aren’t the most conventional method of real estate investing, but this niche can offer benefits other asset classes don’t. On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan sits down with Nathan Turner, owner and president of Earnest Inc., which is also Earnest Investing. Nathan began investing in the U.S. real estate market in 2008 by creating notes, which later evolved into buying performing and nonperforming notes. Jonathan and Nathan start with Nathan’s decision to pursue notes versus properties and how he entered the business. Nathan shares his previous...
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229: The Secrets of Add-A-Level House Flipping with Gabe DaSilva
Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing
Adding levels to existing homes can be lucrative for flipping homes, especially when your market is saturated with older homes. On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes returning guest Gabe DaSilva back to the show. Gabe is the founder and president of the DaSilva Group. He is also the founder of the Add-A-Level Bus Tour, Fix & Flip Foundation, Real Estate Riches Mastermind, and Learn & Earn with the DaSilva Group. Jonathan and Gabe begin their conversation with how Gabe continues to be successful with home flips despite limited inventory and high...
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228: How To Take Short-Term Rentals From Construction To Cribs with Mark Lumpkin
Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing
Short-term rentals are still a popular asset class, but you have to optimize them for your guest avatar to get them right. On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan sits down with Mark Lumpkin, Sales Director at STR Cribs. STR Cribs helps STR owners understand what makes a high-performing short-term rental. They are renovation and design experts for top-performing short-term rentals nationwide. Jonathan and Mark start their conversation by exploring the features a short-term rental needs to stand out, how you can optimize a property’s features, and the importance...
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227: How To Perfect Your Real Estate Side Hustle with Devon Kennard
Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing
Creating a real estate side hustle can be a great way to hone your skills while continuing to build your primary source of real estate income. Today’s guest has a new book that teaches you exactly how to do it. On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes returning guest Devon Kennard. Devon is a former NFL pro football player and author of the new book “Real Estate Side Hustle.” He is also an investor and a lender. Jonathan and Devon dive into their conversation by discussing Devon’s new book, “Real Estate Side Hustle,” and what you can learn from...
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226: How To Rebuild Your Financial Future One Property At a Time with Melissa Nash
Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing
Securing a solid financial future is often the biggest reason people enter the world of real estate investing, which doesn’t require attaining as many properties as you may believe. On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan interviews Melissa Nash, founder of Lady Luck Investments, which emerged out of necessity. Melissa built a portfolio that secured her family’s financial future in less than six years. Now, she’s teaching other women how they can do the same. Melissa wants to change the story of women in real estate and create a legacy of wealth and...
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225: Maximizing Rental Returns Through Stress-Free Property Management with Mo Hashem
Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing
Property management isn’t often at the top of a new investor’s list when they’re thinking about buying a piece of real estate. However, property management can be the ticket to a stress-free investing experience. On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes Mo Hashem, the visionary behind Flat Fee Landlord, one of the country's fastest-growing residential property management companies. He helps working professionals go from owning one primary residence into profitable real estate investments. Mo has worked across the real estate industry in investing,...
info_outlineSelf-storage is an under-the-radar asset class that can be a real game-changer for creating wealth. Today’s guest has incredible knowledge about it and is on a mission to teach others about its benefits.
On this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes Mark Helm, a self-storage and real estate veteran. Mark is the author of “Creating Wealth Through Self-Storage” and co-owner and principal broker of Nexus Commercial Advisors. He also developed the self-storage financial analysis software Storage World Analyzer. Mark owns several self-storage facilities, is a self-storage developer, investor, speaker, consultant, and trainer, and is the co-owner and partner of Resolve.
Jonathan and Mark begin their conversation by exploring Mark’s early career in real estate as a way to create supplemental income for his day job. Mark quickly discovered he loved real estate, attaining his CCIM designation and working as a commercial broker before moving into investing in self-storage. You’ll hear the challenges he initially faced, why no other asset is more localized, and what makes self-storage recession-resistant. Mark shares his strategy for self-storage, how he evaluates occupancy levels, and his opinion on dynamic pricing. Finally, he explains what he likes about conversions and expansions, the five KPIs Mark uses for every facility and manager, and technology’s impact on the self-storage industry.
Mark Helm is a veteran real estate professional and self-storage guru. This episode is a must-listen for a deep dive into the self-storage world.
In this episode, you will hear:
- Mark Helm’s interest in real estate as a way to supplement his income and how that led to a full-time career in real estate
- His attraction to commercial real estate, getting his CCIM designation, and then moving into investing in self-storage
- The challenges Mark faced when he started in self-storage and the benefits that outweighed them
- The importance of visibility in self-storage and why no other asset is more localized
- How this asset class can fail, and what makes it recession-resistant
- Mark’s strategy for self-storage and determining which deals are a yes or no
- Where he believes the deals are today
- Evaluating occupancy levels in a self-storage space
- Mark’s take on dynamic pricing
- Why the income increase should be higher than operational costs
- What Mark likes about conversions and expansions
- The five KPIs Mark uses for every facility and manager and how technology has changed the business
- Constructing self-storage units and some of the issues that can arise
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If you enjoyed this episode, we've created a PDF that has all of the key information for you from the episode. Just go to the episode page at https://zenandtheartofrealestateinvesting.com/podcast/221/ to download it.
Supporting Resources:
Creating Wealth Through Self-Storage - creatingwealththroughselfstorage.com
Mark Helm on YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCFwEQnGiNYB46SSs2_HoTsA
Find Mark on Facebook - www.facebook.com/mark.helm.33
Connect with Mark on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/markhelmccim
Resolve - resolveself-storage.com
Get the “Creating Wealth Through Self-Storage” book - www.amazon.com/Creating-Wealth-Through-Self-Storage-ebook/dp/B00TP5VWVM
Website - www.streamlined.properties
YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos
Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene
Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties
TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene
Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal
Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene
Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties
Email - [email protected]
Episode Credits
If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.