In this episode of Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Jonathan welcomes Bree Hartman, a former gym owner turned commercial real estate investor and the founder of Self Storage School. Bree shares how she shifted from running gyms to building a portfolio of self-storage facilities, and how this asset class can create time freedom, financial independence, and long-term cash flow.

She explains why self-storage is recession-resilient, how to find deals through simple tools like Google Maps, and why automation is transforming the way these facilities operate. Bree also breaks down how seller financing can make acquisitions more accessible, especially with mom-and-pop owners who represent a large share of the industry. From her first $3.1 million deal bought while pregnant to the systems she now teaches her students, Bree shows why self-storage can be an attractive path for investors seeking fewer headaches than traditional residential rentals.

Whether you’re an active investor, someone burned out on residential rentals, or just curious about alternative commercial assets, this episode offers a blueprint for building cash-flowing self-storage businesses.

In this episode, you will hear:

• Bree Hartman’s journey from gym ownership to commercial real estate

• Lessons she took from residential rentals before shifting to self-storage

• Advantages of investing in recession-resistant storage facilities

• How underperforming mom-and-pop operators create opportunities

• Using Google Maps to uncover overlooked markets and deals

• Seller financing strategies that benefit both buyers and sellers

• The role of automation in boosting efficiency and NOI

• How Self Storage School equips investors to close their first facility

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Supporting Resources:

Self Storage School website - www.selfstorageschool.com

Bree Hartman’s YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/@Bree.TheInvestor

Find Self Storage School on Facebook - www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561220469166

Bree’s Instagram - www.instagram.com/bree.theinvestor

Connect with Bree on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/breannadupliseahartman

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 - info@streamlined.properties

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.