HOW TO SCALE FROM RESIDENTIAL TO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE 🏢

In this episode, I sit down with Brad Andrus from Northbridge Commercial to discuss one of the most powerful scaling strategies in real estate investing. Brad shares how he went from managing 20 individual single-family rental properties to owning just 5 commercial tenants while dramatically increasing his cash flow and reducing management headaches. This transition story is something every residential investor needs to hear because it demonstrates the power of trading up through strategic 1031 exchanges and focusing on commercial assets like light industrial and self-storage facilities.

SELF STORAGE INVESTING IN TODAY'S MARKET 📦

We dive deep into the self-storage business model and why it's become one of Brad's primary focus areas. He explains the covered land play strategy that led him into his first storage facility and how he discovered the power of having hundreds of month-to-month tenants instead of long-term commercial leases. Brad shares his current approach to managing occupancy during the soft market we're experiencing right now, including the strategy of prioritizing physical occupancy over economic occupancy during the lease-up phase. This is critical information for anyone considering self-storage development or acquisitions in the current environment.

THE HIDDEN OPPORTUNITY IN DISTRESSED COMMERCIAL NOTES 💰

One of the most fascinating parts of our conversation covers Brad's recent shift into buying non-performing notes directly from community banks. He explains how 20-plus years of relationship building in his local market has created these off-market opportunities where banks are calling him first when they have problem loans. Brad walks through his process of acquiring notes, attempting workouts with borrowers, and ultimately foreclosing when necessary to acquire boat and RV storage facilities at significant discounts. This is a strategy that most investors never consider but can be incredibly profitable for those with strong banking relationships and local market knowledge.

LOCAL MARKET MASTERY VS NATIONAL DIVERSIFICATION 🎯

Brad makes a compelling case for the power of deep local market expertise versus spreading yourself across multiple markets. He operates exclusively within a 20 to 30 mile radius of Denton, Texas, and explains how this hyper-local focus has enabled him to build the relationships and market knowledge that create deal flow others can't access. We discuss the two camps of successful real estate investors: those who focus on becoming the expert in their local market across multiple asset classes, and those who become asset-class specialists operating nationally. Both strategies work, but trying to do both simultaneously is a recipe for mediocrity.


Want to learn more about our guest? Connect here: www.linkedin.com/in/brad-andrus

Want to learn more about the REI Club Podcast, how to invest with Gabe at Kaizen, or join our community of active real estate investors on Skool? Visit the podcast website at https://www.therealestateinvestingclub.com or click here: https://linktr.ee/gabepetersen
#CommercialRealEstate #SelfStorageInvesting #RealEstateInvesting #AIinRealEstate #DistressedAssets

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DISCOVERING THE PATH FROM MEDICINE TO REAL ESTATE 💰

Dr. Bharat Sangani went from practicing cardiology 24/7 to controlling over $3.7 billion in commercial real estate assets across multiple sectors. His journey started with an unexpected situation involving his father-in-law, a hotel construction project, and a decision that would change his family's financial future forever. What began as helping family turned into a masterclass in real estate investing that spans three decades and multiple economic cycles. In this episode of The Real Estate Investing Club, we dive deep into the strategies that took him from $10.45 in his pocket when he arrived in America to building a real estate empire with 4,000 employees at its peak 🚀

THE SECRET WEAPON FOR TIMING YOUR EXITS 🎯

Most real estate investors struggle with one critical question: when should I sell? Dr. Sangani reveals a powerful strategy that almost no one talks about - following the banks. By maintaining relationships with banking professionals and understanding where lenders are tightening or loosening their lending criteria, you can position yourself ahead of major market shifts. When banks start adding constraints to a specific real estate sector, that's your signal to sell before the herd exits. Conversely, when banks are lending freely in a sector, that's your opportunity to enter. This simple yet effective approach has helped him navigate multiple real estate cycles successfully, getting in around 4 or 5 o'clock and out around 11 o'clock on the market timing clock 📊

NAVIGATING MULTIPLE ASSET CLASSES AND MARKET CYCLES 🏢

Throughout his career, Dr. Sangani has invested across hotels, shopping centers, multifamily, office buildings, gas stations, and truck stops. He emphasizes that every sector of real estate has its day, with cycles typically running seven to ten years. The key is recognizing these patterns and being willing to move capital between sectors based on where the opportunity lies. Rather than being married to one asset class, successful investors diversify across multiple real estate sectors and time their entries and exits based on market conditions and lending environments. Understanding that real estate is fundamentally cyclical allows you to plan for downturns and capitalize on upturns 📈

WHY MULTIFAMILY IN FLORIDA STANDS OUT TODAY 🌴

Despite having experience across all major commercial real estate sectors, Dr. Sangani identifies multifamily in Florida as his preferred investment in today's market environment. The reasoning is compelling: people continue moving to Florida for the weather and lifestyle, and with the average age of first-time homebuyers now reaching 40 years old due to increased home prices and interest rates, there's a sustained demand for rental housing. This demographic shift means people who would traditionally be buying homes are forced to remain in the rental market longer, creating consistent demand for multifamily properties in desirable locations with favorable weather conditions ☀️

Want to learn more about our guest? Connect here: https://encore.bz/
Want to learn more about the REI Club Podcast, how to invest with Gabe at Kaizen, or join our community of active real estate investors on Skool? Visit the podcast website at https://www.therealestateinvestingclub.com or click here: https://linktr.ee/gabepetersen
#RealEstateInvesting #MultifamilyInvesting #CommercialRealEstate #RealEstateTiming #CashFlowInvesting

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TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Introduction to Self Storage Investing Reality Check 1:09 - Nick Huber's Journey: From Moving Company to 63 Storage Facilities
5:47 - The Self Storage Market Crash Nobody's Talking About 9:47 - How We Survived Floating Rate Debt Through Rising Interest Rates 12:37 - The South African Sales Team Secret That Increased Conversions 40% 16:02 - How We Get 110 Five-Star Google Reviews Every Month 19:17 - Why We Bought Industrial Real Estate (And Why It's Hard to Scale) 23:36 - The #1 Rule for Surviving Real Estate Downturns 27:52 - The Two Deals I Walked Away From That Saved My Business 31:22 - How We Use AI to Monitor Every Customer Interaction

THE BRUTAL TRUTH ABOUT SELF STORAGE INVESTING RIGHT NOW 🏚️

If you've been thinking about getting into self storage investing, you need to watch this episode first. Nick Huber, founder of Bolt Storage with 63 self storage facilities under management, reveals why he hasn't bought a single storage facility in nearly two years and what's really happening in the commercial real estate storage market right now.

THE SELF STORAGE RECESSION NOBODY WARNED YOU ABOUT 📉

For the first time in self storage history, every major REIT including Public Storage, Extra Space, and CubeSmart reported declining net operating income for six consecutive quarters. Interest rates skyrocketed from four percent to seven point five percent on commercial loans while overdevelopment in markets like Texas, Florida, and Georgia created massive oversupply. Nick shares how his portfolio weathered this perfect storm and why half his properties are performing below initial projections despite his team's revenue management expertise.

WHAT ACTUALLY WORKS IN TODAY'S STORAGE MARKET 💡

Despite the challenging environment, Nick's team has increased revenue by forty percent across their portfolio through aggressive leasing strategies and operational improvements. Learn how they use South African sales teams to achieve forty-two percent conversion rates on inbound calls, their Google review strategy that generates over one hundred five-star reviews monthly, and why they focus on markets in the Northeast where development is difficult rather than chasing yield in overbuilt Southern markets.

REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT VS ACQUISITION STRATEGIES 🏗️

Nick started with ground-up development of a two point nine million dollar self storage facility that's now worth eight to ten million dollars. He breaks down why he wishes he had started with acquisitions instead, the brutal reality of dealing with zoning boards, and why his first development deal changed his entire life trajectory. For anyone considering storage development versus buying existing facilities, this discussion provides invaluable insights into the true costs and timeline of each approach.

#selfstorage #realestateinvesting #commercialrealestate #storageunits #realestatebusiness

Want to learn more about our guest? Connect here: boltstorage.com

Want to learn more about the REI Club Podcast, how to invest with Gabe at Kaizen, or join our community of active real estate investors on Skool? Visit the podcast website at https://www.therealestateinvestingclub.com or click here: https://linktr.ee/gabepetersen

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