In Part 2, Joe Downs continues his story, diving deeper into his transition into real estate—from early partnerships in wholesaling and flipping to building a scalable business in self-storage. He shares the challenges of navigating commercial real estate, key operational strategies, and how technology is reshaping the self-storage industry. Joe also reflects on the importance of staying adaptable and always learning in a fast-evolving market.

Joe is a lifelong entrepreneur with a track record of success across the securities, mortgage, hospitality, and real estate industries. As co-founder and CEO of The Belrose Group, he’s built a powerhouse firm specializing in the self-storage sector of commercial real estate—expanding it from acquisitions to include development and consulting. Known for spotting “niches within niches,” Joe brings a sharp eye for opportunity and a passion for educating others. He’s a featured speaker at the Self-Storage Academy and Mastermind, where he shares his insights as both a visionary leader and a hands-on investor.

In this episode:

• Joe Downs’ path from hospitality and radio sales to real estate investing
• Partnering in house flipping and wholesaling: early lessons and wins
• Challenges faced in commercial real estate and strategic pivots
• Breaking into self-storage investing and spotting niche opportunities
• Key operations and marketing strategies in self-storage success
• How digital tools are transforming the self-storage industry
• The value of adaptability and lifelong learning in real estate

The Norris Group originates and services loans in California and Florida under California DRE License 01219911, Florida Mortgage Lender License 1577, and NMLS License 1623669. For more information on hard money lending, go www.thenorrisgroup.com and click the Hard Money tab.


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