Exploring the Self-Storage Industry in Houston with Mark Livingston
Today, I am delighted to speak with the Houston-based finance and accounting expert, Mark Livingston. A seasoned player in the real estate investment arena, Mark brings to the table a valuable mix of financial acumen and on-ground experience.
A Brief Background on our Guest
Mark has a solid grounding in finance and accounting, with his most recent role being the Chief Accounting Officer of a billion-dollar public company. Projecting a slow and steady approach to real estate development, Mark has always believed that self-storage is an ideal asset class within the sector and is thrilled to collaborate with us on a project in his home city, Houston.
Self-Storage in Houston: A “Swiss Cheese Opportunity”
As Mark details, in the blisteringly hot and humid climate conditions of Houston, there’s an acute demand for climate-controlled storage. With the knowledge gained from experience, Mark shares how objects stored in non-climate-controlled storage deteriorate, largely due to excess heat and humidity- a frequent occurrence in Houston. Furthermore, he explains that only around 31% of storage units in certain areas of Houston are climate controlled, showcasing a significant gap in the market we’re hoping to fill with our project.
The Benefits of Local Insight
Mark’s Houston longevity has given him a deep understanding of the city and its real estate market. Despite Houston’s vast expanse, he emphasizes that there are still numerous areas suitable for new development or redevelopment, with the absence of citywide zoning offering further opportunities.
| Highlight | Insight |
|---|---|
| Flood Risk | Houston residents mitigate flood risk through insurance and creative building solutions |
| Population Growth | Despite natural disasters, Houston continues to add 50,000 to 70,000 new residents annually |
Our Project: The Keukendall Scenario
Our focus is on the Keukendall area, a locality Mark describes as being primarily populated by a working class demographic. The region boasts a lot of multi-family apartments and a major interstate. Still relatively underserved in terms of climate-controlled storage, it represents a potential strategic pinnacle for self-storage in the city.
Coming up: The Webinar
To delve deeper into our upcoming Houston-based project, Mark and I will host a webinar on Wednesday, September the 4th at 7pm Eastern time, 6pm central. Open to accredited investors exclusively, you can find the link to register for the webinar in the show notes below, where you can learn more about this investment opportunity.
Connect with Mark
If you’re interested in joining us on this enterprise or want to connect with Mark directly, you can reach him at [email protected].
