WHITE MARSH, Md. - October 14, 2026 - Storage Moguls, a self-storage investment education company led by investor Joe Downs, will host a live event on Friday, October 16, at the Hilton Garden Inn in White Marsh, Maryland. The event centers on a question many new investors skip: whether a single-family rental is the best first step into real estate, or one of the costlier ones.
For decades, the rental house has been the default starting point for people who want income outside their job. At the same time, many professionals have watched retirement account balances rise and fall with the stock market and are looking for assets they can see and manage directly. Downs, whose company has acquired 20 self-storage facilities, says the comparison between the two property types deserves a harder look than most people give it.
"Most people assume a rental house is the safe first move in real estate. In my experience, it costs a lot more than people expect," said Downs. "You're paying for roofs, appliances, plumbing and turnover, and you're managing the place someone lives. A storage facility has no kitchens or bathrooms in the units, and the customer relationship is much simpler. I want people to see the two side by side before they put their savings into either one."
Self-storage units are typically rented month to month, which lets operators adjust rates more often than a residential landlord bound to an annual lease. Downs says that flexibility, along with lower maintenance per unit, is a main reason his team chose storage over residential property.
Attendees will cover:
- How investors evaluate a self-storage facility before buying
- How operating costs and management demands compare with residential rentals
- How first-time buyers approach financing and their first acquisition
- Live Q&A with operators who own and run facilities today
The event will also feature Christin Blunk, a member of the Storage Moguls team who left W-2 employment and now owns storage facilities that support her three children through college.
"I didn't come from a real estate background. I had a job and a retirement account I worried about," said Blunk. "Storage gave me something I could understand and control. It's the reason I could step away from my job."
Storage Moguls notes that individual results vary and that self-storage investing, like any real estate investment, carries risk. The event is designed for working professionals, business owners and investors who want to evaluate the asset class before committing capital.
Event Details
- Date: Friday, October 16, 2026
- Time: 8:30 a.m. ET
- Location: Hilton Garden Inn, White Marsh, Maryland
- Registration: go.storagemoguls.ai/white-marsh
About Storage Moguls
Storage Moguls is a self-storage investment education company founded by Joe Downs. Through live events, online training and a private member community, Storage Moguls teaches working professionals and experienced investors how to find, evaluate, finance and operate self-storage facilities. The team's instructors are active operators who own and manage facilities. More information is available at storagemoguls.ai.
Media Contact
Company Name: Storage Moguls
Contact Person: Gina
Email: Send Email
Country: United States
Website: https://www.storagemoguls.ai
