Monday Sessions

Today's Investment-Sales and Capital-Market Environment
Monday, Jan. 26, 10:30-11:30 am
The year 2008 brought a lot of change for the self-storage industry. Now we’re in a new year, and we need a new outlook on real estate. This seminar closely examines the investment-sales and capital-market environment for 2009. You’ll hear about who is buying, selling and lending today as well as how current transaction levels affect you.
Speaker: Doug McCarron, Holliday Fenoglio Fowler LP

Advanced Legal Issues: Protecting Yourself and Your Storage Business in 2009
Monday, Jan. 26, 1-2 pm
In the year ahead, there are two predominant forces at work that could greatly affect your storage business from a legal perspective. First is the bad economy, which is causing people to look for sources of “easy money.” Second is the continuing rise to prominence of the self-storage industry, resulting in more attention from litigators and legislators. In 2009, there are steps you must take to protect yourself from litigation and bad legislation. Our legal expert will discuss in detail the changes you must make to your operation to defend yourself and your business.
Speaker: Jeffrey Greenberger, Katz, Greenberger & Norton LLP

The Effect of Market Forces on Self-Storage Real Estate: Should You Hang On, Sell or Finance?
Monday, Jan. 26, 2:15-3:15 pm
This diverse and extremely knowledgeable panel of industry real estate and finance experts will examine the daily and ever-changing economic environment that causes owners to evaluate their self-storage investments. They’ll provide a no-nonsense overview of the market forces affecting our business and provide recommendations regarding strategy. If you own a self-storage facility, should you hang tough, sell your property or refinance? Hear what our specialists have to say!
Speakers: Neal Gussis (Moderator), Beacon Realty Capital; Marc Boorstein, MJ Partners; Nick Malagisi, Sperry Van Ness/Commercial Reality; Michael Knott, Green Street Advisors; Shawn Hill, Beacon Realty Capital

Drafting Retail Leases for Mixed-Use Self-Storage Projects
Monday, Jan. 26, 3:30-4:30 pm
In the new vertical world of self-storage (multi-story sites), a growing number of operators are leasing out space on the first floor of their projects for a retail use. Some older sites even have a retail outparcel or attached building. However, a standard strip-mall retail lease won't do in these instances. This seminar addresses leasing issues that are unique to sharing space with a self-storage, for example, how net charges such as taxes and insurance are allocated, parking and loading issues, and security. Our speaker will also touch on the related topic of office leasing.
Speaker: Scott Frank, Arnstein & Lehr LLP

Tuesday Sessions

Amending the California Lien Law: Is This an Opportunity in Your State Too?
Tuesday, Jan. 27, 8-8:50 am
In this presentation, you’ll hear about the actions that were taken in California to improve the state lien-law statute and the resulting benefits for self-storage customers and operators. In addition, you’ll learn how to determine if this is an opportunity in your state as well as key steps to capitalize on the opportunity quickly and completely. Join members of the California Self Storage Association (CSSA) as they share their insights and experiences.
Speakers: Jim McNamee (CSSA President), West Coast Self Storage Group; Peter Ingersoll (CSSA Bord Member), Sperry Van Ness; Erin King (CSSA Executive Director)

Risk Management in Self-Storage: Using Insurance to Maximize Profit and Minimize Expenses
Tuesday, Jan. 27, 9-9:50 am
Most self-storage facilities have a risk-management plan that includes insurance, but some operators and managers may not realize how they can use insurance to save and even make money. Minimize your expenses with the appropriate combination of commercial coverages designed for the self-storage industry and use a tenant insurance program as an additional profit center. Learn from self-storage insurance professionals how you can safe money up front, protect your business in the event of a loss and add to your bottom line.
Speaker: Paul Cardamon, Ryan Harmon and Matt Schaller, Bader Co.

Financing in 2009: Will the Bailout Save Us?
Tuesday, Jan. 27, 10-10:50 am
How will the government bank bailout plan affect your ability to obtain loans and refinance debt? Our speaker will explain the plan itself and provide up-to-minute information on the current lending environment. You’ll hear about the kinds of rates, terms and requirements you can expect from insurance companies, pension funds, banks and credit unions. You’ll leave this seminar with a firm grasp of the financing market and your ability to obtain recourse and non-recourse debt and construction funds, as well as the key factors lenders will consider when evaluating loan applications of all types.
Speaker: David Smyle, Benchmark Financial and Real Estate Services Inc.

Assembling a Loan Package That Attracts Dollars and Approvals
Tuesday, Jan. 27, 11-11:50 am
Get the most up-to-date information on the self-storage lending environment and learn how to most successfully package a loan request for lenders. Our speaker will touch on the following key topics: self-storage investment analysis, how and when to negotiate a commercial loan, the art of the cap rate (how to use it to get the deal closed), financial modeling, cash-flow modeling, how to create pro formas and budgets, how to attract investor dollars, and syndication. If you’re looking to fund a self-storage project, you don’t want to miss this session!
Speaker: Georgia Ragsdale, Watermark Financial