My question is why do developers strategically choose specific areas to develop?

Some thoughts on Storage as we own some and are putting some ground up 3 and 4 story infill deals together currently:There is consolidation going on with larger groups strategically buying off some of the "mom n pops" with that, these large owners have VERY professional management.Storage has become an Internet search and SEO game more and more, and the big REITs have armies of analysts that spend all their time managing the search marketing efforts.If you are going to invest in a deal, I strongly recommend you get a larger management company, large regional firm at minimum to manage the property and internet marketing efforts.Locations is very important, you should be very convenient near other retail uses, BUT you do NOT have to be MAIN and MAIN due to most customers initially finding their facility through mobile and internet searches.There are plenty of areas overbuilt, but also plenty of under supplied areas, the critical analysis is within that 3 mile radius.

Our original offer was a Submit Subject to Interior Inspection offer that we formulated based primarily on location, public information, and Google streetview.

bad contractors know who they can/cant' rip off, IMO real estate isn't a get rich quick.. you have to be smart and strategic.

@Christos Philippou; @Brian J Peterson; @Glen BeringerWould you be interested in getting together with other Delaware investors so that we can all chat, strategize and talk about or experiences so far?

That is  definitely new  news  to me  and  definitely  notable  info that one  will use  when strategizing on the  correct market  to invest in when  going for this  hat trick.

Hey BP,I have scoured the internet and have not found much in the discussion of books recommended for the real estate agent profession.I see "Millionaire Real Estate Agent" by Gary Keller thrown out a lot -- which is good for strategizing one's business -- but I'm looking for books that layout Real Estate Agent 101-level information.

I have written a post on the Lifecycle of a Multi-Family project that could be useful for you in this process of acquiring strategic knowledge about development. 

All of the strategic planning in the world doesn't really prepare for the emotion of what's happening. 

There are many strategic ways to do this, and you'll want to have your credit back up once its time to really start investing.