I just magically made numbers appear.. verrry dangerous.Also be mindful of this...100K in profit for a 80K all in deal is different than a 100K profit for a 500K all in deal.I am not being negative here.

Magically using sites other than loopnet the brokers are not only more responsive, but I actually had a broker send me actuals AND a proforma.

I don't put my financial future in the hands of property management and hope that they will magically be able to maintain them within some allocated budget arbitrarily based on some made up percentage of gross rents.

What is the magic number that you would keep buying no matter if the market was going up, down, or sideways.That magic number is the price you need to be buying always, because market pricing does not matter, it is only a concept of what a person perceives something is worth, not what it is worth.

All of my family and coworkers said I was stupid to give up a good job with amazing benefits -- At first I was nervous that they were right -- NOW - I wouldn't go back for the world - My Time is free to use as I choose and I love it --- Im no longer waiting until the magic day in the distant future to spend my Time doing what I want...So, how does all of that pertain to the topic of the discussion -- I have $ in a 401k that we are contemplating our next move -- I know all of the reasons why it would be a mistake to pull it out - I know that if I do cash out, the amount of money I lose will likely make me sick to my stomach for a few weeks .....

Magic-pak looks like a really interesting option. 

Yes, you can refinance out of an FHA loan at anytime that you have reached the magical number with regard to LTV.

Just like any other RE investment, self storage involves renting space at a rate that exceeds your cost to do so.As for the Original Poster's question, www.selfstorages.com, loopnet, brokerage specific sites like Marcus and Milichap and Argus, www.investmentrealestatellc.com if you are looking in the mid-atlantic or northeast, and craigslist are all sites that might be useful to you.Looking at off market property: For a first property, I would recommend using the magic of google to locate all storage facilities that meet your criteria within a 60 mile radius of where you live.

I've been delaying writing this new member introduction post for quit some time now, as I've waited to gain some kind of magical insight to share with the group instead of writing, "Hi, my name is Joshua and I want you to answer my question".

Even if you can get a good PM that will manage in this area (most of the good ones don't), it's not like they're going to magically attract great tenants with good incomes, good credit, no evictions that will take care of the place.