Happy to share more specific ideas!

I like the idea of using a 15-year loan for the best rate, especially since I’m aiming for long-term stability. 

IF you plan on going back someday, and this is the home you want to move back to, then renting it would be a good idea as long as you estimate that it will cover itself, or preferably, cash flow, which it appears that yours will at @ $2K or so per month (after expenses). 

I gave him some ideas of what he could do depending on if he wanted to be more passive or more active.

In most cases, I don't recommend renting out your primary residence especially if you have no rental experience and that is because usually your primary residence was bought without the idea of renting it out.  

She was working at a company she hated and Lauren thought she’d be open to the idea of putting in a few hours cold calling for me.

However I do have a few other ideas but I would need to know a bit more about your situation, timeframe, overall financial objectives.

@Luke Spencer I am not on the management side but I can tell you it took 2+ years to fill 300 units at one of our facilities and the other just hit 300 units in 12/13 months so it really depends on the demographics, and local housing market trend, the more people moving in and out the higher the demand for storage.I think if you're looking at a saturated market then the upfront cash to turn the warehouse into self storage is not a good idea but then again, maybe those operators are on back roads ( low visibility ) and don't push google ads well.

This is a great idea that I think I will incorporate.Your point about a contingency line item is smart, I will need to talk to my lender about that possibility. 

I totally understand and acknowledge the idea of investing where you currently live.