We can't even go upstairs to see the apartment above retail space because access was blocked off decades ago.

Self-storage is as much a retail business as it is a commercial real estate asset. 

You are a contractor and can fix the homes for about 50% to 60% of what us retail people can fix a home for (correct me if I'm wrong here... ) :) But don't get hung up on "short sales" ", "REOs" , Pre-foreclosures... etc This market is extremely hot in many cities and they will not always be a good deal. #1: look at your financing : you could (could) get a better deal if you are doing "all cash" or "hard money" as its often treated as cash bc of the speed you can close in. 

Many agents that work strictly retail do not exactly know how to comp like an investor.

There's a major lack of inventory in the retail world as well. 

The real opportunity for this crisis so far is in retail/hospitality/offices.

If you're selling to retail buyers, you may not even get them through the front door if your online pictures don't "wow" them.

So I've decided to get my license in order to move out of my 50 hour work week in retail, and make larger sums of capital to eventually move into owning enough investment properties using the BRRRR method to be financially free.

If you were running numbers on a potential multiplex property, with 3 different streams of income:- 2 fully rented apartments- Detached 2 car garage- 3000 sq ft Zoned for Commercial use & storefront(but I’m looking into rezone options for retail)what are your ideas for the rezone?

My first property was a turnkey property that I paid retail for.