Bigger economy, more demand, better long-term upside than Dayton or Cincinnati.If I were in your shoes:Learn to run numbers on 2–4 unit properties.Save aggressively.Meet local investors and maybe find a mentor in Columbus.Focus on credit health so you can walk into a bank after graduation ready to go.That way, you graduate with a plan instead of starting from scratch; I hope this help you a bit and adds to the good advice you are already getting on here: I sent you a DM on BP and hope you can assist.

Birmingham also stands out with its diversified economy—from finance to health care and universities—and a metro population that supports rental demand (Home Bay, Wikipedia).

By temporarily halting distributions, we can preserve capital, manage our resources more effectively, and invest in key areas that will drive future growth and profitability.In the interim, we are taking strategic steps to strengthen our financial health, including cost-reduction measures, revenue-generating initiatives, and debt restructuring options.

This is a quick way to gauge the health of the market.And of course, talk to local realtors.

Does this mean we need to double down on local median-home-price health, employment data, and insurance vulnerabilities (especially in storm-prone places)?

It also comes with a restaurant that hasn’t been in service for 40 years, but the structure is in surprisingly good shape.Here’s what I’m thinking through so far:Standard due diligence: +Phase 1 and 2 environmental, city plans/zoning, health department approvals for bringing the restaurant back online.Talking to the Army Corps of Engineers and the local harbormaster about dredging (not something I’d do immediately but want to know long-term outlook) and figure out generic cost for budgeting purposes. 

Renovated houses with multiple bedrooms and off-street parking do especially well.Pittsburgh also punches above its weight as a medical hub with UPMC, Allegheny Health Network, and the new children's hospital.

So...Who will you call to fix your gate, what management system are you using, what is your advertising budget for the property, who many employees will you have on site, what is your retail mix, how many carts will you own on the property, what is your balance of interior climate controlled and exterior units, will you allow RV and boat storage, how do you handle someone living in a unit or running a business from your self storage unit, what is the real demand for storage in that market, does your client base have enough expendable income to afford storage and/or absorb your rent increases, how long of free rent or other promotions are you providing to get your units full, are you planning on expanding the property, how much are you co-investing, what are your fees, what is your carried interest, what relationships do you have with brokers or owners, what markets are you focused on, how are you different than the hundreds of other self storage syndicators, how much time are you dedicating to this venture versus your "day job", do you have the net worth to secure a loan yourself, what terms are you finding for the loans, are you providing the personal guarantee or relying on someone else, fixed or floating rate, what auction company are you using for unit sales, what have you done professionally that would give me the confidence that you will figure this out on the fly, how frequently are you paying distributions, how can i monitor the health of my investment, how frequently will I be getting updates, do you have an investor portal, have you setup a website and professional email address, who is your management company, how many did you interview before settling on them, how many are operating in that market in case you need to replace them, will this be branded units or creating your own brand...At the end of the day, the reason you will be raising money from your friends and family is because they typically won't even know to ask these questions. 

L&I has labled both of them as unsafe, meaning the agency found them to be "dangerous to the life, health, property or safety of the public or the occupants of the structure".

This is how we avoid lawsuits, keep units full, and make sure your NOI keeps climbing.And if you own property in South Carolina, listen up: state law lays out specific duties for both landlords and tenants, whether they’re written in your lease or not.Here’s what you’re on the hook for:Maintain the property to health and safety standardsMake timely repairsKeep all systems (HVAC, plumbing, electrical) in working orderKeep common areas clean and safeProvide running water, hot water, and heat (unless the lease legally shifts that burden)You can’t just assume your lease protects you.