286: Calculated Risk and Upsized Returns in Self Storage with Neil Henderson

On today’s Zen and the Art of Real Estate Investing, Neil Henderson, investor relations specialist and general partner at Nomad Capital, joins Jonathan to share how he transitioned from Airbnb host to self-storage syndicator. His story begins with a guesthouse, an article from his mother about a new company called Airbnb, and a growing curiosity that led him down the BiggerPockets rabbit hole. Over time, that curiosity evolved into a career in self-storage, a niche known for stability, scalability, and smart value-add strategies. Neil and his partners at Nomad Capital have built a business that thrives on calculated risk. By focusing on conversions rather than new construction, they’ve lowered costs, created built-in equity, and shielded investors from some of the volatility affecting other commercial asset classes. In this episode, Neil explains how he built relationships that led to partnership opportunities, why networking changed the course of his career, and how Nomad’s integrated construction team creates a unique competitive advantage. From the early lessons of running short-term rentals to raising capital for syndications, Neil reveals what it takes to build a resilient investing mindset. He and Jonathan also discuss the fundamentals of self-storage investing, including the business’s recession resilience, demand drivers, and how technology has shifted operations and tenant expectations. Whether you’re exploring your first passive investment or considering a pivot into self-storage, this episode offers a clear view into one of real estate’s most durable and adaptive asset classes. In this episode, you will hear: The unexpected start that turned a Las Vegas guesthouse into Neil’s first investment property Lessons from scaling an Airbnb listing into a profitable business The power of genuine networking and building lasting partnerships in real estate How Nomad Capital uses conversions to create value and reduce risk Strategies that make self-storage recession-resilient and operationally efficient The mindset shifts that help investors manage risk and grow with confidence Follow and Review: We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Supporting Resources: Nomad Capital website - nomadcapital.us Truly Passive Income on YouTube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCe0F1abrRXQX2KpSl5qEnoA Truly Passive Income’s Facebook - www.facebook.com/TrulyPassiveInc Truly Passive Income on Instagram - www.instagram.com/truly_passive_income Connect with Neil Henderson on LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/neil-henderson-a77954 Website - www.streamlined.properties YouTube - www.youtube.com/c/JonathanGreeneRE/videos Instagram - www.instagram.com/trustgreene Instagram - www.instagram.com/streamlinedproperties TikTok - www.tiktok.com/@trustgreene Zillow - www.zillow.com/profile/StreamlinedReal Bigger Pockets - www.biggerpockets.com/users/TrustGreene Facebook - www.facebook.com/streamlinedproperties Email - info@streamlined.properties Episode Credits If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.