#312 - Turning Vacant Retail Buildings Into High Cash-Flow Self-Storage - David Pelusio Sr.

Joining us in this episode of Living Off Rentals is a seasoned real estate developer with more than five decades of hands-on experience across residential, commercial, and industrial properties. David Pelusio Sr. has spent over 55 years building, owning, and operating assets ranging from warehouses and shopping centers to large-scale self-storage facilities. Today, his focus is on converting vacant big-box retail buildings into climate-controlled self-storage. Listen as David breaks down why self-storage has remained resilient through economic cycles, how buying properties at the right price creates massive upside, and why underutilized retail spaces present one of the most compelling opportunities in today's market. Enjoy the show! Key Takeaways: [00:00] Introducing David Pelusio Sr. and his real estate background [03:00] How David got started in real estate at just 16 years old [04:26] The economics of buying vacant big-box retail versus ground-up construction [07:14] Using existing tenants to create cash flow from day one [08:14] Subdividing properties attracts institutional buyers [09:35] The approval process to convert vacant properties to storage [11:24] Renovation costs, pricing strategy, and competitive advantages [13:48] The four key criteria David uses to select winning markets [16:01] The risks involved in self-storage [23:21] Financing strategies and minimizing downside risk [25:00] Leaving "meat on the bone" to ensure strong exits [28:43] How investors can get involved or learn more [29:29] Connect with David Pelusio Sr. [31:04] Final thoughts on risk, returns, and long-term demand for self-storage [34:08] Outro Guest Links: LinkedIn: Website: Show Links: Living Off Rentals YouTube Channel – youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentals Living Off Rentals YouTube Podcast Channel - youtube.com/c/LivingOffRentalsPodcast Living Off Rentals Facebook Group – facebook.com/groups/livingoffrentals Living Off Rentals Website – Living Off Rentals Instagram – instagram.com/livingoffrentals Living Off Rentals TikTok – tiktok.com/@livingoffrentals

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#312 - Turning Vacant Retail Buildings Into High Cash-Flow Self-Storage - David Pelusio Sr. is an episode from Living Off Rentals by Kirby Atwell.

This episode is 34:41 long.

This episode was published on Feb 4, 2026.

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