How To Excel at on Self-Storage Strategies, Housing Equity, and Community Impact with Matthew Ricciardella

https://www.crystalviewcapital.com/our-team

https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-ricciardella-a9156796/

Matthew Ricciardella is a self-made entrepreneur, business executive, investor, and philanthropist. Matthew is the proud Founder and Principal Manager of Crystal View Capital. With over 20 years of experience in the real estate industry, Mr. Ricciardella is responsible for managing and overseeing all Crystal View Capital Fund aspects, including investment strategy, fundraising, asset management, and operations. He currently manages over $400 Million in real estate assets. Matthew inspires confidence and helps others achieve their full potential with his strong leadership expertise and alignment of interest in all Funds.

With a personal investment of $10M+ in Crystal View Capital Funds I, II, and III, Matthew has created a powerful personal bond with his stakeholders. Under Mr. Ricciardella’s leadership, Fund I’s investors have realized an average internal rate of return of 47% since its inception. Matthew has earned a reputation for dealing fairly, honestly, and with integrity with his stakeholders and sellers, which he believes is his most valuable asset. In Mr.Ricciardella's free time, He loves spending time with his two sons and loving wife, Jessica, a company co-founder.

Summary

Self-Storage Industry Growth and Strategies

Michael and Matt discussed their respective roles and their companies' strategies. Matt, the founder and CEO of Crystal View Capital, shared that his company focuses on self-storage and manufactured housing communities, raising equity capital to purchase under-managed assets. They aim to maximize efficiency and net operating income, creating value and selling these assets to distribute profits to investors. Michael highlighted the growth of the self-storage industry and the importance of understanding the reasons behind this growth. The conversation was set to delve deeper into these topics.

Affordable Housing Crisis and Storage Demand

Michael and Matt discussed the demand for self-storage and mobile home communities due to the affordable housing crisis. Michael highlighted the need for storage among downsizers and businesses, while Matt emphasized the increasing demand for storage facilities as people downsize to save money. Matt also noted the stigma around mobile home communities has diminished, making them a more attractive option for affordable housing. Both agreed that the lack of new mobile home communities being built and the growing demand for affordable housing presents a significant opportunity for growth and increased pricing power.

Addressing Affordable Housing and NIMBYs

Michael and Matt discussed the issue of affordable housing and its impact on generations. Michael emphasized that the problem has been ignored for decades and has reached a critical point, causing despair among those who fear they will never be able to own a home. He encouraged perseverance and suggested that increasing access to housing could positively impact all levels of housing. Matt agreed with Michael's points. They also touched on the issue of NIMBYs (Not In My Backyard) and their influence on community development, with Michael expressing frustration over the exclusion of affordable housing in specific neighborhoods.

Discussing the Importance of Community

Michael and Matt discussed the concept of community, drawing parallels between a condominium building and a neighborhood. Michael emphasized the importance of community in fostering relationships and mutual support among neighbors. He shared his experience of living in a community where neighbors knew each other well and looked out for one another. Matt agreed with Michael's perspective, highlighting the value of community in both personal and investment contexts. They concluded that community is not just social and physical but also shared and mutu, al cared for.

Pride of Ownership and Home Equity Importance

Matt emphasized the importance of pride of ownership in their work, particularly in helping people afford and build equity in homes. He highlighted the potential for these homes to become their most significant asset and a source of financial growth. Matt also differentiated their approach from apartment complexes, noting that homeowners tend to stay longer and build stronger community ties. Michael agreed with Matt's perspective.

Discussing Performance, Growth, and Marketing Strategy

Michael and Matt discussed the performance of their organization in comparison to their competitors. Matt highlighted their organization's consistent delivery of promises and strong track record of making distributions to partners despite competitors cutting distributions or making capital calls. He emphasized the importance of hard work, execution, and under-promising and over-delivering. Matt also mentioned their organization's growth in occupancies, cost-cutting, and system refinement, leading to increased cash flow at the property level. He concluded by stating that they have made almost a hundred million dollars in distributions to partners over the years. Michael praised Matt's success and suggested an outward-facing marketing campaign, while Matt encouraged interested parties to contact them for more information. Both agreed on the importance of due diligence and making the right investment choices.