DST Sponsor Spotlight
SmartStop
Sponsor Overview
SmartStop Self Storage is a prominent leader in the self-storage industry, known for its strategic expertise in acquiring, managing, and developing high-quality storage properties across North America. Since its founding in 2009 by CEO H. Michael Schwartz, SmartStop has built an integrated operating platform that includes more than 500 professionals managing over 222 properties across 22 U.S. states and Canada, totaling over 17.9 million rentable square feet.
With a solid track record in both public and private markets, SmartStop has raised over $1.7 billion through five public offerings and an additional $279 million through four private real estate programs. The company’s ability to deliver value across various market cycles is supported by its data-driven operations and consistent performance in both income-generating and growth-focused investment strategies.
SmartStop’s affiliated property and asset management platforms bring operational excellence to each offering.
Headquarters
Ladera Ranch, California
Chairman and CEO
H. Michael Schwartz
Michael Schwartz is a pioneering force in the self-storage investment space. As the founder and CEO of SmartStop, he has overseen the expansion of the firm into one of the top self-storage REITs in North America. His leadership has guided the firm through complex market cycles while consistently delivering innovative, tax-advantaged investment structures such as DSTs and NAV REITs.
Properties across U.S. and Canada
Rentable sq ft Under Management
Self-Storage Assets
222
17.9M
304
Properties across U.S. and Canada
222
Rentable sq ft Under Management
17.9M
Self-Storage Assets
304
Investment Strategy
Self-Storage Specialization
Decades of focused experience in the acquisition, development, and management of storage properties.
Growth & Income Blend
Targets both stabilized assets for income and development projects for capital appreciation.
1031 Exchange Expertise
Offers DST programs designed to meet the needs of exchangers seeking tax deferral and diversification.
Institutional Discipline
Rigorous underwriting and compliance-driven acquisition processes.
Primary Property Sectors
Self-Storage
SmartStop focuses exclusively on the self-storage sector, targeting properties in high-demand urban and suburban markets across the U.S. and Canada. Their offerings often include stabilized income-producing assets and value-add or development-stage project
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DST Pros & Cons
- Assets Under Management (AUM) denotes the aggregate value of all assets managed by the organization, encompassing Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) as well as other investment vehicles.
- All AUM statistics are as of March 31, 2025. Past performance of the Sponsor does not guarantee future results. Aggregation and liquidity objectives, timing, and results are not guaranteed.
- High-grade institutional property refers to property that attracts large, sophisticated investors due to the size and quality of the property, e.g., pension funds, life insurance companies, real estate investment trusts (“REITs”), university endowments, sovereign wealth funds, etc.