.Blue Door AM I Announces $28.4 Million Leveraged DST Offering Launch

Ladera Ranch, Calif. – Blue Door AM I, LLC, an indirect subsidiary of Strategic Storage Growth Trust III, Inc. (SSGT III), and an affiliate of SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (NYSE: SMA), announced the launch of Blue Door Property III, a Delaware Statutory Trust (DST) investment vehicle designed to give accredited investors exposure to the self‑storage sector.

The new DST aims to raise roughly $28.4 million in equity. Current financing includes about $24.2 million of non‑recourse debt, translating to an estimated loan‑to‑value (LTV) ratio of 46 percent. The structure allows investors to defer ordinary income tax on the underlying real‑estate income while participating in a historically resilient asset class.

Blue Door III will hold a diversified portfolio of three institutional‑grade self‑storage facilities located in high‑growth markets:

• Orlando, Florida – approximately 550 units covering 65,700 net rentable square feet.
• Dallas, Texas – roughly 670 units with 74,100 net rentable square feet.
• Phoenix, Arizona – about 710 units spanning 82,400 net rentable square feet.

These markets were selected for their strong demographic trends, robust job growth, and rising demand for storage solutions driven by e‑commerce and urbanization. According to industry data, the U.S. self‑storage sector has delivered a compounded annual growth rate of over 6 percent in the past decade, outpacing the broader real‑estate market.

Strategic Storage Growth Trust III, Inc. is a Maryland‑based corporation that has elected REIT status for federal tax purposes. The trust’s core strategy focuses on acquiring and operating growth‑oriented self‑storage facilities across the United States and Canada. As of December 2, 2025, SSGT III’s portfolio comprises seven operating properties in the United States (approximately 6,040 units and 655,275 net rentable square feet) and five properties in Canada (about 3,180 units and 326,190 net rentable square feet). The trust also holds joint‑venture interests in three development projects in Québec and British Columbia.

Blue Door Asset Management I, a subsidiary of SSGT III, sponsors three Delaware Statutory Trusts that currently own eight operating properties in the United States, totaling roughly 5,420 units and 697,400 net rentable square feet. This experience provides a solid operational backbone for Blue Door III.

SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (NYSE: SMA) is a self‑managed REIT with an integrated operations team of more than 1,000 professionals. The company’s brand, SmartStop®, operates over 460 properties across 34 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Canada, representing roughly 270,000 units and more than 35 million rentable square feet. In Canada, SmartStop and its affiliates manage 49 facilities—approximately 42,200 units and 4.3 million rentable square feet.

From a technology standpoint, both SSGT III and SmartStop have embraced automated access control, AI‑driven pricing algorithms, and cloud‑based asset management platforms. These innovations improve occupancy rates, optimize pricing elasticity, and reduce operating expenses—key drivers of the sector’s strong cash‑flow generation.

Investors evaluating Blue Door III should consider several factors:

• Tax Efficiency: The DST structure enables deferral of ordinary income tax until the sale of the DST interests, enhancing after‑tax returns.
• Yield Potential: Historical DSTs in self‑storage have delivered net yields in the 5‑7 percent range, driven by steady rent growth and low vacancy.
• Risk Profile: Non‑recourse financing limits downside exposure, while diversified geographic placement mitigates localized market risk.
• Scalability: Ongoing acquisitions and development pipelines across the U.S. and Canada position the sponsor to capture further market share.

Overall, Blue Door Property III offers a compelling blend of tax‑advantaged structure, high‑quality asset backing, and access to a sector that continues to benefit from shifting consumer behavior and technological upgrades.

Source: Strategic Storage Growth Trust III, Inc.