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As they do each fall, self-storage top executives and entrepreneurs gathered in Las Vegas this month to discuss industry trends, market fundamentals, investor sentiment, and the overall market outlook heading into the end of the year. Despite continued rising interest rates putting downward pressure on valuation and still-sluggish operating fundamentals throughout the industry, the overall sentiment was cautiously optimistic in Vegas. The consensus is that the industry continues to feel the effects of the slower housing market, overbuilding, and lower overall demand across the board. These current market headwinds have kept investors in check even though occupancy and rental rates seem to be showing signs of stabilizing. Most industry veterans remain optimistic about the industry long-term (3-7 years) and have a positive outlook. However, they are also very clear that if you need to sell an investment today or have a fully leveraged project you will need to be realistic about your options.