The Inside Self-Storage Expo in Nashville, Tenn., will include a seminar on securing loans for self-storage construction and remodeling, intended for owners and developers interested in building a new facility, or expanding or renovating an existing one. 
 
On Oct. 8, 2008, Georgia Ragsdale, president and CEO of Watermark Financial Inc., will provide a comprehensive introduction to the finance market and how it affects construction loans. Attendees can expect to learn about beginning the loan process, gathering the proper documentation, and selecting the best loan structure and type. She’ll also share what banks are looking for when evaluating a loan request, how to get to loan-to-value and more.
 
Over the past 18 years, Ragsdale has brokered for a hard-money lending source and acquired land for development companies. She has also coached the corporate sales teams of Fortune 500 companies such as GMAC, Charles Schwab, Bank of America, Gateway, Toshiba America, Ikon Office Solutions and Grubb & Ellis. She is a graduate of Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
 
Based in Los Angeles, Watermark Financial is a licensed commercial mortgage brokerage that focuses on the construction sector, with many clients in the self-storage industry.

The ISS Nashville Expo, Oct. 7-10, 2008, will feature four days of educational seminars, vendor exhibits and networking opportunities. The show will take place at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. It is sponsored by Inside Self-Storage magazine, a monthly trade publication for owners, operators, managers, investors and suppliers of the storage industry. For details, visit www.insideselfstorageexpo.com.