Why Is Self-Storage the Best-Kept Secret in Real Estate Investing?

What does it take to achieve financial freedom through real estate?In this episode of REI Freedom, we explore the inspiring journey of Alex Pardo, a former corporate professional who found his path to financial independence through self-storage investing. From closing a short sale that netted $44,000 to building a semi-passive income portfolio with storage facilities, Alex’s story is one of vision, bold decisions, and personal growth.Meet Alex PardoAlex Pardo is a self-storage investor, entrepreneur, and coach who walked away from a promising career at General Electric to pursue real estate full-time. His passion for personal development and freedom led him to wholesale deals, international travel, and ultimately, to building a successful business in the self-storage space. Today, Alex helps others do the same through his coaching program.Key Takeaways from This Episode:Leaving Corporate for Real Estate Alex shares how he left his job at GE in search of more meaningful and flexible work. His first real estate deal, a short sale, earned him $44,000 and ignited his belief in what’s possible outside of the 9-to-5 grind.The Power of Mentorship He opens up about costly mistakes in his early investing days and why investing in mentorship and coaching would’ve accelerated his growth. Alex explains how OPM (Other People’s Money) became a powerful tool in his real estate toolbox.Why Self Storage? After years of wholesaling, the pandemic pushed Alex to pivot into self-storage in 2019. He dives into the advantages of commercial real estate, especially storage units, and how this niche helped him build semi-passive income streams.Finding Off-Market Storage Deals Alex reveals his strategies for sourcing storage facility leads, everything from direct mail and cold calling to Google Maps and virtual assistants. He targets mom-and-pop storage operators in rural and secondary markets who are often ready to retire or sell.Creative Deal Structuring Without Personal Capital Think you need tons of money to invest in self-storage? Think again. Alex breaks down how he’s used seller financing, private money, partnerships, and SBA loans to acquire properties without using his own capital.Alex’s Coaching ProgramIf you’re serious about getting into self-storage investing, Alex offers a hands-on coaching program designed to help you purchase your first facility within 6–12 months. His approach focuses on mindset, action, and smart deal-making.📍 Apply to his program: storagewins.com/apply 📺 Watch his content: youtube.com/alexpardoReady to Start Your REI Journey?If you’re inspired by Alex’s story and want to learn how to create time freedom through real estate, book a discovery call with Jeremy today. Visit reifreedom.com/apply and take the first step toward achieving your REI freedom!