Experience
Seasoned asset managers with a passion for uplifting others through real estate investing opportunities.
Education
Build confidence in your ability to invest wisely with the free educational resources
Connection
Stay informed and up to date with the latest investment opportunities and company developments
About us
Maricela Soberanes and Chris Linger bring together decades of leadership, operational expertise, and real estate investing experience. Maricela began investing in real estate in 2006 by building her own rental portfolio in Austin, Texas before expanding into larger investment opportunities and business ownership. A Navy veteran, author, and healthcare professional, she is passionate about helping others understand wealth-building through real estate, financial strategy, and ownership. Chris, who holds an MBA, brings more than 27 years of military leadership and operational experience from his service in the U.S. Navy. He now focuses full-time on real estate acquisition analysis, underwriting, and asset strategy with an emphasis on disciplined execution and long-term value creation. Together, they combine service-driven leadership, education, and investment expertise to create opportunities that positively impact families, investors, and communities.
Experience
Seasoned asset managers with a passion for uplifting others through real estate investing opportunities.
Education
Build confidence in your ability to invest wisely with the free educational resources
Connection
Stay informed and up to date with the latest investment opportunities and company developments
Be the First to Know
Receive exclusive investment opportunities, and the latest investing strategies ...right to your inbox.
About Chris and Maricela
Maricela Soberanes and Chris Linger bring together decades of leadership, operational expertise, and real estate investing experience. Maricela began investing in real estate in 2006 by building her own rental portfolio in Austin, Texas before expanding into larger investment opportunities and business ownership. A Navy veteran, author, and healthcare professional, she is passionate about helping others understand wealth-building through real estate, financial strategy, and ownership. Chris, who holds an MBA, brings more than 27 years of military leadership and operational experience from his service in the U.S. Navy. He now focuses full-time on real estate acquisition analysis, underwriting, and asset strategy with an emphasis on disciplined execution and long-term value creation. Together, they combine service-driven leadership, education, and investment expertise to create opportunities that positively impact families, investors, and communities.
Be the First to Know
Receive exclusive investment opportunities, and the latest investing strategies ...right to your inbox.
Hear From Our Investors
My wife and I thank our lucky stars that we worked with Chris and Maricela, they are so organized and always willing to make a win-win situation.
- S. McDonald -
McDonald Homes
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it 100 times. We
owe our success to you both. Great mentors like you [Chris & Maricela] have
helped tremendously!
- S. Enyard -
Anchor Atlas Properties Founder
After seeing and relating to some of my frustrations, they drove two hours to help
with our four-plex renovation. Chris & Maricela are always a wealth of knowledge.
- C. Byler -
Passive Patriots Founder
Low Operational Costs
Facilities require minimal maintenance and management compared to other real estate.
High Profit Margins
Steady cash flow with low overhead leads to strong returns.
Value-Add Opportunities
Simple upgrades like security or climate control can boost income and property value.
Scalability
Easily expand by adding units or acquiring new facilities.
3 Investing Tips
Start Now
The best time to invest in real estate is now and with the right investment, you can see amazing growth in just 18 months.
Trust in Proven Returns
The best time to invest in real estate is now and with the right investment, you can see amazing growth in just 18 months.
Start Just With $50K
It takes less than you think to get started and with the right team you'll shorten your learning curve and increase your returns.
3 Investing Tips
Start Now
The best time to invest in real estate is now and with the right investment, you can see amazing growth in just 18 months.
Trust in Proven Returns
The best time to invest in real estate is now and with the right investment, you can see amazing growth in just 18 months.
Start Just With $50K
It takes less than you think to get started and with the right team you'll shorten your learning curve and increase your returns.
Schedule A Free Consultation
Invest with confidence. We’ll help you understand how to evaluate if a certain asset is right for you.
Schedule A Free Consultation
Invest with confidence. We’ll help you understand how to evaluate if a certain asset is right for you.
Our Assets
We strategically focus on a variety of asset types in order to create a strong and diverse portfolio of assets that can hedge against economic uncertainties. Creating safer investment opportunities for our investors.
Our Assets
We strategically focus on a variety of asset types in order to create a strong and diverse portfolio of assets that can hedge against economic uncertainties. Creating safer investment opportunities for our investors.
FREE Educational
Materials
Learn important investing concepts and strategies at your own pace with our "Savvy Passive Investor" series on YouTube
FREE Educational Materials
Learn important investing concepts and strategies at your own pace with our "Savvy Passive Investor" series on YouTube
Latest News
Why Self-Storage Is One of the Hottest Passive Investment Opportunities Today
When people think about real estate investing, apartment communities often come to mind first. But in recent years, self-storage facilities have become one of the fastest-growing and most resilient asset classes in real estate.
From individuals moving to new homes to businesses needing extra inventory space, demand for self-storage continues to grow. As a result, many passive investors are turning to self-storage as a way to diversify their portfolios while pursuing long-term income and growth.
What Makes Self-Storage Different?
Self-storage facilities provide secure spaces where individuals and businesses can store personal belongings, vehicles, equipment, or inventory.
Unlike many other real estate investments, self-storage properties typically require:
No furnished units
Minimal tenant improvements
Lower maintenance compared to residential properties
Streamlined day-to-day operations
These characteristics make self-storage an attractive asset class for long-term investors.
Why Demand Continues to Grow
People need storage during many of life's biggest transitions.
Common reasons include:
Moving to a new home
Downsizing
College students between semesters
Business inventory storage
Home renovations
Military deployments
Life events such as marriage, divorce, or inheritance
Because these situations occur regardless of economic conditions, demand for self-storage has remained strong across many markets.
A Diversified Source of Rental Income
Unlike a multifamily property with a limited number of apartments, self-storage facilities often consist of hundreds of individual storage units.
This means rental income is spread across many tenants rather than relying on a small number of leases, creating a more diversified revenue stream.
In addition to generating passive income, investors may also benefit from the tax advantages that real estate can offer. Many professionally managed self-storage investments utilize cost segregation studies and accelerated depreciation, which can create depreciation deductions that may offset a significant portion—or even all—of an investor's taxable passive income. Depending on each investor's individual tax situation, this can make much of the passive income received from the investment tax-deferred in the early years. Investors should consult their tax advisor to understand how these benefits apply to their specific circumstances.
Lower Operating Complexity
Compared to traditional residential real estate, self-storage facilities generally involve fewer day-to-day management responsibilities.
There are:
No kitchens or bathrooms to maintain inside units
Fewer repair requests
Simpler unit turnover
Flexible lease structures
While professional management is still essential, these operational efficiencies contribute to why many investors appreciate the asset class.
Technology Is Making Self-Storage Even More Efficient
Modern self-storage facilities continue to evolve through technology.
Many now offer:
Online reservations
Digital lease signing
Automatic payment systems
Mobile access controls
Security cameras and remote monitoring
These innovations improve the customer experience while helping operators manage facilities more efficiently.
Why Investors Include Self-Storage in Their Portfolios
Self-storage offers several benefits that make it an appealing addition to a diversified real estate portfolio:
Consistent demand driven by everyday life events
Diversified rental income from numerous tenants
Operational efficiencies compared to many other property types
Potential for long-term appreciation
Opportunity to diversify alongside multifamily and mobile home park investments
For these reasons, many investors view self-storage as an important complement to other income-producing real estate assets.
Is Self-Storage Right for You?
Self-storage may be worth considering if you:
Want passive exposure to real estate
Value portfolio diversification
Prefer professionally managed investments
Are focused on long-term wealth creation
Want exposure to an asset class with broad consumer demand
Want to take advantage of potential tax benefits through accelerated depreciation
Final Thoughts
Self-storage has earned its reputation as one of today's most attractive passive real estate investment opportunities.
Its broad customer base, operational efficiencies, and role within a diversified portfolio continue to attract investors looking beyond traditional property types.
Combined with the potential tax advantages of accelerated depreciation, self-storage investments can provide investors with both passive income and potential tax-efficient cash flow, making them an even more attractive addition to a diversified real estate portfolio.
Whether you're new to passive investing or expanding an existing portfolio, self-storage can be a valuable component of a long-term real estate investment strategy.
Explore Passive Self-Storage Investing
At Up Plex, we believe diversification is key to long-term success. That's why we invest across multifamily communities, self-storage facilities, mobile home parks, and real estate funds to help investors build wealth through passive real estate investing.
Visit our Investor Portal to explore current investment opportunities, view available offerings, and stay informed about future investments.
Investor Portal: https://up-plex.cashflowportal.com/app
Contact Up Plex today to learn more about our investment opportunities.
LEAVE A REPLY
Check Out Our Latest BLOG Post
Why Self-Storage Is One of the Hottest Passive Investment Opportunities Today
When people think about real estate investing, apartment communities often come to mind first. But in recent years, self-storage facilities have become one of the fastest-growing and most resilient asset classes in real estate.
From individuals moving to new homes to businesses needing extra inventory space, demand for self-storage continues to grow. As a result, many passive investors are turning to self-storage as a way to diversify their portfolios while pursuing long-term income and growth.
What Makes Self-Storage Different?
Self-storage facilities provide secure spaces where individuals and businesses can store personal belongings, vehicles, equipment, or inventory.
Unlike many other real estate investments, self-storage properties typically require:
No furnished units
Minimal tenant improvements
Lower maintenance compared to residential properties
Streamlined day-to-day operations
These characteristics make self-storage an attractive asset class for long-term investors.
Why Demand Continues to Grow
People need storage during many of life's biggest transitions.
Common reasons include:
Moving to a new home
Downsizing
College students between semesters
Business inventory storage
Home renovations
Military deployments
Life events such as marriage, divorce, or inheritance
Because these situations occur regardless of economic conditions, demand for self-storage has remained strong across many markets.
A Diversified Source of Rental Income
Unlike a multifamily property with a limited number of apartments, self-storage facilities often consist of hundreds of individual storage units.
This means rental income is spread across many tenants rather than relying on a small number of leases, creating a more diversified revenue stream.
In addition to generating passive income, investors may also benefit from the tax advantages that real estate can offer. Many professionally managed self-storage investments utilize cost segregation studies and accelerated depreciation, which can create depreciation deductions that may offset a significant portion—or even all—of an investor's taxable passive income. Depending on each investor's individual tax situation, this can make much of the passive income received from the investment tax-deferred in the early years. Investors should consult their tax advisor to understand how these benefits apply to their specific circumstances.
Lower Operating Complexity
Compared to traditional residential real estate, self-storage facilities generally involve fewer day-to-day management responsibilities.
There are:
No kitchens or bathrooms to maintain inside units
Fewer repair requests
Simpler unit turnover
Flexible lease structures
While professional management is still essential, these operational efficiencies contribute to why many investors appreciate the asset class.
Technology Is Making Self-Storage Even More Efficient
Modern self-storage facilities continue to evolve through technology.
Many now offer:
Online reservations
Digital lease signing
Automatic payment systems
Mobile access controls
Security cameras and remote monitoring
These innovations improve the customer experience while helping operators manage facilities more efficiently.
Why Investors Include Self-Storage in Their Portfolios
Self-storage offers several benefits that make it an appealing addition to a diversified real estate portfolio:
Consistent demand driven by everyday life events
Diversified rental income from numerous tenants
Operational efficiencies compared to many other property types
Potential for long-term appreciation
Opportunity to diversify alongside multifamily and mobile home park investments
For these reasons, many investors view self-storage as an important complement to other income-producing real estate assets.
Is Self-Storage Right for You?
Self-storage may be worth considering if you:
Want passive exposure to real estate
Value portfolio diversification
Prefer professionally managed investments
Are focused on long-term wealth creation
Want exposure to an asset class with broad consumer demand
Want to take advantage of potential tax benefits through accelerated depreciation
Final Thoughts
Self-storage has earned its reputation as one of today's most attractive passive real estate investment opportunities.
Its broad customer base, operational efficiencies, and role within a diversified portfolio continue to attract investors looking beyond traditional property types.
Combined with the potential tax advantages of accelerated depreciation, self-storage investments can provide investors with both passive income and potential tax-efficient cash flow, making them an even more attractive addition to a diversified real estate portfolio.
Whether you're new to passive investing or expanding an existing portfolio, self-storage can be a valuable component of a long-term real estate investment strategy.
Explore Passive Self-Storage Investing
At Up Plex, we believe diversification is key to long-term success. That's why we invest across multifamily communities, self-storage facilities, mobile home parks, and real estate funds to help investors build wealth through passive real estate investing.
Visit our Investor Portal to explore current investment opportunities, view available offerings, and stay informed about future investments.
Investor Portal: https://up-plex.cashflowportal.com/app
Contact Up Plex today to learn more about our investment opportunities.
LEAVE A REPLY
Real Results From Real Businesses
Success Stories From Our Clients
Working with Maricela Soberanes and Chris Linger has truly changed my life. Their ethics, transparency, and leadership create an environment where you genuinely grow and feel like part of a real team. Before this, my world was mainly my 9–5, but within 9 months of committed education, hard work, and applying the skills they teach, I was able to be part of closing my first real estate deal, multiply my money, create impact in communities, and learn how to keep more of what I make. Recently, while capital raising, a potential investor was so impressed by my knowledge and professionalism that I was offered an opportunity to join the board of a national organization. I truly would not be where I am today without their mentorship and the way they push their students to grow.
We met Chris and Marcella Westfall at Grant Cardone’s Real Estate Club event and immediately knew they were quality people. Not only are they extremely knowledgeable in the multifamily space, but they are also genuine, transparent, and generous with their time. Through their mentorship, consistent education, and commitment to helping others grow, we are now in the process of signing our very first GP deal. Their guidance, integrity, and passion for teaching have been incredibly motivating and impactful in our journey.
I've been investing in real estate since 2016 and I want to take a moment to thank my business coach and mentor Chris for his guidance and support. Thanks to him I've been able to successfully navigate the challenges of transitioning from small real estate deals to syndications. Chris has a wealth of knowledge and experience in real estate syndications. He's always been very generous in answering my questions and offering advise. He's been very valuable and has experience to lean on. I highly recommend Chris to anyone looking to take their business to the next level.
