Expat Property Story

#175

Have you thought about investing in UK commercial property instead of or as well as residential? 

Jerry Alexander is the host of the brilliant Commercial Property Investor Podcast, so he is the perfect person to answer all your questions on this underrated sector of UK property investing.

Along the way you’ll hear about the differences and similarities between the two sectors and how you might get started as an expat commercial investor in UK property.

During the show, you will learn about:

• Active versus passive involvement.
• Different tiers of commercial property accessibility
• The importance of underlying demand 
• The importance of concentrating on one area.
• Starting with smaller investments or strategies to raise initial capital.
• Institutional investors, like pension funds, are increasingly interested in CMOs.
• Importance of understanding both visible and invisible market trends.
• Rent Adjustment Impact: Increasing rent or changing tenant agreements can significantly impact the property's value.
• Starting Simple: Start with vanilla properties to learn the market and establish relationships with reliable commercial agents.
• Leveraging capital allowances can reduce tax burdens on the investment portfolio.
• Dilapidations Clauses, which can reduce the effective price of a property by up to 30%.
• Urban Planning & Development.
• Long-term changes in shopping habits and retail space usage.
• Impact of Business Rates on the viability of retail spaces.
• Charity shops filling spaces previously occupied by high-end retailers.
• How Commercial Multiple Occupancy (CMO) increases potential tenant pool and cash flow.
• Flex spaces: buildings with flexible lease terms and adaptable unit sizes.
• Short-term, 12-month licenses allowing easier adjustments for tenants in terms of space size and lease extension.
• Commission Structure for Commercial Agents
• Useful Data Sources: Office for National Statistics, CoStar, Nimbus, and Property Data platforms. 
• Deciding whether to find a customer first or a building first.
• Licenses vs. Leases
• Market Research & Selecting Areas for Investment
• Identifying Opportunities
• Practical Advice for Remote Investors

We help time poor professionals get a good return on their money by investing with us. Schedule a call

Leave an honest review of Expat Property Story
Join our Mailing List to join our WhatsApp  group AND access our 37 Question Due Diligence Checklist AND our 23 Step Guide to Buying Property at Auction AND our Monthly Newsletter
Follow the Show on Instagram
Tell us the one thing you’re struggling with in UK property

Details of where to meet other Expat Property Investors (For FREE!!!):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (first Saturday of each month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (first Wednesday of each month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore at VivoCity (first Saturday of each month  from 10:30 am)

#174

One of the aims of this podcast is to demonstrate what’s possible for you as a remote investor in UK property.

And to showcase expats who are pushing the boundaries of what’s achievable. 

So if I told you that today’s guest self-managed their serviced accommodation business in Norfolk from their home in New Zealand while in full-time employment and with three children under two, would you believe me?

How about if I then told you they went on to build 8 new build houses for social housing in New Zealand?

Download now for an incredible Expat Property Story!

We help time poor professionals get a good return on their money by investing with us. Schedule a call

Leave an honest review of Expat Property Story
Join our Mailing List to join our WhatsApp  group AND access our 37 Question Due Diligence Checklist AND our 23 Step Guide to Buying Property at Auction AND our Monthly Newsletter
Follow the Show on Instagram
Tell us the one thing you’re struggling with in UK property

Details of where to meet other Expat Property Investors (For FREE!!!):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (first Saturday of each month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (first Wednesday of each month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore at VivoCity (first Saturday of each month  from 10:30 am)

Details of where to meet other Expat Property Investors (For FREE!!!):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (first Saturday of each month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (first Wednesday of each month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore at VivoCity (first Saturday of each month  from 10:30 am)

Keywords

remote UK property investors, expat property investors, Norfolk serviced accommodation, Wellington social housing portfolio, property management, full-time working parents, raising toddlers, UK property market challenges, relocating to New Zealand, selling Bristol home mistake, Airbnb hosting, Thetford property, Sykes Cottages rejection, self-managing accommodation, smart entry systems, direct property bookings, employment-based short-term lets, standard AST, New Zealand property development, social housing development, property portfolio in Wellington, demolishing and rebuilding property, Trade Me marketplace, NZ tax adviser, international tax considerations, trust for property protection, asset retention, avoiding mainstream news, Edinburgh property investment, 2-bedroom flats investment.

#173

Last week was a huge one for the sector after the new government gave the Renters' Rights Bill its first reading in parliament. 

The bill has massive implications for tenants, landlords, investors and everyone else connected to housing in the UK.

As an investor, you need to make sure you understand all the likely changes.

Change Means Opportunity and opportunity means money. And we all need money to do the things we want to do, right?

This week, we’ve invited Jonathan Rolande, a man who’s made over 700 property purchases and sales in a 30+ year career.

Jonathan has featured in national press, trade journals and landlord blogs.

He's appeared on national TV and radio so he definitely warrants the title property expert.

During the episode we discuss the opportunities that are bound to emerge from the disruption to the satus quo caused by Labour’s rebranding as the party to solve the housing crisis, so make sure you listen to the end!

This episode explains the implications behind the seven headline elements of the Renters' Rights Bill:

1.        End of Section 21, the so-called ‘no fault eviction’

2.        The Abolition of Fixed term tenancies

3.        Market rate rent increases only

4.        No discrimination against tenants with families or on benefits 

5.        The Decent Homes Standard to be extended to the Private Rental Sector

6.        Compulsory membership of a new Ombudsman Scheme

7.        A new landlord database

We help time poor professionals get a good return on their money by investing with us. Schedule a call

Leave an honest review of Expat Property Story
Join our Mailing List to join our WhatsApp  group AND access our 37 Question Due Diligence Checklist AND our 23 Step Guide to Buying Property at Auction AND our Monthly Newsletter
Follow the Show on Instagram
Tell us the one thing you’re struggling with in UK property

Details of where to meet other Expat Property Investors (For FREE!!!):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (first Saturday of each month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (first Wednesday of each month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore at VivoCity (first Saturday of each month  from 10:30 am)

Keywords

Expat Property Story, UK property sector changes, legislative reforms 2024, Renter’s Reform Bill, Renter’s Rights Bill, Section 21 no fault evictions, abolition of fixed term tenancies, periodic tenancies, market rate rent increases, tenant discrimination ban, Decent Home Standard, private rented sector, compulsory ombudsman membership, new landlord database, tenant security, landlord regulations, managing agents role, tenant vetting, property investment traits, empathy in property investment, vulnerable clients, current market trends, landlords exiting market, reduced property supply, rent increases, higher-spec properties, competition among renters, rental sector improvement, historical negative perceptions of landlords, social housing demand, housing reforms.

#172

You should listen to this episode if you’re looking for ways to get to your UK Property objectives that little bit quicker. 

Even if you know these resources, download anyway to hear alternative ways to use them. I can almost guarantee you’ll find inspiration for your own story one way or another.

In this episode we discuss:

R for Rightmove: Everyone knows this well-known property portal but have you thought of using it to to find investment locations by working out the median prices of properties?

S for Spare Room: A great resource for HMO research, understanding the competion, and tenant demand.

T for Tax Café: Essential books for tax planning, including tips for non-residents and non-doms.

U for UK Finance: Provides comprehensive data and analysis on banking and finance industry activity.

V for VPN: Frustrated by being blocked from Utility Companies’ websites ? A VPN can help you access UK services from abroad by encrypting data and masking IP addresses.

W for Word: Useful for journaling, transcription, and maintaining an organized body of content. An obvious one, but still essential in my book!

X for Excel: Xerox nearly made it but I don’t know enough about it to do it justice. So, even though this piece of Microsoft magic begins with an E, we plumped for Exce:  ideal for deal analysis, cash flow forecasting, and task management. Couldn’t live without it!

Y for YouTube: A treasure trove of free property advice and tutorials, though watch out for the ads!

Z for Zoopla: It was nearly Zapier, and in the episode we talk about other To-Do-List tips and tricks, but in the end we chose Zoopla.  Another property portal that's great for price history and additional insights.

We help time poor professionals get a good return on their money by investing with us. Schedule a call

Leave an honest review of Expat Property Story
Join our Mailing List to join our WhatsApp  group AND access our 37 Question Due Diligence Checklist AND our 23 Step Guide to Buying Property at Auction AND our Monthly Newsletter
Follow the Show on Instagram
Tell us the one thing you’re struggling with in UK property

Details of where to meet other Expat Property Investors (For FREE!!!):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (first Saturday of each month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (first Wednesday of each month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore at VivoCity (first Saturday of each month  from 10:30 am)

Keywords:
UK property objectives, property resources, investment location, Rightmove, buy to let strategy, property investment, median price, property reconfiguration, HMO strategy, spare room, tenant demand, landlord research, property tax planning, TaxCafe, UK Finance, VPN service, Microsoft Word, journaling for investors, property spreadsheet, financial control, Google Docs, property data analysis, check my file account, Zoopla, UK property listings, property portals, rental properties, property price history, UK property research, property podcasts.

#171

Do you have a favourite resource that helps you get the best results when investing in UK Property? 

Are you interested in new ones to take your Expat Property Story to the next chapter? 

Are you looking for new ways to use your existing resources?

For over seven years now, we’ve been collecting resources and inputting them on an XL spreadsheet.

 In this 4 part mini-series of essential resources for Expat property investors in UK property, we’ve chosen the best resources for each of the 26 letters of the alphabet. 

And even if some of them may sound obvious, stick around for new ideas about how to use them!

In this episode:

• J is for jargon busting: Dive into resources to decode property jargon and gain a deeper understanding of key terms. Here are three Jargon Busting websites: Right Move / Zoopla / Property Mark
• K is for Klevio: Explore the advantages of a smart keyless access system for apartments and businesses.
• L is for Locating: Uncover the largest and most comprehensive source of school and local area information in the UK.
• M is for mindset: Learn about the importance of harnessing the power of the mind for resilience and determination in property investing.
• N is for Nationwide: Understand the differences between house price indices and how they impact your property investment decisions. Halifax House Price Index / Land Registry House Price Index / Office for National Statistics Price Index
• O is for Otter: Discover an advanced transcription service that revolutionizes content creation and management.
• P is for Poe.com: Delve into the world of AI and its varied applications, from research to conversational interaction.
• Q is for Quora: Explore the wealth of knowledge and diverse perspectives available on this popular question-and-answer platform.

We help time poor professionals get a good return on their money by investing with us. Schedule a call

Leave an honest review of Expat Property Story
Join our Mailing List to join our WhatsApp  group AND access our 37 Question Due Diligence Checklist AND our 23 Step Guide to Buying Property at Auction AND our Monthly Newsletter
Follow the Show on Instagram
Tell us the one thing you’re struggling with in UK property

Details of where to meet other Expat Property Investors (For FREE!!!):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (first Saturday of each month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (first Wednesday of each month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore at VivoCity (first Saturday of each month  fr

#170

Are you looking for handy hacks to get you closer to achieving your UK property objectives?

I’ve been making a collection of useful resources for property investors for as long as I’ve been building a portfolio.

In this mini-series of four episodes, I’m sharing 26 of them from A-Z, to help you get to where you need to go as fast as you can.

Today we cover letters E to I.

Even if any of these resources come as no surprise to you, I can pretty much guarantee that this episode will inspire you in one way or another.

And at least one of them will be new to you. If not, you'll get your money back.

Except that all our content comes FREE, with no strings attached!

We help time poor professionals get a good return on their money by investing with us. Schedule a call

Leave an honest review of Expat Property Story
Join our Mailing List to join our WhatsApp  group AND access our 37 Question Due Diligence Checklist AND our 23 Step Guide to Buying Property at Auction AND our Monthly Newsletter
Follow the Show on Instagram
Tell us the one thing you’re struggling with in UK property

Details of where to meet other Expat Property Investors (For FREE!!!):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (first Saturday of each month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (first Wednesday of each month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore at VivoCity (first Saturday of each month  from 10:30 am)

Keywords
UK property objectives, property investors, property portfolio, due diligence, energy performance certificates, EPC, property assessment, property size, auction history, property auctions, auction results, property valuation, Google Maps, Google Earth, street problems, community issues, neighborhood research, property location, local infrastructure, local amenities, street view, property refurbishment, property planning, council tax reform, estate agents, property portals, modern method auction, conditional online auctions, property legal documents, property financing.

#169

Have you worked out your goals? Your purpose for investing in property? Your destination?

The next step is to work out how to get there.

You’ll need tools to get to your chosen destination and in the next four episodes, we’re giving you 26 of them from A-Z.

Some of them you’ll know and some of them you won’t.

Some of them you’ll need for your property story and some of them you might not.

But even the ones you won’t need may give you some ideas anyway.

During the episode, we discuss:

A - AirDNA

• A a short term rental data analytics platform for estimating property rental potential.

B - BCIS

• A calculator for accurate reinstatement value estimations for insurance purposes.

C - Check My File

• A resource giving consumers online access to their credit report and credit score. It's the only UK provider with data from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, the three main credit reference agencies in the UK, each of which holds slightly different information on your credit history.

D - Doogal.co.uk

• A resource for due diligence on postcodes and location data with features such as distance calculations, boundary mapping, house price statistics and the ability to generate random postcodes, addresses, and phone numbers for accessing information on websites.

We help time poor professionals get a good return on their money by investing with us. Schedule a call

Leave an honest review of Expat Property Story
Join our Mailing List to join our WhatsApp  group AND access our 37 Question Due Diligence Checklist AND our 23 Step Guide to Buying Property at Auction AND our Monthly Newsletter
Follow the Show on Instagram
Tell us the one thing you’re struggling with in UK property

Details of where to meet other Expat Property Investors (For FREE!!!):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (first Saturday of each month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (first Wednesday of each month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore at VivoCity (first Saturday of each month  from 10:30 am)

Keywords
Expat Property Guy, investing in property, destination, property story, listeners, UK property, resources, short term rental, interest rates, expats, serviced accommodation, legislation, planning, taxation, government, auction season, Dave Goodfellow, 4 pillars, data led decision making, price per night, occupancy rate, fixed costs, variable costs, net profit, Mark Simpson, off plan blocks, AirDNA, insurance, reinstatement value, BCIS, credit file, check my file, doogle.co.uk

#168

More and more expats are getting in touch with us asking about supported living as a UK Property investment strategy.

Many are attracted by the lower maintenance costs,  absence of voids and the fact that it makes cashflow forecasting that much easier, knowing exactly how much a particular property will generate for an extended period of time.

Return on Capital Employed is the go to metric for amny UK property investors.

But Ruth Hunter, of Veredus Property is equally concerned with Return on Impact

If this is something that interests you, download now and share with your network!

During the episode, we discuss:

- Lowering expectations around potential returns in the current climate

- Benefits of supported living: guaranteed rents, minimal maintenance issues, higher profitability

- "Return on impact" and social impact of investing in supported living

- Identifying demand for supported living: speaking to care workers, council commissioners, housing providers, researching local social housing commissioning teams

- Building relationships with housing providers and understanding the process of getting contracts and leases right

- Importance of understanding the criteria and needs of providers before acquiring a property for supported living

- Increased expat interest in supported living due to lower maintenance costs, easier cash flow forecasting, appeal of helping vulnerable sections of society

- Shift from HMOs for young professionals to supported living for social housing, prioritizing impact over financial return

- Local housing authority rates and working on a CIC framework to claim enhanced rates

- Skepticism about the viability and legality of rent to rent deals.

We help time poor professionals get a good return on their money by investing with us. Schedule a call

Leave an honest review of Expat Property Story
Join our Mailing List to join our WhatsApp  group AND access our 37 Question Due Diligence Checklist AND our 23 Step Guide to Buying Property at Auction AND our Monthly Newsletter
Follow the Show on Instagram
Tell us the one thing you’re struggling with in UK property

Details of where to meet other Expat Property Investors (For FREE!!!):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (first Saturday of each month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (first Wednesday of each month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore at VivoCity (first Saturday of each month  from 10:30 am)

Keywords
Subletting, Commercial properties, Mortgage companies, Supported living properties, Lenders, Property investment, Social housing, Public speaking, Adaptable investing, Property market, Passionate investment, Returns, Ruth Hunter, Veradis Properties, Supported living profitability, Care package, Return on impact, Demand for supported living, Housing providers, Leases, Solicitor, Community interest company, Corporate lets, Expats, Property show, Joint venture, Accessible housing, HMOs, Hands-off investment, Cheltenham, Gloucester, Rent to rent

#167

Would you like to know how to turn a three bed or even a two bed terraced house into a 6 bed all ensuite HMO, raising its value from 133K to 479K or more? 

What you like a glimpse into how this business model works? 

Would you like to understand the risks and how to mitigate for them? 

It’s not as easy as the course pushers would have you believe. But it IS possible and people ARE doing it.

In this episode, we discuss:

- Converting a 3 bed or 2 bed terraced house into a 6 bed en suite HMO

- Detailed account of one of the recent investment projects in Derby

- Exploring risks and risk mitigation

- The one size fits one approach to working with investors

- Tailored investment proposals based on individual aims and risk tolerance

- How to replicate our business model OR invest with us

- Ethical investing and social impact

- The process of project exit and interest payments for investors

- Importance of maintaining continuous investment with lower interest rates

- Differentiating between high-return and high-security investments

- Understanding the valuation process and its relevance to fund investor repayment

- The significance of article 4 areas and potential valuation impacts

- Detailed analysis of Derby for investment prospects in terms of Infrastructure, employment, and population dynamics

- The modern method of auction and its benefits in our Business model

- Investment appeal for individuals with idle funds

- The possibility of investing in property without being involved in property management

- The approach to valuing properties and choosing the right valuers

- The impact of article 4 designation on investment returns

Primary Topic: Case Studies and Support Materials

- Case study of a specific property investment project

- The role of article 4 designation in property valuation

- Personal experience of investing in Derby, including on-site research

- Dealing with challenges and frustrations in property investment

- The modern method of auction 

We help time poor professionals get a good return on their money by investing with us. Schedule a call

Leave an honest review of Expat Property Story
Join our Mailing List to join our WhatsApp  group AND access our 37 Question Due Diligence Checklist AND our 23 Step Guide to Buying Property at Auction AND our Monthly Newsletter
Follow the Show on Instagram
Tell us the one thing you’re struggling with in UK property

Details of where to meet other Expat Property Investors (For FREE!!!):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (first Saturday of each month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (first Wednesday of each month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore at VivoCity (first Saturday of each month  from 10:30 am)

Keywords

HMO, property investment, real estate, expat, investment model, hands-off investment, refurbishment, property valuation, article 4, Derby, commercial mortgage, rental income, property development, GDV, risk tolerance, investment return, financial planning, rental yield, property location, infrastructure, employment opportunities, property market, auction, investment strategy, landlord, tenant, rental market, housing market, expatriate, property portfolio, investment opportunities.

#166

It seems like everyone’s interested in HMOs these days.

It’s one of the few business models that passes mortgage lenders’ stress tests and just about gives you enough cashflow to make the effort worthwhile.

It’s fair to say that most HMO investors, ourselves included, focus on the Midlands or the North.

But today’s guest puts forward a robust argument for investing in London. Yes... London.

And perhaps after listening to this episode, he may convince you too.


We discuss:

- Lower competition / stronger rental demand in London 

- Why it’s easier to find deals and get offers accepted

- Working with Private Investors

- Finding the right area aligning with strategy and circumstances

- Importance of investing locally

- Acknowledgment that remote investing can work with the right team

- Impact of Article 4 in London

- High-quality rooms in HMO properties for premium rental income and positive impact on commercial property valuations

- Large cpaital Requirement for London

- Challenges of achieving passive income through property investment

- Transitioning from property acquisition to building a team for property management and sourcing

- Reducing costs and aligning with larger strategic business goals

- Fostering friendships and socialization to reduce property turnover

- Tenants staying longer, reducing property turnover

- Comparison of rental yields in the Midlands with potential profits for property development projects in London

- Time efficiency and profitability in single London project investment versus multiple deals in the Midlands

- Discussion on significant growth potential and building wealth through London property investments

- Identifying areas in London for investment

- Predictions of London's upcoming exponential growth stage

- Viewpoints on the property cycle

- Growing interest in HMOs due to passing mortgage lender stress tests and providing sufficient cash flow

We help time poor professionals get a good return on their money by investing with us. Schedule a call

Leave an honest review of Expat Property Story
Join our Mailing List to join our WhatsApp  group AND access our 37 Question Due Diligence Checklist AND our 23 Step Guide to Buying Property at Auction AND our Monthly Newsletter
Follow the Show on Instagram
Tell us the one thing you’re struggling with in UK property

Details of where to meet other Expat Property Investors (For FREE!!!):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (first Saturday of each month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (first Wednesday of each month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore at VivoCity (first Saturday of each month  from 10:30 am)

Keywords
London property market, private investors, bridging finance, capital intensive, rental demand, anti-landlord legislation, tailored investment strategy, remote investing, property management, long-term investment, article 4, HMO properties, turnkey service, passive income, entrepreneurial journey, strategic delegation, management agency, isolation impact on tenants, rental yields, property turnover, Expat Property Guy, property cycle, explosive growth, mortgage lender stress tests, ideal housemates, successful property investing, "Property Adjectives," capital appreciation, cash flow, additional streams of income