#206

It’s often said in property that you make your money at the point of purchase.

If you’re serious about building a property portfolio then you need to be trying to buy at wholesale rather than retail prices.

But if you don’t want to pay someone to find deals for you, then you should at least use the resources that sourcers themselves use.

Property Engine is the go-to property portal of choice for many sourcers.

I signed up for a two-week trial and was so impressed that I invited founder Jamie Greef onto the show to tell us all about it.

Jamie is generously offering 50% off the first month for Expat Property Story listeners.

All you need to do is to use the code EXPAT when you click on the link in the show notes.

During the episode we discuss:

o Jamie’s background and inspiration for PropertyEngine

o Target Audience

o Affordable pricing and market appeal

o Development of PropertyEngine

o Features of PropertyEngine

o Comparison with competitors

o Customizable strategies for users

o Unique data points and performance

o Package differences and potential future additions

o Examples of unique user strategies

o Testimonials on data reliability and customer satisfaction

o Flexibility and Customization Power

o Ability for users to integrate existing workflows

o Discussion of unique customer cases and satisfied clients

o Importance of creativity in property investing

o Time-saving features of PropertyEngine

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Where to meet Expat Property Investors (For FREE):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (1st Sat of month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (1st Weds of month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore VivoCity (1st Sat of month from 10:30 am)

Keywords

Expat Property Story, property portfolio, wholesale prices, retail prices, discounted deals, ROI, Property Engine, Property Filter, Prop Saucer, Jamie Greef, UK property, remote investors, motivated sellers, deal analyzer, property engine features, property sourcing, investment strategies, property data, market trends, UK property investment, sourcing business, property deals, property filters, property engine pricing, sourcing pipeline, property licensing, direct to vendor letters, property analysis, property comparables, expat property investment.

#205

If you’re not in a hurry to replace your income and you’re looking for long-term capital growth, then your good old fashioned single let is the easiest route to long-term wealth with minimum effort.

So if you’re a busy expat looking to build a UK portfolio with as little stress as possible, but with a good long-term return on your investment, then you won’t want to miss this week’s show.

Returning guest Darren McNeill of FMP Property Group first appeared back in Episode 74: Why You Should Keep a Journal.

In this episode, Darren explains why Buy to Let is not just alive & kicking in the North West, but thriving.

And Darren is offereing a £500 discount on his sourcing fee for the first 5 lucky listeners to get in touch.

During the episode, we discuss:

• Why buy-to-let isn't dead
• Buy-to-lets vs. HMOs and serviced accommodations
• The simplicity and long-term benefits of BTL
• Benefits of investing in FMP’s area around Rawtenstall and Rossendale Valley
• Capital growth data indicating strong performance
• Explanation of market demand and affordability in that region
• Example of a successful property investment
• Refurbishment details and capital appreciation over time
• Explanation of turnkey properties
• Market demand, property inquiries, and buyer types
• Impact of pricing and best and final offer situations
• FMP’s Business Operations
• Overview of the sourcing, renovation, and property business growth.
• Structure of FMPincluding subcontractors and partners.
• Refurb project management and timelines.
• Challenges in Property Sourcing
• The role of estate agents and the frustrations involved.
• Example of dream clients based in Canada.
• Discussion on purchase prices and client expectations.
• Caution against cost of lost opportunity.
• Importance of simple strategies for expats.
• Exclusive offer for podcast listeners.

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Where to meet Expat Property Investors (For FREE):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (1st Sat of month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (1st Weds of month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore VivoCity (1st Sat of month from 10:30 am)

Keywords

Expat Property Guy, buy to let, capital growth, UK portfolio, single let, podcast, real estate investment, UK Property Investor, Darren MacNeil, Property Hub forum, portfolio building, expat investing, low risk investment, turnkey property, refinancing, long term strategy, property sourcing, UK property market, Rossendale, Lancashire, real estate strategies, property renovation, Manchester property market, rental income, capital appreciation, BRR method, limited company, property sourcing service, remote investors, real estate challenges, expat property story.

#204

Bricks and mortar don’t come cheap.

Your own funds can only take you so far.

I’m sure you’ve heard lots of people talking about working with private investors.

But how do you go about finding them.

In a nutshell, you need to market yourself.

In this week’s show, we’re joined by Louise Jowsey.

Louise has over 20 years' marketing experience gained in real estate, financial services, media and retail sectors so she’s well placed and qualified to provide strategic AND tactical Marketing for small, ambitious property businesses.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The 3 key traits needed for successful marketing: Customer-centric, Consistency, and Clarity

• The importance of understanding your target audience

• How to identify your customer base by examining your own background, strengths, and story

• The significance of listening to potential clients to understand their pain points and needs

• The need for consistency in marketing efforts

• Messaging frameworks in marketing (typically 8-10 core messages)

• Compliance when marketing to private investors, especially regarding FCA regulations

• The concept of brand archetypes based on 12 core human desires

• How to use AI tools like ChatGPT effectively by incorporating brand strategy and tone of voice

• The importance of aligning personal and business brands for authenticity

• The "11-7-4 rule" for building trust (11 hours, 7 separate occasions, 4 different places)

• Louise's background in education and her charitable work in Cambodia

• How to develop a distinct tone of voice that matches your brand values and target audience

Louise's Charity in Cambodia

The 12 Brand Archetypes

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What's the one thing you’re struggling with in UK property

Where to meet Expat Property Investors (For FREE):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (1st Sat of month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (1st Weds of month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore VivoCity (1st Sat of month from 10:30 am)

Keywords

UK property resource, property investors, private investors, marketing campaign, customer centric, consistency, clarity, direct to vendor marketing, customer insights, niche marketing, target audience, customer avatar, pain points, customer needs, customer goals, marketing strategy, features and benefits, tone of voice, brand archetypes, messaging framework, social media engagement, property portfolio growth, financial services compliance, FCA compliance, AI tools, Chat GPT, marketing training program, customer research, business strengths, networking events.

#203

Buying a leasehold property with less than 80 years left on the lease offers savvy investors the opportunity to add value and force the appreciation in a short timeframe.

This allows you to potentially recycle your cash and turbo charge the growth of your portfolio.

Short lease extensions are equally powerful whether you’re trading for a quick profit or holding for cashflow.

And if you can combine lease extensions with other value adding strategies such as BRR (Buy Refurbish, Refinance) and reconfiguring properties to add more bedrooms, then you can make some serious cash.

Jason Patterson, is a seasoned property investor with over 23 years of experience in UK property.

He built his portfolio from a standing start, from money saved from his job stacking shelves in Sainsbury’s in Camden, North London.

In total, Jason worked at Sainsbury’s for 11 years, and as a side hustle, he almost accidentally focused on leasehold properties with short leases, a niche that would later earn him his nickname as the Short Lease King.

During the episode, we discuss:

o Benefits of purchasing properties with short leases

o Explanation of what constitutes a short lease

o Impact on property value and mortgageability

o Sweet Spot for Short Leases

o Discussion on ideal lease lengths for extending

o Combining short lease strategy with mortgageability

o Steps to gather lease extension information

o Importance of contacting freeholders

o Explanation of Section 42/Leasehold Reform

o Impact of potential leasehold reforms on buying strategies

o Handling Vendor Resistance

o Challenges with uncooperative vendors

o Augmenting Short Lease Strategy with Additional Strategies

o Combining this strategy with BRR and reconfiguration

o "Triple Threat" properties

o Criteria and considerations for choosing properties

o Common mistakes new investors make

o Reasons why this strategy may suit expats

o Financial Considerations and Leasehold Reforms

o The effect of Leasehold reform

o Impact of leasehold reforms on profitability

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What's the one thing you’re struggling with in UK property

Where to meet Expat Property Investors (For FREE):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (1st Sat of month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (1st Weds of month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore VivoCity (1st Sat of month from 10:30 am)

Keywords

property investment, wholesale property, retail property, problem properties, lease extension, Short Lease King, UK property, buy refurbish refinance, refurbish properties, refinancing, property portfolio, property expertise, HMOs, property value, mortgageability, leasehold properties, leasehold reform, capital growth, dilapidated properties, leaseholder, freeholder, section 42 notice, lease extension premium, property strategies, property education, property market, rental property, property investors, leasehold surveyor, UK housing market

#202

A few months ago, after Your Property Network Magazine, more commonly known as YPN, had asked me to write an article about the story of a podcast, they asked me for an audio version to release on an App they were developing for the magazine.

So I thought you might like to hear it too!

The article was featured in the September issue of YPN, and this episode features the audio version as released on the App.

To flesh out the episode, we asked AI for the ten most important lessons from the first 200 episodes of Expat Property Story.

Listen to the episode to find out what they were.


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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 Newsletter
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What's the one thing you’re struggling with in UK property

Where to meet Expat Property Investors (For FREE):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (1st Sat of month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (1st Weds of month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore VivoCity (1st Sat of month from 10:30 am)

Keywords
Expat Property Story, podcast, expat property investor, UK property, property portfolio, Chinese New Year, Philippines, operations manager, private investor, Hong Kong, property podcast, Rob Dix, Property Podcast, UK properties, overseas investors, mortgages, self employed, currency concerns, non resident factors, tax differences, limited company, property deals, student HMOs, investment patch, pension plan, real estate, narrative podcast, serviced accommodation, auctions, Derbyshire, East Midlands.

#201
UK property is a really powerful tool for growing your wealth. But to do it well, you need to buy at a discount, add value and make sensible use of leverage. One way to do this is through a concept called Buy, Refurbish & Refinance (BRR) And that’s what today’s episode is all about.

When Mortgage Express fell to pieces in the wake of the Financial Crisis, Kevin Wright devised a strategy that came as close to the concept of recycling your cash as legally possible, and that was how BRR came to be

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During the episode, we discuss:

· Historical Context of BRR

· Kevin Wright's development of the BRR concept post-2008 crisis

· Sacrifice as a key trait for portfolio building

· Ready-to-rent vs. BRR

· Forcing appreciation through refurb

· Remote property management challenges

· Buying Phase

· Identifying problem properties and motivated sellers

· Tools for remote property searches

· How to buy at discount

· System Setups for Viewing Properties

· Need for consistent tracking and follow-ups

· Monthly check-ins with estate agents

· CRMs for property tracking

· Collaborating with UK-based partners for reduced mortgage rates

· Importance of boots on the ground

· Refurb Phase

· Common property issues: dilapidation, structural issues

· Reliable tradesmen and project management

· Refinancing Phase

· Expat mortgage restrictions

· Leveraging partnerships with UK residents for better rates

· Variability in lender regulations

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What's the one thing you’re struggling with in UK property

Where to meet Expat Property Investors (For FREE):

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (1st Sat of month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (1st Weds of month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore VivoCity (1st Sat of month from 10:30 am)

Kevin Wright's YouTube Channel


Keywords
Expat Property Story, UK property investment, buy refurbish refinance, property finance, property investment strategy, residential property, real estate investing, Kevin Wright, property podcast, remote property investors, property renovation, property appreciation, property valuation, property market, financial crisis, Mortgage Express, leverage in property, property deal, property sourcing, property purchase process, property refurbishment, refinancing property, property financing options, expat investors, UK property market, property investment tips, property investment mistakes, property development, property portfolio building, property investment advice.

Welcome to the 200th episode of the Expat Property Story podcast, where we've been guiding you on your property investment journey across 150 countries since early 2022.

Today, we have a special guest, Gavin Gallagher, host of the Irish property market podcast "Behind the Facade."

Join us as Gavin shares his compelling story of triumphs and setbacks, drawing from his vast experience during Ireland's Celtic Tiger boom to the crushing 2008 financial crisis.

Gavin has identified four factors that will impact your UK Property Story:

• Economy
• Events
• Ego
• Emotions

o "Four E's": Economy, Events, Ego, and Emotions

o Issues with over-leveraging and pursuit of quick profits

o Importance of discipline, patience, and emotional management

o Psychological aspects of investing

o Risks of Investing in Foreign Markets

o Currency exposure challenges, especially post-Brexit

o Gavin's experiences with property markets in Spain and New York

o Learning from successes and failures

o Overcoming ego and managing emotions in investing

o Importance of understanding market conditions

o Analyzing success and being cautious while investing internationally

o Importance of sustainability and energy performance

o Unintended consequences of policies like "rent pressure zones"

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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
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What's the one thing you’re struggling with in UK property

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

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (1st Saturday each month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (1st Wednesday each month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore at VivoCity (1st Saturday each month from 10:30 am)

Keywords
over-leveraging, quick-profit pursuits, financial downturn, investing discipline, patience in investing, personal investment mistake, foreign markets risks, currency exposure, Brexit impact, coaching business, educational initiatives, psychological aspects of investing, instant gratification, international markets, Expat Property Story podcast, podcast growth, UK property factors, economy, external events, ego, emotions, Irish property market, property portfolio, Celtic Tiger period, financial crisis impact, policy impact, rent pressure zones, rental market, sustainability, energy performance, resilient investing.

#199

What challenges do you face building a UK property portfolio?

What excuses do you make as to why your story may have stalled?

Maybe life has got a little too comfortable for you

Maybe you need some inspiration about how much can be achieved with virtually no funds.

And little UK property knowledge.

And hardly any free time.

Dawid Dowbusz arrived in the UK with his girlfriend and just £300.

Fast forward ten years and they have built a portfolio of more than £9 Million, with dozens of properties.

If you can’t get inspiration from their story, you’ll probably find yourself in the same position at the end of this year as you do at the start.

I'd Like Help With Setting My Goals
(Download a Free Comprehensive Cheat Sheet PDF)

During the episode, we discuss:

• Importance of hard work, determination, and resilience in overcoming challenges
• Money saving strategies
• The influence of Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad, Poor Dad
• Attending networking meetings to gain knowledge
• (BRRR) strategy
• Issues with unqualified renovators in early projects
• Rapid expansion of property portfolio to 56 properties
• Trust issues with employees leading to financial losses
• The importance of verifying work and hiring certified professionals
• Balancing personal stress with expanding business responsibilities
• Partnerships with wealthy investors for joint ventures
• Expansion into multiple business entities including property sourcing and education
• Impact of increased responsibility and stress on personal and professional life
• Focus on balancing personal well-being with business growth and opportunities

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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
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What's the one thing you’re struggling with in UK property

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

Hong Kong: Pacific Coffee, 2/F, Central Building, Central (1st Saturday each month from 11:30 am)

Dubai: Holiday Inn, Science Park (1st Wednesday each month from 7pm)

Singapore: The Providore at VivoCity (1st Saturday each month from 10:30 am)

Keywords
property investment, UK rental market, Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO), single-let properties, property development, Scunthorpe, Sheffield, financial strategy, subletting, minimum wage jobs, buy-to-let mortgage, property renovation, networking events, expat community, joint venture, property sourcing, project management, letting agency, education company, remortgaging, rental income, certified professionals, contractor trust, Polish expat, UK property portfolio, digital nomads, remote investors, mechanical engineering, property portfolio growth, financial discipline.