#218

Are you thinking of buying your first UK investment property?

Have you had enough of the UK and are thinking of leaving for pastures new and becoming an expat?

Are you perhaps scared to take the leap and are looking for a little inspiration?

Are you wondering what it would all look like for YOU?

These are just some of the questions that this week’s show will get you thinking about.

Tanya Summer's family moved to Dubai in 2022 following her husband's long-standing dream to teach in the city.

Initially, her husband and eldest moved in August 2022, while Tanya remained in the UK with her younger son,due to a recent promotion and her father's health.

Like many expats, their move overseas allowed them to turn their family home into a buy-to-let and get their Expat Property Story started.

Property & Poppadoms Hong Kong Launch

During the episode, we discuss:

• Overcoming skepticism and fear of risk from others
• Transition from family home to buy-to-let investment in Tamworth
• Investment in a Welsh Holiday Let/Serviced Accommodation
• Dual-purpose purchase: own use vs. holiday letting for income
• Problems with void periods (especially winter)
• Mortgage considerations—higher rates for holiday lets
• Managing and Operating the Holiday Let Remotely
• Selection and experiences with managing agents (e.g., Sykes Cottages)
• High commission, poor performance, and financial losses
• Transition to self-management and improved outcomes
• Cleaning and local keyholder arrangements
• Issues with local tradespeople availability
• Using Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, and other booking platforms
• Strategies for increasing direct bookings (e.g., Stayfi, QR codes, Wi-Fi codes)
• Compliance with changing platform rules (e.g., Airbnb messaging policies)
• Financial and Regulatory Challenges Specific to Welsh Holiday Lets
• High council tax for second homes (up to 300%)
• Stringent business rates qualification—requirement for 182 days’ occupancy
• Comparison of Buy-to-Let vs. Holiday Let Strategies
• Self-management vs. using agents—costs, involvement, and control
• Difficulty finding trustworthy local partners for property management and maintenance
• Importance of monitoring local property markets
• Benefits of local market knowledge
• Investment in Dubai vs. further UK investments
• Maintaining openness to opportunities as they arise

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Keywords

UK property investment, expat property investing, buy to let, holiday let, serviced accommodation, property portfolio, property management, self managing properties, property in Tamworth, property in Wales, Dubai property investment, property networking Hong Kong, mortgage rates, holiday let mortgage, void periods, remote property management, cleaning and maintenance, Airbnb management, Booking.com, Vrbo, Sykes holiday agency, business rates vs council tax, second home tax Wales, managing agents, finding tradespeople, capital growth, family relocation, sourcing property deals, property investment strategy, direct bookings, limited company property investment

#217

Have you thought about flipping UK property to make some cash?

Have you thought about buying a property to flip via the so-called modern method of auction using companies like I Am Sold?

Have you wondered how to buy a property at discount without having to build relationships with lots and lots of estate agents in your chosen location?

Well, if you thought about any of these three questions before then this episode is for you.

And if you’ve thought about all three, then you’re in for a treat!

Simon Duckworth of Triangle Property Solutions actively sources and renovates properties for profit.

With extensive experience in the auction space, Simon has developed a very strategic approach to property investment.

We discuss:

· Buy 3, sell 2, keep 1 strategy

· Overview of traditional auctions

· Overview of Modern Method

· Tracking properties through multiple auction cycles / price reductions

· Watching listings for signs of seller motivation

· Step-by-Step Process of a flip listed on I am Sold

· Probate properties / SDLT

· The “no offer offer”

· Importance of timing and repeated engagement through auction cycles

· Refurb contingency

· Conveyancing timelines

· Selling strategy: price setting, agent selection, market testing

· Differences in pricing strategy between corporate and family-run agents

· Holding / selling costs

· Risks / challenges in Flips

· Risks: time overruns, market sentiment, refurb estimates

· Tips for Successful Flipping

· Need for organization / tracking

· Testing market prices / negotiation: “Say No Twice” strategy

· Buffers (refurb AND time)

· Maximizing Profit and Market Adaptation

· Expectations (profit / timelines)

· Adapting to slower / fluctuating markets.

· Lessons from HMO Challenges: Regulatory Headaches

· Simon’s near disaster with a large HMO project due to neighbor complaints.

Free Deal Clinic

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Keywords

UK property flipping, modern method of auction, I am sold, property discounts, estate agents, investing capital, buy to flip, auction property sourcing, flipping strategies, property renovation, HMO investment, property refurb costs, auction cycle tracking, probate property, stamp duty savings, reservation fee, online property auctions, property market sentiment, conveyancing delays, property holding costs, selling strategies, estate agent negotiation, real estate CRM, flips vs

#216

One of the biggest challenges as a remote investor in UK Property is finding a property to buy from the other side of the world.

Many expats, nomads and foreign nationals turn to property sourcers to find a deal.

But this episode shows you there’s nothing to stop you doing it yourself.

Gary Gayner lives and works in Abu Dhabi.

He set up his own sourcing business after an unsatisfactory experience with a sourcer.

During the episode, we discuss:

• Sourcing methods: direct-to-vendor marketing (Facebook, Google Ads), relationships with landlords / letting agents
• Importance of rapport-building: phone calls, in-person meetings during UK trips
• The value of boots on the ground
• Why off-market deals offer better discounts
• Motivated seller dynamics and the importance of understanding seller situations
• Using sold price comparables, not asking prices, for accurate valuations
• The need for balanced and transparent analysis
• Comparing Leeds and Manchester for investment potential
• Investing in Leeds
• Self-sourcing vs. using a sourcer: assessing your own time, energy, and experience
• Advice for vetting sourcers: checking for compliance, redress scheme membership, and client feedback
• Using PropertyEngine for deal filtering and due diligence around comparables
• Reverse-engineering your search via target letting agents
• Importance of always making offers and following up,
• Due diligence essentials if using a sourcer: compliance, track record, client references

I'd Like Help With Setting My Goals

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Join our WhatsApp group / access 37 Question Due Diligence Checklist / 23 Step Guide to Buying Property at Auction
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Keywords

remote UK property investment, expat property investing, property sourcing, property deal sourcing, UK buy-to-let, building estate agent relationships, off-market property deals, Manchester property, Leeds property, Wakefield property, West Yorkshire property, capital appreciation, rental yield, turnkey property service, property education courses, property mentorship, due diligence, letting agents, property portfolio building, property comparables, sold price vs asking price, motivated sellers, property valuation, networking events UK, remote relationship building, property management, property market research, sourcing agent compliance, direct to vendor marketing, passive income property