By Missed the New Investor Masterclass at The National Landlord Investor Show? Here’s what you new investors need to know.
Whether you were grabbing lunch, attending another insightful seminar, or simply couldn’t make it to the National Landlord Investment Show in London on 9th July in person, you haven’t missed out on the valuable takeaways from our New Investor Masterclass!
Hosted by the National Landlord Investment Show’s Jacob Hanbury, this comprehensive Masterclass was created to help new investors on their property investment journey and empower them to make informed, confident decisions.
On the day, our panel of experienced investors and industry experts shared their wisdom on how to effectively build a property portfolio, leverage finance strategically, and, crucially, avoid common pitfalls.
Experts on the New Investor Masterclass Panel:
Hosted by Jacob Hanbury (National Landlord Investment Show)
Josh Turner (LRG)
Heather Smail (Heather Smail Property Group)
Simon Zutshi (Property Investors Network)
Kane Andrews (Rockstar Property Partners)
Sagheer Malik (Offa)
If you missed the Masterclass or simply want a recap of some of the top tips from the panel, here is our roundup of the top five essential insights from this unmissable session!
Setting Yourself up as a Business
When starting out in property investment, it’s natural to immediately dive into browsing property portals, visiting local estate agents, or even consulting a mortgage broker to establish your budget.
While these are certainly practical initial steps, our expert panel at the New Investor Masterclass emphasised a more fundamental starting point: establishing yourself as a property business from day one, even if you begin with just a single Buy-to-Let.
Adopting a business-oriented approach empowers new investors to strategically seek advice from professionals who can guide them in building a property portfolio in the most efficient way.
This means proactively aligning yourself with the right expertise and knowledge to ensure sustainable growth, rather than simply acquiring properties. Thinking like a business from the outset will set a robust foundation for your long-term success in the property market.
The Power of Professional Relationships
This first insight leads us directly to another point of unanimous agreement among our expert panel: building strong relationships with industry professionals is absolutely crucial for first-time investors, yet it’s a step often overlooked.
It’s perfectly normal not to know everything about the property industry when you’re starting out. That’s precisely why specialists like accountants, surveyors, mortgage brokers, letting agents, solicitors, and insurance providers exist! Their expertise is invaluable, and they’re keen to help you build a profitable business.
If you ever feel unsure about any aspect of a deal, don’t hesitate to seek and pay for professional advice. This proactive approach can lead you to discover excellent opportunities or, just as importantly, protect you from making expensive errors. As Heather Smail (Heather Smail Property Group) shared, “If something doesn’t look right, I’m glad I can run it past an expert in my network who can bring their expertise to the table and maybe highlight something I’ve missed.”
While Sagheer Malik (Offa) emphasised the long-term benefits of these connections: “Building relationships and being a repeat client will often mean that the provider will go above and beyond to help you. The professional relationship you have built may mean they will work harder to find a solution for you, if they can.”
Building a network and professional relationships isn’t just about getting advice; it’s about building a reliable support system that can significantly contribute to your success and mitigate risks in your property investment journey.
Stay Informed and Educated on Industry Changes
While you don’t need to be an expert in every single facet of your property business, a critical takeaway from our Masterclass was the importance of continuously staying informed and educated.
In today’s property market, things change rapidly. From local rules and legislation to national laws, tax amendments, and significant upcoming changes like the Renters’ Rights Bill. Staying in the loop and actively educating yourself isn’t just beneficial; it’s essential to ensure your business remains compliant and agile.
However, one vital piece of advice from our panellists: always scrutinise your sources! Misinformation is prevalent, so rely on reputable channels. Beyond online research, actively participate in workshops, attend networking events, and engage with industry bodies to keep your knowledge current and accurate.
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Uncovering Buy-to-Let Hotspots
One of the most frequently asked questions at our New Investor Masterclass was, “Where should I invest?”. While our panellists each have their preferred locations, a crucial and repeated takeaway for all investors was the absolute necessity to “do your own research.”
The good news is that abundant online resources exist for new investors to thoroughly investigate price points, rental yields, tenant demand, and the specific types of assets needed in local markets.
However, a word of caution came from Simon Zutshi (Property Investors Network): “If something is a hotspot now, it might not be in six months.” This underscores the importance of conducting current and independent research for any market you’re considering, rather than solely relying on yesterday’s headlines.
Josh Turner (LRG) further advised to “look for the ripple effect.” This involves identifying areas undergoing significant regeneration or experiencing an influx of new job opportunities. These locations can often be “hidden gems” that may outperform some of the more established Buy-to-Let towns and cities as growth expands outwards from more developed areas.
Ultimately, while external advice and emerging trends can provide a starting point, diligent personal research is essential to identifying truly viable and sustainable investment opportunities.
Buy Now!
A powerful message from our New Investor Masterclass was the resounding call to action from our panellists: if you’re keen to become a landlord, stop waiting and act now.
While there was a lively discussion about the ideal first asset, Josh Turner suggested starting with a simple residential Buy-to-Let, while Kane Andrews (Rockstar Property Partners) highlighted the potential returns on offer from HMOs; however, the overarching consensus was clear: investing now is the right move.
It’s easy to find reasons to delay, whether it’s waiting for interest rates to drop or holding off until the Renters’ Rights Reform becomes official. However, our experts unanimously agreed that waiting could be a costly mistake. Every moment spent on the sidelines reduces your “time in the market,” a critical factor for long-term growth. As your portfolio evolves, getting started now will open up a wealth of new opportunities as you grow as a landlord.
Whether you attended the event or not, we hope these five top tips from our New Investor Masterclass have provided you with clear, actionable insights to kickstart or accelerate your property investment journey.
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