

The Property Podcast
Rob Bence and Rob Dix from The Property Hub
The Property Podcast from Property Hub (propertyhub.net) is the podcast for all property investors – new or experienced. Rob Bence and Rob Dix discuss a different property topic and property news item each week, passing on their knowledge and experience to the listeners. They both invest in UK Property so they practise what they preach. No hard sell, no bull just straight talking property investment advice!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 11, 2019 • 18min
TPP317: The buy-to-let towns you should be investing in
This week on The Property Podcast, Rob & Rob are unveiling the 5 buy-to-let property investment locations you should be keeping an eye on. The Robs have talked extensively about their buy-to-let hotspots of 2019, but where should property investors be looking outside the major cities? Sit back and listen as The Robs talk us through their top 5 buy-to-let towns you should be investing in: Warrington: What’s not to like? Connectivity is unrivalled - there are direct trains from London (taking just 1 hour, 45 minutes), it’s also perfectly placed between Manchester and Liverpool. The motorway networks are also great. Now, the town needs some work - but that’s what’s most exciting about this location. Listen as The Robs talk through the plans for Warrington and how you could take advantage of this. Doncaster: They’re doing some interesting things in this town - they’re savvy enough to turn their weaknesses into strengths. There are many positives for Doncaster, such as the road network, that have made this town ideal for logistics businesses which is bolstering the local economy. This is fast becoming a key buy-to-let town to watch in 2019. Preston: This is actually a city that’s snuck its way onto the list but we couldn’t ignore the prospects this location has. The Preston City Deal is set to transform this area: a £430 million investment will severely boost the economy and drive thousands of jobs here. Investment alone isn’t enough to drive Preston onto the list, so listen as The Robs talk us through some of the other reasons they’re so excited about this city. We’d say this is a very worthy contender if you’re scouting the top fundamental locations to invest in. Wakefield: Not only is Wakefield one of the most accessible places in the UK, it’s benefitted from the ripple effect of Leeds. The local economy is worth £6.5 billion - a real powerhouse of an area - and it’s a commuter hotspot for those working in Leeds which really sweetens the appeal. Crewe: One word: transport. More trains go through Crewe than any other station in England, highlighting just how well-connected it is to other towns and cities in the north, as well as London. Crewe is great now, but when the HS2 station arrives there, it’ll be a gamechanger for this area - London alone will be reachable in under an hour. Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds will also be under an hour, which is incredible. There are also many large-scale employers that have chosen Crewe as their homes, so listen as Rob & Rob talk through the several other reasons why this town deserves a place in their top 5 buy-to-let towns to invest in. In the news this week, research shows that one buyer in six pulls out - is this more fuel for reforming the entire property buying process? We already know how bonkers the property buying process is in the UK, and this just demonstrates how broken the process actually is. If you take a look at the reasons, you’ll understand the frustrations that most vendors go through - 24% was because the buyer couldn’t raise the funds! Have a read through the article and let us know what you think over on our social channels. And we’re back with another Hub Extra resource. Before you drift off, take a look at it. It’s called Build Your Stax: click here. Think of it as a Monopoly for investors. Rob & Rob were hooked, and it quickly outlines how your wealth can increase significantly when your tactics are right. We’d love to hear what you think of this week’s Property Podcast over on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You might even have a topic you’d like us to cover in the future - if so, pop us a message on social and we’ll see what we can do. If that wasn’t enough, you can also join our friendly property community on the Property Hub forum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 9, 2019 • 9min
ASK181: How do I find a hotspot? PLUS: What should I buy to achieve £4,000 per month?
Welcome to another Tuesday Ask Rob & Rob - your weekly dose of property advice about investment matters you care about the most. Our first question this week is from a listener who has recently discovered The Property Podcast and has been racing through the episodes to catch up to the present day. She wants to know what exactly makes a good area to invest in property and what research should she be doing to find these golden buy to let property locations. She’s discovered our list of 2019 property investment hotspots, but she wants to know how she can spot these areas herself. Rob B is quick to dive into one of the most important things when looking at property investment hotspots, and that’s fundamentals. Not just one or two of the boxes need to be ticked… they all need a huge tick in the box. Just having a few alone is simply not enough. There are a load of other ways to spot a property hotspot too - and Rob B shares a great tip for anyone who’s in the same position. There’s also a great podcast on using the ‘ripple effect’ to find the next buy to let property hotspot which is well worth a listen. Our second question comes from an avid lover of The Property Podcast and she is half way through putting a plan together. She has over £400,000 to invest but isn’t sure on what property she should be investing in. She has a goal of generating £4,000 in rental income but wants advice from Rob & Rob on exactly what she should do and how many properties she should look to buy. Rob D wastes no time clearing up a few simple strategy principles that many investors tend to miss, focusing attention on the wrong things. If you have a fairly aggressive yield target like today’s listener, this is the episode for you. There’s some diamond advice here that you can take away and apply to your own property investment journey. Do you have a buy to let or property investment related question for Rob & Rob? You could feature on the next episode by giving us a call on 013 808 00035 and leaving a message with your name and question (normal UK call rates apply). Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your computer instead. The next question on Ask Rob & Rob could be yours. Have you joined us over on the Property Hub Forum yet? Our online community is friendly, informative, and the members are waiting to welcome you with open arms. So get yourself over and introduce yourself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 4, 2019 • 21min
TPP316: The "smart money" secret trend revealed
This week on The Property Podcast, Rob & Rob are giving away some top secrets. Just a couple of decades ago, city centres were considered no-go places to live, and those who were deemed “successful” were the ones who escaped to the suburbs. How times have changed! Now, city centre living has never been so popular. To throw a few stats out there, the population of central Birmingham has grown by 163% since the millennium and Liverpool has grown by a whopping 181%. In today’s episode, The Robs are answering a number of questions around this topic: What’s changing the sentiment of city living and are places like Manchester and Birmingham in danger of suffering loss of confidence like London is currently?
As an investor, is this a trend you should be trying to take advantage of?
Is this a short term trend? And is there a bubble that may burst?
Tune into this week’s Property Podcast to find out the answers to this ‘secret trend’. In the news this week, research shows that generation rent are wanting to live in city and town centres. This shouldn’t come as a real shock considering it’s the same generation that has practically been priced out of buying. But what was surprising was that 91% of them said that’s exactly where they want to live - certainly good news for both the high street and if you’re a landlord of city and town centre properties. Good news! If you’re a Property Hub Magazine subscriber, the next issue will be landing on your doorstep in the next few weeks. The cover story is about the UK’s return to urban living. So, if you’re not a subscriber, head on over to our website and subscribe to receive the next issue. Our Hub Extra resource this week is an attempt to get you out of the city and into the countryside, allowing you to enjoy the beautiful nature, wherever you are. Go Jauntly is the perfect app if you’re wanting to get out of the house and be at one with nature but you either have no idea where to go or you fancy trying somewhere new. Simply log into the app, click on your location and the app will bring up walks near you. So all you've got to do is pack up the car, get your walking boots on and enjoy the sights. We’d love to hear what you think of this week’s Property Podcast over on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You might even have a topic you’d like us to cover in the future - if so, pop us a message on social and we’ll see what we can do. If that wasn’t enough, you can also join our friendly property community on the Property Hub forum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 2, 2019 • 8min
ASK180: How should your own home fit with your investments?
This week on ask Rob & Rob, we’ve got two Hubbers who have both asked questions on the same topic: how should your own home fit in with your investment plans? Without attempting to dish out life advice, The Robs answer Claire and Azar’s questions in the most informative way possible. Rob D points out one thing to remember: your home is your home and your investments are your investments. Sometimes they work in perfect harmony, and sometimes one takes priority over the other. From Rob B’s point of view, both Claire and Azar need to be very clear about what they want first and foremost. Each person's situation is different, what works for one person might not necessarily work for the other. Tune in to find out what The Robs think you should do if you’re undecided on buying your own home or buying an investment property. Do you have a buy to let or property investment related question for Rob & Rob? You could feature on the next episode by giving us a call on 013 808 00035 and leaving a message with your name and question (normal UK call rates apply). Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your computer instead. The next question on Ask Rob & Rob could be yours. Have you joined us over on the Property Hub Forum yet? Our online community is friendly, informative, and the members are waiting to welcome you with open arms. So get yourself over and introduce yourself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 28, 2019 • 32min
TPP315: Painful lessons and expensive mistakes: stories from our first development
This week on The Property Podcast, Rob & Rob are getting personal. Property development is no easy task, and this week The Robs open up about everything that’s gone wrong, and what lessons can be learnt. If you’re an avid Property Podcast listener, you’ll know that the development in Crewe is the first site to come out of the ground for Property Hub Homes. While they’d have liked for the process to have been a walk in the park, sometimes things just don’t go to plan. And whilst the finished result looks pretty darn amazing (if we do say so ourselves! - Rob B has shared some pictures on Instagram) there’s been a steep learning curve for all involved. So if you’re interested in diving into the world of property development, this is the podcast episode for you. Tune in to hear all about why they chose Crewe, what process they followed and also to find out what went wrong... In the news this week, it appears that tenants can now sue their landlord directly if their home is unfit for human habitation. However it isn’t half as bad as it sounds, as Rob & Rob explain on the podcast. Plus, there’s a strong argument in saying that if your property is in such a bad condition, should you really be a landlord in the first place? So a lot of lessons are to be learnt from this week’s Property Podcast. And although things could have been done very differently and had a different outcome, The Robs firmly believe that ‘if you can dream it, you can do it - Walt Disney’. We’d love to hear what you think of this week’s Property Podcast over on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You might even have a topic you’d like us to cover in the future - if so, pop us a message on social and we’ll see what we can do. If that wasn’t enough, you can also join our friendly property community on the Property Hub forum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 26, 2019 • 7min
ASK179: Is there an ideal time in the cycle to renovate your properties? PLUS: Should I invest in derelict properties?
This week on ask Rob & Rob we’ve got another two cracking property questions from our listeners. First up we’ve got Andrew who is wanting to know if there is a particular point in the property cycle when it’s best to renovate your property? He’s wondering if there’s a key point where you can both minimise your costs whilst maximising your profit. Rob D explains that the prime times to renovate your property are early and late on in the cycle. When it comes to having the renovation work done, the best time is early in the cycle, ideally just after the crash when nobody else is going to be doing it. Whether you’re wanting to flip a property to sell or keep it as a long term investment, Rob D delves into the detail on this week’s Ask Rob & Rob. Second up we have Kiki. Kiki is wondering if derelict properties make a good investment? This isn’t a typical investment option and Rob B talks us through what a derelict house actually is and how people usually get their hands on them. If you’re after Rob B’s thoughts on derelict properties, this is the episode for you! Do you have a buy to let or property investment related question for Rob & Rob? You could feature on the next episode by giving us a call on013 808 00035 and leaving a messagewith your name and question (normal UK call rates apply). Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your computer instead. The next question on Ask Rob & Rob could be yours. Have you joined us over on the Property Hub Forumyet? Our online community is friendly, informative, and the members are waiting to welcome you with open arms. So get yourself over and introduce yourself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 21, 2019 • 20min
TPP314: Your top 10 Brexit questions answered
This week on The Property Podcast, Rob & Rob are answering your top 10 Brexit questions. Over the past couple of weeks we’ve been talking Brexit. Are we staying, are we going? Who knows! In episode 312we heard from some Hubbers who were determined to not let Brexit scupper their property investment plans, and Rob & Rob backed this up by sharing their thoughts on the current state of affairs. Since then, we’ve been inundated with your Brexit questions and this week, Rob & Rob tackle them head on. Tune in to find out: Will the market crash?
Will prices go up or down?
What effect will this have on owner/occupiers?
How will Brexit affect the long term property market?
What should I do next? And In the news this week, we have a bit of positivity for once! The Halifax House Price Index shows a huge property price increase of 5.9% in February - adding more than £13,000 to the average house price in just one month! Rob D is a bit dubious about the report, so tune in to find out what he has to say. In Hub Extra this week, The Robs are talking about something that you’ve possibly heard of before - and that’s Monzo. Monzo is an online bank account that gives you instant spending notifications, so no more waiting for those pending transactions to appear on your statement. Do you have a Monzo account? Get in touch and let us know what you think of it or, if you end up signing up to it, let us know how you find it. We’d love to hear what you think of this week’s Property Podcast over on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You might even have a topic you’d like us to cover in the future - if so, pop us a message on social and we’ll see what we can do. If that wasn’t enough, you can also join our friendly property community on the Property Hub forum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 19, 2019 • 7min
ASK178: Will Sheffield’s ripple effect extend to Doncaster? PLUS: Am I locked in if my property loses value?
This week on Ask Rob & Rob we’ve got another two cracking property questions from listeners. First up we’ve got Scott who is a first time investor looking to purchase a property in Sheffield. Sheffield is a great option but he’s also looking at properties in Doncaster as they’re slightly cheaper. Naturally Scott’s question is whether Doncaster will experience any capital growth. The neighbouring city of Sheffield has been pegged as one of Rob & Robs hotspots for this year, but will Doncaster benefit from a knock on effect? With the amount of public and private investment being ploughed into the area, you may well think so. Listen as Rob B gives his opinion and reiterates the importance of fundamentals when investing in property. The Robs covered this last monthso be sure to have a listen if you missed it. Our next question comes from Adam. After listening to the episode on leveraging, Adam wants to know what would happen if his property decreased in value and he lost his initial 25% deposit (therefore having no equity in the property). Would he be tied into his current mortgage product and unable to switch to a better product? Tune in to find out what the outcome is and what advice Rob D has for Adam... Do you have a buy to let or property investment related question for Rob & Rob? You could feature on the next episode by giving us a call on013 808 00035 and leaving a messagewith your name and question (normal UK call rates apply). Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your computer instead. The next question on Ask Rob & Rob could be yours. Have you joined us over on the Property Hub Forumyet? Our online community is friendly, informative, and the members are waiting to welcome you with open arms. So get yourself over and introduce yourself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 14, 2019 • 19min
TPP313: Brexit and how to handle the mid-cycle wobble
Everyone has gone a bit Brexit mad this week, so Rob & Rob are here to discuss what’s going on, how they feel about it and what you should be doing. If you tuned into The Property Podcast last week, you’ll have heard some of our Hubbers giving their views on Brexit.But today, it’s Rob & Robs turn to tell it like it is. Before they dig in, it’s worth taking a look at the media hype we’re dealing with right now: UK property market at weakest since 2012 as Brexit takes toll UK property market at its weakest for six years, says Rics UK house prices take pre-Brexit hit, says Nationwide Brexit gloom to hit housing market into 2019, says RICS Birmingham and Manchester benefit from Brexit blues UK house prices make surprise 5.9% rise in February, Halifax says If you’re familiar with the 18-year property cycle (if not, you can learn more here) then you’ll know that we’re heading into the mid-cycle dip. And today The Robs will be sharing exactly where they think the market will head post-dip. So, if you fancy a bit more Brexit madness - tune into this week’s Property Podcast. We promise, it’s a good one! In the news this week, and sticking with the Brexit theme, the BBC have released an article explaining what the 7 possible outcomeswould be if the government was to get an extension on Brexit. What would each potential scenario mean? And whilst we’ve got you, make sure you sign up to become one of our Hubbers and receive our valuable (weekly) Hub Extra emails. Create your free account here. We’d love to hear what you think of this week’s Property Podcast over on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You might even have a topic you’d like us to cover in the future - if so, pop us a message on social and we’ll see what we can do. If that wasn’t enough, you can also join our friendly property community on the Property Hub forum.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 12, 2019 • 10min
ASK177: Should I be worried about my off-plan purchase? PLUS: Is it crazy to buy a HMO as my first investment?
On this week’s ask Rob & Rob we’ve got two very good questions that will definitely apply to you no matter where you are in your buy-to-let property investment journey. Our first question comes from Spencer in Bath. Spencer is wanting to know if he should keep his off-plan purchase or get rid of it. Due to the build being severely delayed and his 30% deposit not being protected, a few concerns have been raised. Rob B gives some insight on the potential reasons why a build might be delayed and offers some lessons to be learned for all investors, not just ones in similar situations. He also demonstrates how off-plan property has the potential to be the most profitable type of investment. You can learn more about off-plan property on our course over at Property Hub University. The second question comes from Adam who’s a new investor and has decided that yield is the most important factor to him. He’s wanting to know if a HMO for a first time investment purchase is a good idea. So is a HMO as a first investment a good choice? Or should Adam stick to a single investment option and play it safe, sticking to the normal strategy? Tune in to find out what advice Rob D has to offer... Do you have a buy to let or property investment related question for Rob & Rob? You could feature on the next episode by giving us a call on013 808 00035 and leaving a messagewith your name and question (normal UK call rates apply). Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your computer instead. The next question on Ask Rob & Rob could be yours. Have you joined us over on the Property Hub Forumyet? Our online community is friendly, informative, and the members are waiting to welcome you with open arms. So get yourself over and introduce yourself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.