The Property Podcast

Welcome to another Ask Rob & Rob - that time of the week where you send in your property investment questions and the Robs give you the answers. First up we have Adam from London. He already has a 2-bedroom buy to let investment property in Cheltenham which is performing well. He’s looking at purchasing a second buy to let property and wants to know if the current loophole on the restriction of mortgage interest relief for limited companies is likely to close any time soon. Naturally Adam doesn’t want to go through the trouble of setting up a limited company if this property loophole is likely to get closed - so what do Rob & Rob think? Should he save himself the hassle of registering a business and make his buy to let property purchase personally? And is it actually a loophole Adam is referring to? Rob D has some interesting thoughts on this. Listen to the podcast to hear more or click here for information about Property Hub Tax and join the priority list. Second up we have Danny from Portsmouth who wants to know if gaining planning permission will increase the value of his investment property. Danny has recently purchased a corner plot and has a plan A and plan B. Should he put a dwelling on the end or change it to a 4-bedroom house, adding two bedrooms via an extension? He wants to know if there’s a tool to show you what you could increase values by if he was to sell his investment property with agreed planning permission. Now, Rob B has some top notch advice here, utilising his wealth of property development knowledge. Make sure you jot some notes down for this one as it’s a great question and the answer isn’t quite as straightforward as you may think. Enjoy this week’s Rob & Rob. Do you have a property or property investment related question for Rob & Rob? If you’d like to feature on the next episode, give us a call on 013 808 00035 and leave 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 in The Property Hub Forum yet? If you love property chit chat, this is the place for you. Our online community are a friendly bunch, keen to share their knowledge and experience. So get yourself over and introduce yourself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve got a treat for you on this week’s property podcast. Back by popular demand, we have a whole podcast featuring our listener deals - so tune in to hear Rob & Rob reviewing three property investment deals which were sent in to us. But first, we’re talking about a property headline that’s grabbed our attention (and wound Rob B up!): Where does rent hit young people the hardest? There’s no surprise that the answer is London. And there’s also no surprise that people in their 20s who want to rent their own home have to pay an unaffordable amount. It’s not unusual for someone to pay around 30% of their salary on rental payments, and this is a figure used quite often now. However, in London a whopping £51,200 salary is needed to afford a one-bedroom rental property - much higher than the average across the whole of England which is just under £25,000. Now, there are a few things in this property and rental report which Rob B just wasn’t happy with. You’ll have to listen to this week’s podcast to find out. Click here for the full story on BBC news. Whilst we’ve got you - let’s talk about tax. The Property Hub Tax is something we launched because we had to - we were simply inundated with tax enquiries and since launching, we’ve been unbelievably busy. However, we’re about to increase capacity. Great news for you - but bad news if you’re not on the priority list. You could be missing out on valuable, tax advice which could save you thousands.   We’ll be opening new slots up very soon, so make sure you join the priority list by clicking here. Now, let’s get down to business. It’s been a while since we’ve reviewed your investment deals and after our shout-out for deals to review, you literally bombarded us! We’d love to have gone through all of them, however we’ve chosen three of the best to run through on this week’s property podcast. Deal 1 is from Agi in Ipswich. It’s a 2-bedroom end of terrace property with a classic buy-refurb-refinance strategy which Agi is considering. He’s concerned about his offer and the likelihood of acceptance - this is in addition to a £17,000 refurbishment. Will this be enough? Would the Robs consider this to be a healthy refurb budget? Listen as Rob & Rob take us on a journey, tackling research, key indicators and the all-important comparables. Is there lots going on in the area or is it a ghost town? Follow their conversation as they consider surveyor valuations along with their ultimate verdict on whether this property investment has potential or whether they’d walk away. Deal 2 is from Adam in Little Paxton, St Neots. This property needs a lot of work - listen to the podcast for the lovely description given to us by Adam! But despite its condition, does this investment deal have potential? With a wide range of executive homes in the area, is it best to raise the standards with this one and give it a healthy refurb budget? Or simply do the bare minimum to bring it up to standard? Whether Adam wants to flip the property or hold and rent it out, the numbers need looking at closely. If it’s the numbers your interested in, hit the play button to hear Rob B run through the calculations and find out whether Adam’s property investment deal would pass the ultimate stress tests. Finally we have Deal 3 from Sunny who is based in London but considering buying this rather lovely property in Whalley Range, Manchester. Once Rob & Rob stop quibbling over who’s likely to move in (just take a look at the pictures!) they get down to the all-important financials. Whilst an investment property needing no work doing to it is a major bonus, the numbers still need to stack up. The Robs investigate capital growth, lack of transport and also agent tactics and the fact that they’re not allowing Sunny to make an offer. This deal is an interesting one as we listen to pointers on leasehold arrangements and service charges - the devil is most certainly in the detail. Listen now - it’s a good one. We promise. Hub Extra: This week’s top resource is a great tool to help you find a deal using the property portal, Rightmove. It’s a feature that’s slightly tucked away, but once you know it’s there, you can use it to narrow down your property criteria and deliver the search results you really want to see. We’re always sharing great tips - particularly in our Hub Extra email which will hit your inbox every Friday if you're signed up. And if you’re not, you can do so here.   Get involved: Are you on social media? We’d love to hear from you, so get following and message us your thoughts on this week’s podcast. And if you have any topics you’d like us to cover on future property podcasts, let us know on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You can also get involved with our property community by joining us on the Property Hub forum. And if you haven’t done so already, we’d love it if you could head over and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews help other listeners find us and we always read a selection out on our podcast too - so you could get a mention. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts here. Not sure how to leave a review? This video shows you how to review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have another two cracking property questions this week on Ask Rob & Rob. The first comes from PJ who wants to know about the ripple effect of northern cities. With property prices in the South East still way below their 2007 figures,  PJ wants to know when the likes of Newcastle and Middlesbrough will see any capital growth after the mid-cycle wobble. As you know, Rob & Rob have form for accurate property predictions, so listen to Ask Rob & Rob this week to discover how they think these areas will play out. Will they see capital growth or are they not worth bothering with? Is there a trick PJ is missing out on with a location that Rob B is keeping a very close eye on? Is growth on the horizon or is it just too early to tell? Have a listen and let us know what you think.   The second question comes from Pete who’s a fairly new listener but has been loving the property podcasts so far (thanks Pete!). He has four investment properties in his property portfolio. He owns two outright and the other two have 50% mortgages against them - plenty of equity. Pete is worried about the tax changes for buy to let investment property and is concerned he’ll get taxed twice if he chose to invest via a limited company. Pete’s question isn’t an unusual one and if anything, highlights the need to have a basic understanding of tax so you can make sure you’re investing in property via a method that’s best suited to your needs. Luckily, Rob & Rob are clued up on tax and have some general pointers for Pete, so hit the listen button to hear what they have to say. We also have The Property Hub Tax - a dedicated team who fully understand what property investors want. Tax is complex and it’s never been more important to make sure you get the right advice. Sign up to the priority list today by clicking here.   Do you have a property question for Rob & Rob? If you’d like to feature on the next episode, give us a call on 013 808 00035 and leave 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 in The Property Hub Forum yet? If you love property chit chat, this is the place for you. Our online community are a friendly bunch, keen to share their knowledge and experience. So get yourself over and introduce yourself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following on from last week’s property podcast, this week we have super landlord, Phil Stewardson, helping us deliver the expert’s guide to commercial property. Before we dig in, we’re covering this week’s news story which is about house price growth. Property prices rose the fastest in the North West, with London suffering the biggest fall of 0.7% year-on-year. Take a look at the links which give you a further analysis, and listen to the property podcast to hear what Rob & Rob have to say. The main property podcast event this week is the appearance of our super landlord, Phil Stewardson, who was kind enough to join us for another session. Phil talks us through the commercial property types he started his journey with back in 2001, when the market for buying residential property was extremely tight. His first commercial property deal was a pub in 2002, taking full advantage of the decline in pub establishments at the time, between 2002 and 2005. What was it that attracted Phil to pubs? The returns? The large space? The sheer amount of potential? And what exactly forms part of Phil’s commercial property portfolio? From chip shops and convenience stores to petrol stations - there’s not much more to add to Phil’s ever-growing portfolio. You’ll also learn about what makes Phil tick from an investment point of view. Is it a good spot on a busy road, or is it a combination of other factors? And does he always go into an investment with a firm plan of action, or does he have a plan B or even a plan C? As well as the advantages of commercial property, Phil also shares his not-so-great experiences. Despite all commercial sites working well for Phil, it’s not all been plain sailing. He’s navigated through a range of issues and overcome a number of obstacles which you’ll learn about in this episode. The ultimate burning question from many listeners is likely to be “how can I make the move from residential to commercial property investment?” Is it a natural progression? Phil and Rob & Rob share their thoughts on the best route for those of you who are interested in making the move, and Phil very helpfully delivers some key nuggets of information that can help you make strong commercial property investment decisions. What does the future hold for commercial property? And is Phil worried about the future? Find out in today’s property podcast. Hub Extra: This week’s top resource is a great podcast recommendation from Rob & Rob. It’s an interview Tim Ferriss held with Howard Marks - and it’s well worth a listen! Click here. Howard Marks is the co chairman and co founder of Oaktree Capital Management which has more than $120 billion in assets. He talks about market cycles and finances in an incredibly simplistic way. He really gets into the nitty gritty of business and this is definitely one to download and absorb. And if you haven’t signed up to our mailing list to get Hub Extra - the most valuable email you’ll receive all week, you can do so here. Get involved: Are you on social media? We’d love to hear from you, so get following and message us your thoughts on this week’s podcast. And if you have any topics you’d like us to cover on future property podcasts, let us know on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. You can also get involved with our property community by joining us on the Property Hub forum. And if you haven’t done so already, we’d love it if you could head over and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Aside from making us smile, your reviews help other podcast listeners find us. We also give each one a shout-out on the property podcast, so yours could be next to feature on an upcoming episode. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts here. Not sure how to leave a review? This video shows you how to review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to this week’s Ask Rob & Rob. First up with a property question is Mark. He has a HMO in Southampton which is mortgage free and has been self managed for over 20 years. Mark has now moved north but finds the travelling and cost of upkeep is just too much. He wants to sell the property and reinvest the funds somewhere closer to home, however he’s hit a few snags. He’s failed at getting planning permission to alter the property in the hope it would add value, and he’s also considered selling the HMO to both investors and property developers which hasn’t been plain sailing. The developers say the rental income wouldn’t make the money back if they were to rebuild. And unfortunately Mark doesn’t have enough capital to see through a void period whilst he refurbishes the property himself. Remortgaging isn’t an option either. So, what should he do? The Robs have some advice for Mark which covers everything from pricing, refurbishing and also the possibility of an assisted sale. If you’re not aware of how an assisted sale works, tap the play button to find out. Callum has also called on the Robs this week. Callum is 21, from Nottingham and has been avidly saving for his first investment property. He’s been reading, watching and listening to every resource he can find and wants to know whether it would be better for him to learn the trades or go in to project management. Again, from people who have been there, done it and bought the t-shirt, the Robs talk Callum through ways he can get the most value from learning and how they’d approach things if they were in his position. Would the Robs grab a paintbrush or plastering trowel? Or would they leave it to the professionals? There’s also a good few resources shared this week on how Callum can get started - so make sure you tune into this week’s Ask Rob & Rob. Would you like to feature on the next Ask Rob & Rob? If you have a property related question, simply call 013 808 00035 and leave 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. Do you love property and are keen to connect with likeminded people? Head over and join the conversation over in the Property Hub forum. Our active Hubbers are talking property on a daily basis - from breaking news to sharing hints, tips and some very interesting progress journeys. Pop over and introduce yourself today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to this week’s property podcast which is a beginners guide to commercial property. But before we dive in, we’re discussing the new stamp duty tax announcement which the government announced at this week’s Conservative party conference. The Tories now want to tax overseas property investors between one and three percent on top of the existing stamp duty charges. And in a potential political-winning move, they want the additional funds to go to the homeless.   Now, details are pretty limited in terms of how they intend on defining a ‘foreign investor’, and we’re not yet sure how this move will affect expats investing through a limited company. The Robs have some thoughts, so make sure you tune in this week to listen and send us a message on social to let us know what you think. You can read more about the story here. This week’s property podcast is the beginners guide to commercial property. It’s a hot topic, and we get many questions over on the forum asking what it is and what’s the best way to invest. The Robs cover everything this week; from defining what commercial property is, to looking at how they’re ‘classed’. They also look at why many confuse commercial property with buying a residential property using a commercial mortgage. There are also some surprising stats on the ownership of commercial property which Rob & Rob are sharing this week, and they delve into which is far more vulnerable to the economy - residential or commercial? Lease lengths, void periods, valuations and future cash flows - it’s all covered on this episode. The podcast is jam packed full of all the commercial property basics that you need to know. And once you’ve soaked up all this valuable information, Rob & Rob share the best places to get started with your purchase. It’s a good one, so make sure you tune in. Meetups: Have you been to one yet? These are our free property events held across the country where you can literally chat property all evening long. There’s no hidden agenda, just a friendly group of people discussing all things relating to investing in property.   Click here to find your closest meetup and book your place. Hub Extra: This week’s top resource is a great read called Planet Property Written by Peter Bill who was the long-time Editor of the Estates Gazette, this book delves into commercial property in interesting detail and comes highly recommended. And if you haven’t signed up to our mailing list to get Hub Extra - the most valuable email you’ll receive all week, you can do so here. Get involved: Are you on social media? We love to chat, so get following and pop us a message. And if you have any topics you’d like us to cover on future property podcasts, let us know on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. We’d love to hear from you. You can also get involved with our property community by joining the conversation over in the Property Hub forum. Advice is shared by both new and experienced investors on a daily basis, so get yourself over there and introduce yourself. And if you haven’t done so already, we’d love it if you could head over and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Aside from making us smile, your reviews help other podcast listeners find us. We also give each one a shout-out on the property podcast, so yours could be next to feature on an upcoming episode. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts here. Not sure how to leave a review? This video shows you how to review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to this week’s Ask Rob & Rob. Liam starts things off by asking about Crewe.  By using the 18 year property cycle he can see that at this point in the cycle last time Crewe enjoyed explosive growth.  Should Liam take the risk or should he play it safe in Manchester or Liverpool? Rob and Rob are happy to help - especially when they get to chat about property cycles. This is something many of us will be wondering as we enter this phase of the cycle. Manchester and Liverpool are performing really well at the moment but does that also mean that there is no capital growth left? HS2 is also a massive factor to consider as Crewe is going to benefit in a major way.  Crewe is set to be one of the most well connected cities in the country. Would it be foolish not to get in now? There’s a lot to consider! Next is Liam who’s been practising what Rob and Rob preach.  He’s been putting away 10% of his rent for voids and repairs, but he’s unsure where to put that money. Does keeping everything in one place make it easier or harder to keep track of? Hit the listen button and enjoy Ask Rob & Rob. Do you have a property related question for Rob & Rob? Whether you’re a first time investor or a seasoned pro, you could feature on our next episode. Simply call 013 808 00035 and leave 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. Do you love property and are keen to connect with likeminded people? Head over and join the conversation over in the Property Hub forum. Our active Hubbers are talking property on a daily basis - from breaking news to sharing hints, tips and some very interesting progress journeys. Pop over an introduce yourself today.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Rob B is taking a look at his first and slightly unexpected property investment of the year. But first, we start with a quick rundown of the latest property news, which is a report on the private rental sector done by university academics. Whilst many results were what we would have expected, there were some interesting findings, particularly around the arguments property investors and landlords have been making for quite some time. Were they in favour of banning Section 21? And what do they think should be standardised across the property industry? Click here to read the report. Now, this week’s main event is a special one as Rob B shares a personal journey and takes a proper look at his first property investment this year. In a city that’s the driving force behind the Northern Powerhouse initiative, this is not just any old investment in an ordinary building. You can see this skyscraper from pretty much every point in the city. Rob B’s move to invest in this deal may surprise some listeners, as you’ll know that property development has been his sole focus so far this year, but listen to what made his head turn in this week’s show. Was it the location of this property investment or the facilities that changed his mind? Or was it the fact that this is not just going to be the best property development in the city, but in the whole of the UK? At over 200 metres tall, it’s certainly going to be a corker. He delves into reports of the city’s reported ‘over-development’ and shares his thoughts on whether he’s concerned about the property market or whether now is the right time to be taking stock of these opportunities. Also, what due diligence did he do for this off-plan investment? How much cash did he put down and what are his expectations on the way this property investment deal will perform in the future? Hit the play button to listen. Meetups: If you’ve not got yourself to one yet, what are you waiting for? There are free events across the country where you can meet like minded property investors and share experiences. There’s no selling, just a friendly group of people all with one interest in common. Click here to find your closest meetup and book your place. Hub Extra: This week the Robs are sharing a top resource: Work Less, Make More by James Schramko. Rob D gives us a very quick overview this week on the author’s enviable lifestyle and how he’s built it. If you’d like to see how you could earn more or do less, this is definitely one for your reading list. And if you haven’t signed up to our mailing list to get Hub Extra - the most valuable email you’ll receive all week, you can do so here. Get involved: Are you following us on social media? We’re pretty active across all our channels, so if you have any topics you’d like us to cover in future property podcasts, pop us a message on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. We’d love to hear from you. You can also get involved with our lovely property community by joining the conversation over in the Property Hub forum. There are new topics started by our Hubbers on a daily basis and a whole wealth of advice shared with both new and experienced property investors. Get yourself over there and introduce yourself. And if you haven’t done so already, we’d love it if you could head over and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Aside from making us smile, your reviews help other podcast listeners find us. We also give each one a shout-out on the property podcast, so yours could be next to feature on an upcoming episode. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts here. Not sure how to leave a review? This video shows you how to review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to this week’s Ask Rob & Rob. Daniel kicks us off today by asking us about his options for releasing equity on his family home. He’s lucky enough to own it outright and wants to start purchasing buy to let investment properties. He’s contacting mortgage brokers but isn’t sure whether he should be looking at one property in London or a few properties in Manchester. Luckily Rob & Rob are on-hand to give Daniel some pointers on getting his first investment property wrapped up. Should Daniel remortgage 95% or 70%? And is it better to walk away with the whole amount or get an offset mortgage and draw down on it as/when required? Also, what are Daniel’s goals and why should these be determined before considering locations? If you’re looking at refinancing your home to kick start your property investment journey, this week is a corker for you. Second up we have Lauren who is frustrated with the solicitors recommended by her lender. Her purchase has nearly fallen through twice and her mortgage offer is due to expire very soon. What can she do when nobody can seem to make contact with them? The Rob’s have always made their feelings about the conveyancing process crystal clear. Whilst this isn’t an uncommon situation, that doesn’t make it right. What should Lauren’s first move be? Listen to what Rob & Rob would do to try and push the purchase through. Buying investment property shouldn’t be painful, so it’s important to find a decent mortgage broker and conveyancing solicitor to help move the process on. Hit the listen button and enjoy Ask Rob & Rob. Do you have a property related question for Rob & Rob? Whether you’re a first time investor or a seasoned pro, you could feature on our next episode. Simply call 013 808 00035 and leave 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. Do you love property and are keen to connect with likeminded people? Head over and join the conversation over in the Property Hub forum. Our active Hubbers are talking property on a daily basis - from breaking news to sharing hints, tips and some very interesting progress journeys. Pop over an introduce yourself today.      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That’s right, Brexit discussions have become the nation's new favourite way to fall out with your friends and family. It’s not just a hot topic around dinner tables, it’s got the conversation flowing across our Hub members and on our social channels. Let’s take a look at what Brexit has done to the UK property market and what’s going to happen in the event of a deal, no deal, some other deal or another referendum. But first, we kick this week’s podcast off with some news stories. The main headline was that house prices were likely to fall by 35%. Did Mark Carney actually predict this, or was this the media attempting to stir us into a frenzy? There’s likely to be many property investors interested in this prediction, so it’s important to know where these facts came from and if they’re actually true. The main topic today is Brexit and its impact on the UK property market. And whilst the Rob’s don’t have a crystal ball, they share their thoughts this week on how Brexit is likely to affect UK property. If you’re a property investor, should you sit it out and hold off buying your next investment property or should you look for the opportunities that Brexit could present? Based on history and some fundamental principles, the Rob’s delve deep this week. So brace yourselves for a great podcast! This week Rob & Rob attempt to strip away the emotion and focus on the core facts that could lead to Brexit severely impacting the UK property market - or not. Should we be nervous? Should we take stock of the negativity surrounding the market? Or should we be embracing the buying opportunities that this could present to property investors? Hit the play button to find out. Hub Extra: Don’t forget Hub Extra which hits your inbox on a Friday if you’re a Hub member. It’s a good one! Make sure you subscribe if you’ve not already. It’s the most valuable email you’ll receive all week. Get involved: Are you following us on our social channels? Let us know if you have any topics you’d like us to cover. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. We’d love to hear from you. Also, have you joined our lovely property community yet? Join the conversation over in the Property Hub forum. We’re happy to keep the Brexit chat going over in the community but you’ll also be able to chip in on a number of property related topics to help you on your property investment journey. Our Hubbers are a great bunch of people and very helpful, so get over there and introduce yourself today. Whilst we’ve got you, we’d love it if you could head over and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews help other podcast listeners find us. We also read out every single one of them on air, so head on over and we could be reading yours out on the next episode. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts here. Not sure how to leave a review? This video shows you how to review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.