This week's podcast is one we've never done before. We're going to analyse your latest deals, and thank you to all of you who have submitted details to us. If this is popular then we'll do it again in a few weeks as we have lots to get through! If you'd like to submit a deal for us to look into in the future, then you can do so right here. Meetups are tonight! Before we get started, a quick reminder to head along to your nearest Property Hub Meetup this evening. It's your last chance this year t...
Dec 01, 2016•30 min
This week on Ask Rob & Rob, Sylvia... Asks Rob & Rob – Buy now or wait out the wobble? PLUS: How do you use equity in your own home to buy more properties? ASK YOUR OWN QUESTION TO ROB & ROB! Don't be shy! All you need to do is leave a message with your name and whatever's on your mind. Just pick up the phone and call 013 808 00035 (normal UK call rates apply). Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your computer instead. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...
Nov 29, 2016•7 min
This week's podcast is all about the major developments in the planning that you need to be aware of. HS2 route 2 announced The second phase of this development has now been announced and there are some unexpected winners (Wigan and Crewe, we're looking at you) and some potential losers. Not just for train geeks (like our very own Rob B), this link demonstrates just how commutable these northern cities are - 55 mins from Crewe to London, anyone?! Heathrow Expansion - Not just big news for London...
Nov 24, 2016•27 min
This week on Ask Rob & Rob, Ruth & a mystery person... Ask Rob & Rob – Can a sourcing company stop me from dithering? PLUS: What does it mean to invest through a SPV? ASK YOUR OWN QUESTION TO ROB & ROB! Don't be shy! All you need to do is leave a message with your name and whatever's on your mind. Just pick up the phone and call 013 808 00035 (normal UK call rates apply). Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your computer instead. See omnystudio.com/listener for ...
Nov 22, 2016•8 min
Bizarrely, the Robs are asked all the time if they invest in property themselves. The answer is yes they definitely do! This week's episode is all about finding out more about the recent deals they have been working on. Rob B talks about his new Bradford investment which is looking at producing some very impressive figures indeed, and about a new deal he is working on in a super-prime location in Manchester, which should be brilliant for capital growth. Rob D's recent investment news hasn't quit...
Nov 17, 2016•35 min
This week on Ask Rob & Rob, Bryan & Louise... Ask Rob & Rob – Where should an overseas investor spend £100k? PLUS: How will the market perform in the next 10 years? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nov 15, 2016•9 min
This week we're talking about how to run a successful letting agency. It's something many landlords with growing portfolios think about doing, and also a potential way to get into the property industry by starting your own business. We've built up an agency of our own (Yellow Lettings) over the last couple of years, and we talk about what we think are the key drivers of success – including: Getting qualified (the NFOPP property management qualification is the one we chose) Getting compliant (joi...
Nov 10, 2016•29 min
This week on Ask Rob & Rob, Mick & Dave... Ask Rob & Rob – How do I get my kids interested in property investment? PLUS: What kind of surveys should you get on a property? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Nov 08, 2016•8 min
If you're a Property Podcast listener you're already a winner, but in this episode we discuss how to cultivate a winning mindset to push yourself to even greater levels of success. In property as with anything else, what separates the high-achievers from the rest generally isn't technical ability or knowledge – it's having the attitude to spot and capitalise on opportunities, and overcome the inevitable challenges. We get into: What we can learn from top athletes and business people How to turn ...
Nov 03, 2016•37 min
This week on Ask Rob & Rob, Nadia & Tony... Ask Rob & Rob – Buy gradually, or go all-in? PLUS: Should I only invest in nice places? Another two answers from The Robs this week, and another two informative answers! ASK YOUR OWN QUESTION TO ROB & ROB! Don't be shy! All you need to do is leave a message with your name and whatever's on your mind. Just pick up the phone and call 013 808 00035 (normal UK call rates apply). Or if you prefer, click here to leave a recording via your com...
Nov 01, 2016•11 min
This week our friend Pete Matthew is back, guiding us through alternative ways to get exposure to property – without owning it directly. We discuss different types of "collective investment" vehicles (such as REITs, OIECs and a whole bunch of other acronyms) as well as investments that track property rather than holding it, such as ETFs. During our chat we get to the bottom of: Why it's useful to look at alternatives to holding property directly All the different options, and how to tell them ap...
Oct 27, 2016•20 min
This week on Ask Rob & Rob, Simon... Asks Rob & Rob – Should I overpay my mortgage? PLUS: Joceline asks how should I approach estate agents? Another two answers from The Robs this week, and these would definitely feature in a property FAQ list. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 25, 2016•8 min
This week's episode is just a quick update, but wow are we excited: The Property Hub website has been completely re-built! In this short episode we explain: Why it was high time for an overhaul Improvements we've made to create better conversations in the forum The improved podcast listening and discovery process How we can guide you to the most relevant content for you if you're new Check out the new site here! Normal service will be resumed next week, when Pete Matthew returns for an in-depth ...
Oct 20, 2016•16 min
Ahmed & Drew - My tenant has left me, what should I do? PLUS: Using crowdfunding to buy property... Hear what Rob & Rob have to say in this weeks episode. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 18, 2016•8 min
We need another 1.8 million rental properties, says RICS Landlords have lost their legal challenge over the Finance Bill Perhaps as a result of the same changes, 63% of new mortgage applications are for limited companies And mortgage applications are only going to get more arduous: the Bank of England have set out their new underwriting requirements, with tougher stress-tests and requirements for portfolio landlords Finally, it's more tough talk from another new government with the announcement ...
Oct 13, 2016•25 min
This week on Ask Rob & Rob, Bjorn... Asks Rob & Rob – How much of my net worth should be in property? The Rob's are possibly not unbiased on this frequently asked question, but they do try to give a balanced take on the well publicised adage that you shouldn't keep more that 10% of your net worth in bricks and mortar. Listen to this week's episode and let us know your thoughts on this one over on the forum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 11, 2016•8 min
Grab your passport and join us as we head off around the world of property investment, investigating whether you should be hopping on a plane instead of into a car to research your next acquisition. We look into: The reasons why investing abroad is attractive to so many people The prospects for popular investment spots like Spain and the USA The risks and opportunities in up-and-coming locations like Eastern Europe The "wildcard" locations for if you're feeling particularly brave What to watch o...
Oct 06, 2016•32 min
This week on Ask Rob & Rob, Mike... Asks Rob & Rob – Should I never sell a property? Rob D admits this is something you hear a LOT from everyone, including from The Robs. However he also says that his thinking has changed a little in recent year. If your property price is increasing a lot faster than the rent and your yield has fallen, you could take the view that you have had the majority of your gains and you could sell now and buy a property elsewhere where there's more growth in it. ...
Oct 04, 2016•7 min
This week we're lucky enough to be joined by Pete Matthew from the Meaningful Money podcast, who talks us through how to set up your personal finances for property investment. Having Pete on the show allowed us to cover some topics that we've not devoted enough attention to in the past, including: The importance of life insurance if you have mortgages Where to keep your money while you wait to invest What kind of emergency buffer you should have on hand How to view property as part of a wider in...
Sep 29, 2016•27 min
This week on Ask Rob & Rob, Mike... Asks Rob & Rob – When it comes to refinancing, should I consider a longer term deal to avoid fees? Rob D & B agree that this is all about the numbers, but it can be tricky to work out. Get your mortgage advisor to do the calculations and work out what is best for you. Remortgaging can be an expensive business and even if the costs are not being paid out immediately, they are definitely still very real costs. Rob D asks his broker to give him all th...
Sep 27, 2016•8 min
Last week we talked about the whole property buying process, all the way up to completion. This week, we're looking at the easy-to-overlook steps you need to take in order to prepare your property to let. They include: Deciding whether to self-manage or use an agent Checking out the competition Informing the authorities and utilities about your ownership Obtaining any licenses that are needed Getting safety certificates in place Checking for any post-refurb minor maintenance issues Then it's tim...
Sep 22, 2016•19 min
This week on Ask Rob & Rob, Andy... Asks Rob & Rob – What checks should you make when buying remotely? This is somewhat of a specialist subject for The Robs, as they both invest this way, and run companies which help people to invest with a completely hands-off method. This is an important question and Rob B starts by saying you need to be very clear in what you want from the people you work with. Give them really clear guidelines so people know exactly what is an investment you would co...
Sep 20, 2016•8 min
Getting an offer accepted on a property is always a great moment – but this week we see that rather than being the finish line, it's actually just the firing of the starter's pistol. The process of doing the legals and getting your mortgage arranged can be a lengthy and arduous one, and it's your job to take control of all the people involved and keep things ticking along. In this episode we go step-by-step through everything you'll encounter, and provide tips for how to boost your chances of co...
Sep 15, 2016•33 min
Rob B issues a note of caution - beware those who tell you there is a way to do this that means you pay a little more now to get started as an investor. The truth is there is no real shortcut, and you probably should pay your debts off first. It's frustrating, and tempting to want to find a quicker alternative, but not the best move. Avoid the people making the big claims and the courses that say otherwise are a waste of money. If it's a choice of paying off your debts or investing, you need to ...
Sep 13, 2016•8 min
It's no surprise that we're big believers in the long-term power of property...but we were surprised when the Bank of England's Chief Economist said he'd back property over a pension too. So in this week's episode we ask if property is really better than a pension. We cover: What the BoE's Andy Haldane said Whether property really has outperformed equities over the last 30 years The advantages of property as a long-term asset The advantages of pensions over property Why property isn't the right ...
Sep 08, 2016•30 min
This is a commonly asked question - basically 'how good is good enough'. The answer is different for everyone as Rob D points out, as everyone has a different approach and attitude to risk. Rob D does say that neither himself nor Rob B uses net yield as a measure, preferring to favour looking at ROI, this takes into account using a mortgage and tells us after factoring in that mortgage, how hard an investment is working. Rob D bases everything on ROI, occasionally looking at gross yield to compa...
Sep 06, 2016•10 min
Depending on who you listen to, it's either the perfect time to invest in property or it's horrendously overvalued and ripe for a crash. This week, we look at the data behind the claims that UK property is unaffordable – and show how easy it is to cherry-pick one measure to support an agenda. We look at affordability through the lens of: Actual house prices (and see the shocking impact of inflation over the long-term) Prices after adjusting for inflation, to identify the specific extent of house...
Sep 01, 2016•23 min
This week on Ask Rob & Rob, Charles... Asks Rob & Rob – What is the snowball effect? Rob B says that from a capital growth point of view, if you see your portfolio at the top of the hill, as the hill drops down that represents time, by the time your snowball has been pushed down the hill - it is bigger. The point being, if you do more work in the early stages (buying BMV), your 'snowball' will be bigger at the end. The first few properties are incredibly important and you need to make wi...
Aug 30, 2016•8 min
More than any other type of property investment, the success of an HMO hinges on buying and setting it up right in the first place. We've talked recently about managing an HMO once it's up and running, but this week it's all about acquisition. We discuss: Where to buy, depending on your target market Two ways to find out where the "HMO areas" are Why you absolutely don't want to compromise on location The importance of understanding Article 4 The challenges involved in financing an HMO How lende...
Aug 25, 2016•29 min
Rob B starts by reminding you that what may be right for one person, won't necessarily be right for another. There will be pros and cons to each approach and there's no absolutely 'right' answer for everyone. However, whilst there is definitely an advantage in being a 'local expert' it is unlikely that your local area will consistently be a smart place to invest, which is why Rob & Rob invest all over the UK in places they consider to have good fundamentals. Rob allocates a lot of his time t...
Aug 23, 2016•8 min
