rob bence

Well, I certainly have more sympathy for the delays we often experience with other developers now – construction isn’t easy! We’ve had several setbacks throughout construction although setbacks are to be expected in this game, but the biggest one has been waiting for the power to be connected. We started the process months ago, and the utility company is finally going to connect us in the next 2 weeks. You’ll have seen the photos we’ve been sharing with investors as we go along, but I’ve attached some of the latest ones here. Almost all the houses are totally finished, with just a bit of work to do on the last few. We’ve learned a lot of lessons for next time, and we’ll be sharing them on the podcast soon so other aspiring developers can learn too! Once it's finished I will also start a Q&A thread in the forum to answer questions about property developing. PS. I will also get some professional photos taken once it's finished and will share on my Instagram feed @rob_bence.

Wow double that's incredible, congratulations.! You've certainly beat the market, Manchester has only been increasing at any noticeable level for the last two years and judging by historical cycles it suggests it has a long way to go. Have a look at this link if you want to dig into the data. https://www.hometrack.com/uk/insight/uk-cities-house-price-index/ Cheers!

Great idea James, consider it added to our list.

Hey Susan, This podcast stirred emotion in both Rob and me too. Fear, excitement, etc. Even after witnessing it first hand, I still find it a little bit nuts and hard to believe. I'm just pleased we could share what's happening. Thanks!

Hey Chris, Thanks for the great feedback. Rob said 2006 because he was buying then, but this also happen in London five years ago and many parts of the South East 2-3 years ago. Manchester has only just started getting going and the majority UK investors are still not awake to what's happening. Look out for the ripple effect too, other areas close by will benefit in years to come. Cheers

Hey all, I'd love to know what you think about this episode. Leave your comments below Cheers

Hi Noah, This is a great question but will take me quite a while to answer! I'd love to record an Ask Rob and Rob on this very topic. If you get a chance, pop your message here and we’ll turn your question into a podcast. It would be great for young people to get some advice on this topic. Cheers, Rob

Hi Mikhil, Super impressed by your ambition. I wish I was this switched on at 17! Great questions - here’s my answers: 1 - yes, the BTL market is certainly still profitable. There's enough of us in this forum who can testify. It's not a path to quick riches, but if you're in it for the long term, you should be fine. At 17, you've got plenty of time ahead to create a profitable portfolio. 2 - yes, yields are certainly more attractive than saving accounts or ISAs. Are we talking life-changing sums? No, but the real wealth in property is created through capital growth over time. 3 - This is the type of question that will get people talking, but Rob and I believe the property market moves in 18 year cycles. Take a listen to the following podcasts, I think you’ll find them interesting and educational: The 18 Year Property Cycle Where Are We In The 18 Year Property Cycle? 4&5 - Investing at 18 years old is a fantastic time to start if you want to create long term wealth. Forget strategies for now and ensure you focus on clearly defining your goals. Once you have done this, it will help you to work on your strategy. Goals come first. The Laying The Foundations course will really help you with this. My other pieces of advice are: continue what you're doing, listen to the podcasts, sign up for the magazine, and most importantly, keep asking questions - you can always send your questions to us here via Ask Rob and Rob and we’ll turn them into a podcast! Good luck with your journey! Rob

Hi John, Welcome to the forum and thanks for sharing your story. Great to hear that you’ve found the Hub helpful. Liverpool is a fantastic place to invest in - honestly, I’m not biased! Rob and I have tipped this area previously. If you want to hear more about where to invest this year, take a listen to Where To Invest In 2017. Good luck! Rob

Hi Ben, Thanks for joining the forum and sharing your story. Wow, you’ve been busy listening to all those podcasts! I love that the podcasts have become the soundtrack to your commute - we might have to make that our tagline! Great to hear you have a solid plan in place. The Midlands is a brilliant location to invest in, so you're on the right track. Plenty of fundamentals and fantastic investment going on there. Good luck with your journey - let us know how you get on! Rob

Hi Chris, Welcome to the forum! Great to hear that you’ve found the resources and podcasts useful Your experience and knowledge will be valuable here on the forum. As for meetups, you’re spoilt for choice! Take a look here for Derby and here for Nottingham. Cheers, Rob

Hi Darren, Take a look at the free Buying BMV course on the Hub. It will give you many helpful pointers on how to find, assess and buy below market value. Cheers and good luck! Rob

Hi Charlie, There are several good areas in and around Weston-super-Mare. I would take a look at the town centre itself, particularly the Hillside, where you’ll find period properties overlooking the beach. Worle, which is around 3 miles from the town centre, may also be an area to look closely at - you’ll find family houses there and a train station that’s on the line to Bristol and London. It’s worth noting that the seafront has seen a lot of regeneration over the past few years, so that’s certainly an area to bear in mind. It’s also close to restaurants, nightlife, etc. Knightstone Island, which is located on the seafront, is a popular, modern development with great sea views. I wouldn’t necessarily call it a bad area, but the Bournville Estate would need extra consideration. In regards to house sharing, there’s a modern university campus in the town that’s linked to Bath Spa University, so there’s definitely potential there. Hope that helps. Cheers, Rob

Hi Martin, Welcome to the forum and thanks for your question! I’ve invested in Hull and was drawn to the city for the same reasons as yourself - the regeneration projects can only have a positive impact on the city. As you've rightly pointed out, the yields are attractive and the good news is I've always found it easy to rent my property out. As for areas to invest, if you're a Property Hub magazine subscriber, you'll be able to access the back issue that includes a big feature on this very subject. If you're not a subscriber, check out this link: thepropertyhub.net/magazine I promise it's very good! Cheers, Rob

Hi Bianca, Welcome to the forum! Thanks for laying out your questions so clearly - makes it a lot easier to answer. Q 1 - You would struggle to get a normal mortgage being so far away from the property; however, it sounds as though you don't intend on living in the property, so be aware that you actually could be committing mortgage fraud. The advantage of getting a buy to let mortgage is that it will be interest only, so your repayments will be lower - best of all, you won't be getting into any trouble with mortgage companies. Q 2 - I've not invested with family members other than my wife, and I think the subject could warrant a podcast episode in its own right! However, my advice would be to make sure you're all very clear from the start about your goals and expectations. It's better to have the more difficult conversations before money has been invested! Q 3 - Rob and I are big fans of the north - that's where we both currently invest. We have talked about the north loads of times on the podcast - I would recommend listening to Where To Invest In 2017. Also have a listen to our podcasts on the 18 year property cycle: The 18 Year Property Cycle Where Are We In The 18 Year Property Cycle? Good luck with your journey! Rob