The Return: Property & Investment Podcast: Recent Episodes
Anna Clare Harper
The Return: Property & Investment Podcast shares insights, information and ideas on UK real estate and investing to enable investors to spot opportunities, invest more confidently in a complex market, and enjoy investing more.
Hosted by Anna Clare Harper, Property Investment Strategist, Co-Founder of Anglo Residential and Author of Strategic Property Investing.
Listener reviews include: 'The best property podcast out there - ★★★★★' - Oliver 'Great...I can't stop listening - ★★★★★' - Nicola 'Compelling, insightful and easy to listen to - ★★★★★' - Ben
I chatted to Richard Donnell, Executive Director at Houseful which is the Business to Business part of Zoopla.
We covered:
- Rent growth - at its lowest for 30 months
- The supply-demand imbalance - which is still over 2 x pre-pandemic levels
- What investor opportunities exist in the current market - notably existing homes
- What the election means for the housing and rental markets
Guest website: https://houseful.co.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-donnell/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
I chatted to Jamie Broderick, Deputy Chair of the non-profit Impact Investing Institute about place-based impact investing - as part of a collaboration with UKREiiF (The UK’s Real Estate and Infrastructure Forum).
We covered:
- What actually is impact investing, and what is place-based impact investing?
- Who is still investing in an environment of higher interest rates, and what do they want?
- Blended finance and the use of public funding to crowd in private capital
- Net Zero Neighbourhoods and the importance of community for both commercial viability and practical success of retrofit.
Guest website: https://www.impactinvest.org.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamiebroderick1/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
I caught up with my friend Jon Daley, who I (not very) jokingly refer to as ‘the Martin Lewis of social and sustainable housing’ because he knows so much about these socially critical topics. He’s also Head of Sustainability at Asset Manager G2M.
For context, Jon and I agree on a lot of things, including that the value of ideas shared increases exponentially, and that collective effort beyond building design is essential for achieving the environmental and social outcomes needed in UK housing pre-2050.
Topics we covered on the pod included:
- What is needed in order to upgrade the huge proportion (80%) of UK homes that we use in 2050 which already exist
- Navigating key regulatory changes, standards and bodies from Rental Reform to COP to the UK Green Finance Strategy to ISSB
- Navigating funding opportunities such as ECO and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondaley88/
Guest website: https://g2mgroup.co.uk/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
If you work in sustainable investing, you probably already know the ‘Bridges Spectrum of Capital’.
I discovered and loved it when I was researching my book on Sustainable Residential Investing, so I was especially excited to chat with Michele Giddens OBE, Co-CEO of Bridges Fund Management, which she Co-Founded alongside Philip Newborough and Sir Ronald Cohen - who gets described as "the father of British venture capital".
Michele has 30 years experience in sustainable investing and international development finance, from chairing the Community Development Finance Association, the UK National Advisory Board on Impact Investing, and a Global Working Group on Policy for the G7 Impact Investment Taskforce to running pioneer Bridges Fund Management. So she is the perfect guest to talk about sustainable investing, pioneering new strategies and making financial and social returns from retrofit.
We covered:
- The thesis behind Bridges and the Spectrum of Capital which ‘went a bit viral’ !
- How to pioneer: what we can learn from prolific pioneers about the process of bringing innovative ideas to market, for example carbon optioneering
- How to create attractive financial returns alongside social and environmental impacts in Article 9 funds
- Example investments such as retrofitting an old vinyl factory with cross-laminated timber to the material health benefits for residents from assisted living schemes
Guest website: https://www.bridgesfundmanagement.com/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-giddens-ab6b63145/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
I chatted to Ian Fletcher, Director of Policy at the British Property Federation about how to influence housing policy.
I found it fascinating to hear about:
- The latest on hot topics like Renters Reform Leasehold Reform and the up-coming election
- How policy-making actually works, from consultations with Civil Servants to lobbying Members of Parliament
- What next for housing policy
Guest website: https://bpf.org.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-fletcher-15a57341
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: GreenResi.com
Deepa Deb is Head of International Real Estate Investment at law firm Watson Farley & Williams, with accolades including regularly being ranked in Chambers & Partners as a leading lawyer in real estate and being rated as one of the Hot 100 most influential lawyers (The Lawyer).
We chatted on the podcast about:
- What innovations (in particular the use of AI) can improve efficiency and reliability of legal work in transactions
- What UK residential can learn from other parts of real estate and from other countries about transactions
- Career advice for aspiring lawyers
Guest website: https://www.wfw.com/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deepa-deb/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
I had the chance to chat with Katherine Russell, Director of Build to Rent at the John Lewis Partnership about retail, real estate and Build to Rent.
Topics included:
- The journey that the John Lewis Partnership - better known for homewares than housing - has been on with real estate generally, and residential property specifically, from owning ‘tops above shops’ to Build to Rent
- Lessons learned through John Lewis’s Real Estate Portfolio, the New West End Company’s (a partnership of 600 West End-based businesses) Advisory Board and Dolphin Living (an independent charity with an endowment of £120m to provide affordable homes for Londoners)
- What next for Build to Rent and the UK Private Rental Sector
Guest website: https://www.jlpjobs.com/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-russell-simmonds-73206933/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website:https://www.greenresi.com/
My good friend Andrew Teacher grilled me in my capacity as CEO of GreenResi on unlocking responsible UK residential investment at scale.
Topics include:
- The residential market opportunity: scale, growing income and resilience underpinned by demographics
- How to deploy rapidly at scale: acquiring granular existing rentals for faster, less risky, less carbon intensive access to residential vs Build to Rent
- How processes can be optimised to improve efficiency and reliability throughout the deal lifecycle
Anna Clare Harper LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Anna Clare Harper website: https://www.greenresi.com/
Andrew Teacher website: https://montfort.london/
Andrew Teacher LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewteacher/
I loved chatting to Cath Webster, CEO of Thriving Investments, the fund manager with a social conscience backed by Places for People, the UK's leading Social Enterprise which owns or manages over 240,000 homes for 500,000 Customers across the UK.
We covered:
- The different segments in residential such as Affordable Rented, Social Rented and Private Rented
- How Build to Rent has evolved, from ‘Gen1’ to today, including the rise and fall of amenities
- Investment yield valuations, why liquidity is so low in Build to Rent and what this means for BtR players.
Guest website: https://www.thrivinginvestments.co.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/526783/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
I chatted to Simon Scott, Lead Director, Living Capital Markets UK at the second largest global property advisor, JLL, about the future of ‘living capital’ (which is essentially the institutionally-funded segment of the real estate market which people live in).
Topics include:
- What we can learn from 2023 around the resilience of residential investment
- Factors influencing investment valuations, from fire safety to operating companies
- Will 2024 be the worst year yet for new housing developments?
Guest website: https://www.jll.co.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-scott-151a2669/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: GreenResi.com
It’s been a while since I didn’t have a high powered guest on the podcast, and a lot has been happening in the market and in my world.
So this week, I thought I’d take the opportunity to share some of that (read: talk to myself!), answering some of the questions I get asked frequently about the market and my business.
Topics include:
- Key social, environmental and investor trends in the UK Private Rental Sector
- Developing tools to scale, including acquisition pipeline management and portfolio monitoring
- The difference between Build to Rent, seen as ‘good’ and buy-to-let, seen as ‘bad’ in terms of management infrastructure (processes, systems, budgets, externalities etc)
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: www.GreenResi.com
I had the chance to chat with Jessica Pilz, Head of Sustainable Investing at £90bn Asset Manager, Fiera Capital.
Topics included:
- How to integrate Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) considerations into commercial investment decisions, and when to say no to attractive financial returns
- Innovation and ‘insetting’ instead of offsetting
- How to use partnerships to address complex environmental and social challenges whilst achieving commercial success
Guest website: https://www.fieracapital.com/en
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-pilz-483b1b1b/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
I chatted with Emma Long, Head of Business Strategy, Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) Real Assets Equity about how one of the largest asset managers in Europe, with global Assets under Management of £1.2 trillion, makes sound investment decisions and adapts to market changes.
Topics include:
- The implications of a changing investor landscape with Direct Benefit pensions buyouts and Direct Contribution pensions growth
- How asset management is increasingly about customer (occupier) engagement not just assets, and what this means
- What asset managers look for including investment strategies that work based on long term thematics or market timing/mispricing, alpha or unique access/expertise and scale
- LGIM’s Social Value Framework and Net Zero Carbon Roadmap progress
Guest website: https://www.lgim.com/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-long-906a785/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
I had a wonderful chat with Sadie Malim, Head of ESG and Legal at Moorfield, a £3.9bn specialist investor, on the podcast.
Key topics included:
- The democratisation of real estate
- What ‘alternative’ and ‘operational’ really mean (when UK residential is 8 x larger than UK commercial property and 4 x larger than the FTSE 100!)
- Advice for investors exploring ESG integration in residential to rent
- Real life examples of the most exciting alternative real estate strategies including self-storage and single family rental, and critical lessons learned.
Guest website: https://www.moorfield.com/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadie-malim/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
The Return: Property & Investment Podcast has been featured in Feedspot’s UK and London ‘Best Real Estate Podcasts’ lists, coming in at #4 in the UK!
https://podcasts.feedspot.com/uk_real_estate_podcasts/
https://blog.feedspot.com/london_real_estate_podcasts/
Alex Notay is Placemaking & Investment Director at Thriving Investments, which aims to be the most socially responsible asset management company in the housing sector, and is part of Places for People.
She’s an internationally recognised expert on Build to Rent and ESG in residential, and she has helped lead residential and ESG committees for leading industry bodies ULI, BPF and AREF.
So she was the perfect guest to explain how we should be measuring ESG risks and impacts in residential.
We covered topics including:
- What are the key trends shaping how we approach sustainability?
- Which are the best of 500+ real estate and sustainability benchmarks for residential?
- Key lessons from writing (my personal favourite ESG report of recent years), ‘Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG): Why it matters and how to get started - A Guide for the Institutional PRS (British Property Federation)
BPF Residential ESG Guidance report: https://bpf.org.uk/media/4534/bpf-residential-esg-guidance.pdf
Guest website: https://www.thrivinginvestments.co.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandranotayparr/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
I chatted to Phil Mason, Head of Regulatory Engagement at Trustmark, the government endorsed quality scheme for home improvements, an organisation that is critical for the urgent retrofit of UK homes, about the impact of regulations on retrofit and the path to Net Zero for homes.
We covered:
- What Net Zero means for UK homes
- The path of least resistance for achieving Net Zero 2050 - avoiding inefficiencies and just ‘retrofitting once’
- How policies, practices and grant funding opportunities differ between tenures, and what finance is available for retrofit
Guest website: https://www.trustmark.org.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-mason-29a5a9164/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
The Return: Property & Investment Podcast has been featured in Feedspot’s UK and London ‘Best Real Estate Podcasts’ lists, coming in at #4 in the UK!
https://podcasts.feedspot.com/uk_real_estate_podcasts/
https://blog.feedspot.com/london_real_estate_podcasts/
I had a great chat withPolly Ogden Duffy,Managing Director at prime sales and lettings agency, John D Wood & Co.
We covered:
- How to achieve your buying, selling or renting goals in the current market
- How upsizers are winning in 2023
- What has caused the time taken to complete a sale to double since 2019
- How establishing pregnancy loss and menopause policies - as well as being vocal about such real staff issues - improves staff loyalty and so boosts long term profitability
Guest website: https://www.johndwood.co.uk
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/polly-ogden-duffy-17070651/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
The Return: Property & Investment Podcast has been featured in Feedspot’s UK and London ‘Best Real Estate Podcasts’ lists, coming in at #4 in the UK!
https://podcasts.feedspot.com/uk_real_estate_podcasts/
https://blog.feedspot.com/london_real_estate_podcasts/
I had the chance to chat with Imogen Ebbs, Head of UK Real Estate Funds at £223bn asset manager Aviva Investors, on the podcast.
We covered:
- How to become a fund manager, and how Aviva Investors are helping the next generation of fund managers onto the ladder
- What ‘good’ looks like in the current market, and how this has changed - including macroeconomic factors, pricing, microeconomics and ESG
- The most exciting emerging investment strategies (spoiler alert: lots in ‘living’!) and the death of the commercial property ‘40/40/20’ allocation strategy
- Why reporting is so important, and how data collection and impact possibilities define what is investible
Guest website: https://www.avivainvestors.com
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/imogen-ebbs-37136262/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
The Return: Property & Investment Podcast has been featured in Feedspot’s UK and London ‘Best Real Estate Podcasts’ lists, coming in at #4 in the UK!
https://podcasts.feedspot.com/uk_real_estate_podcasts/
https://blog.feedspot.com/london_real_estate_podcasts/
In this episode I share my thoughts on the scrapping of proposed Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards of EPC C+ for properties to be legally rented out.
The tables were turned and I joined Rod Turner on his Property Business Investment ‘Rodcast’ in my capacity as CEO of GreenResi, which helps residential investors with portfolios worth £100m+ to make efficient, reliable buy, sell and upgrade decisions at scale, so that they can future proof and grow portfolios in the context of the urgent need to retrofit homes.
We covered topics including
- Why scrapping planned MEES is likely to be positive for the Private Rental Sector, its renters and the environment
- Why our clients, institutional investors, were and are self-regulating, and targeting better than the ex-proposed minimum EPC of C
- What other policies would work better than MEES, such as using Council Tax to incentivise upgrades.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Guidance: https://bpf.org.uk/media/4534/bpf-residential-esg-guidance.pdf
Listen to The Rodcast: https://www.podpage.com/the-rodcast-property-business-investment/
Rod Turner Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rod-turner-936a837/
Anna Clare Harper LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
GreenResi website: https://www.greenresi.com/
The Return: Property & Investment Podcast has been featured in Feedspot’s UK and London ‘Best Real Estate Podcasts’ lists, coming in at #4 in the UK!
https://podcasts.feedspot.com/uk_real_estate_podcasts/
https://blog.feedspot.com/london_real_estate_podcasts/
I had the chance to chat with Avinash Rajan, Proposition Director for TrustMark, the UK Government-Endorsed Quality Scheme for home improvements, and an organisation that is critical for the urgent retrofit of UK homes.
We covered:
- Innovations and policy changes in home comfort and the path to Net Zero
- How to ensure quality delivery and protect consumers
- How to adapt your retrofit approach when policy objectives conflict, for example when changing from gas to electric brings down Energy Performance Certificate grades
Guest website: https://www.trustmark.org.uk/homeowner
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/avinashrajan/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
I had a great, very informative chat with Carl Jabbour, Head of Investors and COO of £1bn+ property and SME lender Fiduciam, for the podcast.
We talked about:
- Why family offices and institutional investors are so keen to lend, and the non-cyclical growth of non-bank lending
- How macroeconomic shifts like high inflation, high interest rates and low economic growth/confidence define what works for Family Offices and institutional investors
- Why lenders are swallowing profit margin in the face of higher base rates, and what distinguishes lenders who will survive, thrive or fold in the 2020s
Guest website: https://fiduciam.co.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carl-jabbour/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
I chatted to Emma Fletcher, Homes Director at Octopus Energy, the UK's most awarded energy supplier. Emma is also a renewable energy pioneer herself, having led the UK’s first green district heating system, which we have talked about in past episodes.
In this episode, we talked about:
- Using technology and innovation bridge the gap between traditional housing infrastructure and the demands of a more environmentally conscious society
- Pioneering products like ‘Zero Bills’ - where customers with solar, heatpumps, batteries and smart meters pay £0 for five years
- Testing then rolling out innovations to support energy transition across housing developments
Guest website: https://octopus.energy/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmafletchercambridge/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://www.greenresi.com/
I chatted to Rayhan Rafiq, serial founder including of Unmortgage, which became Wayhome - a ground-breaking institutionally-backed shared ownership scheme for aspiring owners of existing homes letting people buy as little as 5% of a home and rent the rest.
We talked about ‘the human side of business’, including:
- What key performance indicators ‘customer-centric’ businesses really need
- Building trust and rapport in low trust, emotionally-charged industries
- People, politics and the risks of poor communication
- Social impact, diversity and inclusion and how to change the disappointing talk/change ratio in real estate and finance - featuring lessons from Barbie
- Leaning into human-only capabilities through the rise of AI
Guest website: https://www.wayhome.co.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ray5d/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: greenresi.com
I chatted with David Pierpoint, CEO of The Retrofit Academy, the leading retrofit skills training provider on a special podcast demystifying retrofit standards, certifications and training.
Highlights include:
- How PAS 2035 emerged, and why it’s so important
- The relationship between PAS 2035, ECO4 and EPC recommendations
- Maintaining quality in a race against time
- The Retrofit Rap
Guest website: https://retrofitacademy.org/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-pierpoint-8044405/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: greenresi.com
Jon Dweck, Founder of Space32, a leading office flexspace marketplace joined me on the podcast to discuss how flexible office space is evolving, from location choice to days per week.
Highlights include:
- The extent to which office demand has fallen
- The future of the office sector - from flex space to Build to Rent conversions
- What businesses paid for in the last 12 months, including less time in the office, and higher quality
- Shaking up the office leasing sector with a new marketplace
Guest website: https://www.space32.com/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathandweck/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: greenresi.com
I chatted with the wonderful Rajeev Nayyar, UK Managing Director of Aareon Group (the largest property management software group in the UK, including Arthur, FixFlo and Aereon UK) and Co-Founder of FixFlo, the leading repairs and maintenance software used for more than 1 million properties in the UK.
Highlights include:
- The late shift to focusing on customer wants and needs in real estate
- The three types of asset maintenance, and how tech can be used to make them smoother across dispersed portfolios
- The future of AI and IOT in real estate
Guest website: https://www.aareon.co.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajeev-nayyar-19616155/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: greenresi.com
I really enjoyed chatting with Paul Clark, Stories Co-founder & CIO, Sophie White, Sector Head for Regeneration at Aviva Capital Partners about their £100m joint venture in purposeful, socially responsible development.
Some highlights included:
- Measuring social responsibility
- Using the right capital for long term projects
- How trust and fear really show up in development partnerships
Paul Clark LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulrichardclark/
Website: https://www.stories.partners/
Sophie White LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophie-white-89378a30/
Website: https://www.aviva.com/about-us/aviva-capital-partners/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: remees.net
On the pod this week I talked about what I’ve been working on: a new tool to help residential investors and managers to navigate the current environment, including:
- Current and planned regulations
- The urgent need to improve the quality and energy efficiency of homes in the UK
- Making better, cheaper, faster decisions at scale.
We’re running pilots with portfolio investors and managers looking to:
- Add value to their portfolios in the current environment and
- Help solve the urgent social and environmental problems
Please reach out if this is you, and you own/manage a portfolio of (100+) properties or intend to.
I also shared some thoughts on how tech and data can be used more broadly to help solve the home energy efficiency crisis, and where the limits of software are - since energy efficiency is a ‘hardware’ problem.
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: remees.net
I really enjoyed chatting with David Rae, the CFO and COO of Evo, a digital property management business managing 5,900 units for clients like British Land, Acorn and Winkworth.
Some highlights included:
- Using augmented reality video technology to triage maintenance, reducing the cost and environmental impact of maintenance callouts
- Auditing maintenance and repairs, and improving efficiency through property record-keeping
- What it’s really like to raise for proptech companies in the current environment, from valuations down 40% to the facts and figures angel investors and venture capitalists really care about
Guest website: https://evo-pm.com/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrae/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
Richard Ng, Co-Founder of Greenworkx, joined me on the podcast to talk about the green skills emergency.
We discussed:
- How the 500,000 person labour shortage is holding back Net Zero 2050
- What skills are most in demand in retrofitting real estate
- The future of green skills - from funding to tech-enabled learning
Guest website: https://greenworkx.org
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardcrng/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
Liz Peace CBE was CEO of the British Property Federation. She specialises in politics, property and the built environment and advises both public and private sector bodies, making her the perfect podcast guest to discuss the politics of energy efficiency in real estate with.
Her roles include as a Non-Executive Director at Howard de Walden Estates and the Connected Places Catapult, as Chair of the GLA’s Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation, the University of Cambridge Property Board, the Churches Conservation Trust and Real Estate Balance.
We discussed:
- The role of central government, local government and communities in improving energy efficiency
- The role of the housing industry in reducing real estate carbon emissions
- The challenge of funding and commercial case for retrofit
Guest website: https://cp.catapult.org.uk/team/liz-peace-cbe/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-peace-a6b41a16/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
Following a Cambridge University Land Society and Joseph Rowntree Foundation event on housing policy, Emma Fletcher and I were asked to write a paper detailing a realistic vision for the UK housing market, and what policies could be used to achieve that vision.
Emma is a Development Director at Hyde, a Housing Association responsible for 50,000 homes, and Chair of Swaffham Prior Community Land Trust, which created the first village-wide renewable energy system in the UK.
The paper is being published this week, and includes an overall vision, as well as tenure-specific objectives and policy recommendations.
Points include:
- The impact of short termism and vested interests on housing market inequalities
- The problem with focusing on new homes, since 80% of the homes we use in 2050 are already built
- Policy ideas such as how to incentivise downsizing, for reasons including the fact that 3.6 million homes across the country owned by over 65s have at least two spare rooms.
Guest website: https://www.hyde-housing.co.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmafletchercambridge/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
I chatted with Arjan Verbeek, CEO and Co-Founder of Perenna, about this new Danish-style mortgage lender offering 30 year fixed rate mortgages in the UK.
We covered:
- How Danish banks - and now UK banks - can offer long term fixed rate mortgages using covered bonds
- The hurdles a new bank has to overcome - as seen in Bank of Dave!
- The impacts of longer term fixed rates - for people and the economy
Guest website: https://www.perenna.com/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%87%B3%F0%9F%87%B1-arjan-verbeek-5884681/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
I was delighted to chat to Roger Madelin CBE about sustainable development and place-making in the current challenging environment.
Roger is Joint Head of British Land’s 53 acre Canada Water Development, and previously led major projects including Brindleyplace in Birmingham, Thames Valley Park in Reading the King’s Cross Development.
We covered:
- The commercial realities of development in the 2020s
- The patience required for sustainable development
- Advice for aspiring developers and architects
Guest website: https://www.britishland.com/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
I sat down with Aubrey Adams OBE, Chair of L&Q Group, one of the biggest housing associations in the UK, with 110,000 homes. He’s also former Chief Executive of Savills, and Chair of Tritax Big Box REIT.
We covered:
- What Housing Associations like L&Q, with 110k homes under management, actually do, the challenges they face and how these are being tackled
- The volume/quality trade-off in social housing
- Policy ideas for solving volume, quality and distribution (inequality) problems in housing.
Guest website: https://www.lqgroup.org.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/london-&-quadrant/
Sponsor website: immo.capital
Sponsor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immoinvesttech/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
Residential investment is seen as a great investment option for volatile, inflationary times. And quality asset management is an essential part of this.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Samantha Kempe, Co-Founder and CIO of IMMO, with highlights including:
- The wide range of investors now allocating capital to Single Family Rental, from Private Equity to Pension Funds
- Quality asset management in existing residential, including upgrading energy performance and safety standards
- Delivering quality, affordable homes without the high embodied carbon of new builds
Guest website: immo.capital
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-kempe-3ab42394/
Sponsor website: immo.capital
Sponsor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immoinvesttech/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
The Building Safety Act marks a significant change for the construction industry. It overhauls existing regulations on building standards and construction materials, with the goal of driving quality in design, construction and operation.
I had the privilege of chairing a panel on its wide-reaching implications with Gary Strong, Global Standards Director at the RICS, Jane Duncan OBE from the RIBA, Liz Oliver, Safer Homes Director at Hyde Housing Association, Sarah Kiesel, Senior Technical Operations Manager at NHBC and John Winter from Apex Insurance.
The panel was part of an event hosted by the Cambridge Forum for the Construction Industry and the Cambridge University Land Society’s Residential Forum.
I’m sharing the panel on the pod because despite its importance, the Act is not widely understood. Topics include:
- What are the intended and unintended consequences of this new Act?
- Will the Act result in an exodus of professionals, especially SME surveyors, architects etc?
- What are the commercial implications of the Act?
Guests LinkedIn and websites: Gary Strong | https://www.rics.org/uk/ | Jane Duncan | https://www.architecture.com/ | Liz Oliver | https://www.hyde-housing.co.uk/ | Sarah Kiesel | https://www.nhbc.co.uk/ | John Winter | https://apexinsurancebrokers.co.uk/
Event Host Websites: https://www.cfci.org.uk/ | https://www.culandsoc.com/forums/residential-forum/
Sponsor website: immo.capital
Sponsor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immoinvesttech/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
The post-Grenfell drive for improved building safety has, rightly, shaken up the construction industry.
One consequence of many, is the significant change in the costs of Professional Indemnity Insurance and the timeframes it is needed for.
I spoke to John Winter from Apex Insurance about:
- Extended liability periods: from 6 years from practical completion on a project to 15 years, and a new retrospective right to claim for 30 years, leaving firms open to claims dating back to the mid-nineties.
- Increased costs of cover: with cheaper insurance providers leaving the market, costs of PI cover are increasing by 500-800% for many professionals on renewal.
- What increased costs of business mean for professionals, including fears of an exodus of professionals and fewer building projects being viable, making it ever harder to meet our national housing targets.
Guest website: https://apexinsurancebrokers.co.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwinter-pispecialist/
Sponsor website: immo.capital
Sponsor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immoinvesttech/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
I chatted to Richard Donnell, Executive Director at Zoopla, about the UK rental market in Q4 2022.
Some highlights:
- 12.1% annual rental price growth
- Demand is 46% above average, and total supply is 38% below the 5 year averages
- Rental (un)affordability is at a 10 year peak of 35% for single earners, which explains by 3.6m 20-34 year olds are living with their families (not far off the size of the entire social rented sector, at 4.2m households).
Guest website: https://www.zoopla.co.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-donnell-a043833a/
Sponsor website: immo.capital
Sponsor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immoinvesttech/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
I chatted to Alexandra Thur, Founder of Tollington Group and former Founding Partner at Blackstone-backed Invitation Homes and B2R about the emergence of Single Family Rental as an institutionally-accepted asset class.
We covered:
- The market conditions needed to make Single-Family Rental work in the US
- The growth of US Single-Family Rental, to ⅓ of homes in some cities
- What European investors can learn from the US experience, from technological capabilities to considering the needs of local communities up front
Guest website: https://www.tollingtongroup.com/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrathur/
Sponsor website: immo.capital
Sponsor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immoinvesttech/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
I sat down with Melanie Bien, award-winning PR specialist, former Personal Finance Editor of the Independent on Sunday, and author of four best-selling property 'for dummies' books to talk about what’s driving the market and whether property investment still makes sense ‘for dummies’.
Key topics include:
- What the end of an era of cheap finance really means for residential property
- How close we are to the peak of rent growth
- A whistle stop tour of the key market changes since 2020
Guest website: https://www.bienmedia.com/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-bien-4b67144/
Sponsor website: immo.capital
Sponsor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immoinvesttech/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
Manoj Varsani MBE joined me on the podcast this week to talk about:
- Using tech for good, including establishing SOS Supplies to provide £5m worth of PPE to those in need through Covid
- Making Tax Digital - what landlords need to know about upcoming changes to reporting requirements, and why automated financial management makes sense in the context of the upcoming 5 x annual deadlines
- Using software to make property compliance easier, including budgeting for energy performance upgrades to comply with Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards
Guest website: https://www.usehammock.com/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manojvarsani/
Sponsor website: immo.capital
Sponsor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immoinvesttech/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
I caught up with Luay Al-Khatib, Director of Standards for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors on the role of RICS in the shift to Net Zero.
Key topics include:
- Whole life carbon assessment - because you can’t manage what you don’t measure
- Guidance to lenders - vital as this influences the viability of schemes, investments and even home purchases
- Upskilling and improving knowledge to improve the energy efficiency of real estate - from surveys to retrofits
- Governance in surveying and the importance of independence
Guest website: https://www.rics.org/uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luay-al-khatib-895a4149
Sponsor website: immo.capital
Sponsor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immoinvesttech/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
I had the pleasure of catching up with Lucian Cook, Head of UK Residential Research at Savills and leading housing market commentator on the pod.
Key topics include:
- What’s happened in mainstream and prime housing in the last 2 years
- Economic, social and environmental sustainability and housing policy
- How scrapping mortgage affordability tests will affect house prices
- What next for UK house prices (the least inaccurate forecasts)?
Guest website: https://www.savills.co.uk/people/savills-margaret-street/lucian-cook.aspx
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucian-cook/
Sponsor website: immo.capital
Sponsor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immoinvesttech/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
I had the pleasure of digging into the key trends in the UK rental market this quarter with Executive Director at Zoopla, Richard Donnell.
Key topics include:
- 12.3% annual rental price growth - set against a 46% reduction in available stock indicating a landlord exodus
- Why premium rents are rising faster
- Renter strategies for the cost of living crisis, from renting flats (demand for which has increased significantly) to sharing vs living alone
- What next for the UK rental market, and the peak in rental price growth
Guest website: https://www.zoopla.co.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-donnell-a043833a/
Sponsor website: immo.capital
Sponsor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immoinvesttech/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
I was honoured to have Baroness Brown of Cambridge DBE FREng FRS, Julia King on the podcast to talk about adapting to climate change risk in real estate.
She's currently Chair of the Adaptation Committee of the UK Climate Change Committee, which she has been a member of since it was formed in 2008. She also chairs the Carbon Trust, is a non-executive director of Ørsted and of Ceres Power and a member of the Government’s Hydrogen Advisory Committee. Previous roles include as the UK’s Low Carbon Business Ambassador, Non-Executive Director of the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult and of the Green Investment Bank.
So, she’s extremely well-qualified to talk about climate change and what we need to do now to reduce its impacts, with a particular focus on housing.
Key topics include:
- What risks we need to prepare for and how - including over-heating in homes, climate change ghettoisation and poorly adapted office to residential conversions
- Hazards, exposure and vulnerability
- Creating the right kinds of policy in pursuit of a clear vision so that we adapt and minimise climate change risks, without adverse consequences
Guest website: https://members.parliament.uk/member/4565/contact / https://www.carbontrust.com/who-we-are/people/julia-king-baroness-brown-of-cambridge
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baroness-brown-julia-king-dbe-freng-frs-5a955319/
Sponsor website: immo.capital
Sponsor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immoinvesttech/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
Dr Michael Waters, Director of Studies for Real Estate at Heriot-Watt University, joined me on the podcast this week.
Highlights include:
- The genesis and journey of Dubai real estate - including how not being a democracy makes it easier to build to a long term vision
- Who buys Dubai housing and why, from tax benefits to glamour
- Financing and the recent decriminalisation of loan defaults
- Sustainability: mandatory green building codes, ratings and international ESG standards
Guest website: https://www.hw.ac.uk/dubai/profiles/teaching/michael-waters.htm
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-michael-waters-mrics-71b43622/
Sponsor website: immo.capital
Sponsor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immoinvesttech/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
I was delighted to speak to Cedric Bucher, CEO of Hearthstone Investments, specialist
Private Rental Sector fund manager with 1,400+ homes under management.
We covered:
- The case for new builds vs existing properties
- Institutional investors reporting requirements
- Moving towards sustainable UK residential property
Guest website: https://www.hearthstone.co.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cedric-bucher-8490329/
Sponsor website: immo.capital
Sponsor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immoinvesttech/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
I had the chance to chat to Professor Andrew Baum about the E, S and G responsibilities of investors, developers and professionals in real estate, and what it means to become a B Corp.
Andrew is one of the most influential people in real estate and proptech with credentials include being Chairman at Newcore Capital Management (a B Corp), Strategy Partner at PiLabs, Advisor at IMMO, on the Investment Committee at CBRE Investment Management Indirect and as Emeritus Professor at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. He has also written six books on real estate investment with combined sales of over 75,000 books - including the books I used at Cambridge!
Highlights include:
- Mission-focused prioritisation and the importance of economic sustainability
- The collective responsibility of property owners
- Systemised altruism as a B Corp
- The practicalities and benefits of B Corp status
Guest website: https://www.newcorecapital.com/team/andrew-baum/2
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-baum-303a014/
Sponsor website: immo.capital
Sponsor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/immoinvesttech/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
I had a fascinating chat with the brilliant Emma Fletcher about the UK’s first 100% renewable district heating scheme and Housing Association development challenges - two massive topics at the heart of environmentally and socially responsible residential property.
Emma is the Managing Director at Evera, a partnership of four Housing Associations in the East of England - which collectively owns and manages over 100,000 homes. She’s also the Chair of Swaffham Prior Community Land Trust, which is developing a ground-breaking village-wide renewable energy supply.
In short, she’s a pretty incredible role model for leading socially and environmentally responsible change in residential property.
We covered topics including:
- The importance of public-private partnerships in property
- How to strengthen and support communities, rather than just building housing
- The generational skills gap in construction
- Diversifying property development
Guest website: everahomes.co.uk
Guest LinkedIn: Emma (Veale) Fletcher | LinkedIn
Host website: annaclareharper.com
Host website: immo.capital
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Professor Franz Fuerst is the leading light in real estate research, in particular as it relates to sustainability.
So he’s the perfect person to ask about the undeniable gulf between academic research and what happens in practice in the real estate industry.
And, with the rise of machine learning and the democratisation of data, the risks ahead are growing.
We talked about topics on this theme including:
- Reputation, funding, profit and vested interests
- Academic-business partnerships - and how the European real estate industry differs from the American pharmaceutical industry
- Biases in research, in particular when it comes to ESG, and
- The future of real estate research - and how real estate businesses can use it to their advantage.
https://www.landecon.cam.ac.uk/directory/dr-franz-fuerst
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ffuerst/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
https://immo.capital/
Inheritance can be an awkward topic. No surprise, since it involves both death and taxes. As a result, many of us fail to plan for the people we love. Worse still, good people can turn bad when it comes to money.
Ann-Marie Atkins, award-winning Financial Planner and Managing Partner at Evelyn Partners, joined me on the pod to talk about passing on, or indeed inheriting wealth smoothly.
We covered:
- Common mistakes
- Advice on planning for the inevitable
- Trusts, taxes and marriage
Resources:
https://www.evelyn.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annmariebanks/
Annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Trillions of dollars of usable fixtures and fittings are thrown away each year.
Most of us don’t even know the financial cost of this waste, let alone the environmental cost.
So how do we solve that problem?
I had the chance to chat with May Al-Karooni, the Founder of Globechain.com, which is the leading ESG reporting and reuse marketplace worldwide.
Topics include how Globechain’s 10,000 members are using software to measure and manage their ESG impacts and recycle unwanted fixtures, fittings and furniture - from 40,000 carpet tiles to a single office chair - with an average time to find a new home of just 20 minutes.
Guest website: https://globechain.com/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/may-al-karooni/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
Host website: immo.capital
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Zoopla’s Head of Research, Gráinne Gilmore, joined me to discuss what’s happening to UK rental pricing up and down the country.
Gráinne was previously Head of Residential Research and Knight Frank, and an award-winning Economics Correspondent for The Times before her role at Zoopla.
So, she’s well-placed to explain what’s happening to prices and why in the UK rental market.
Highlights of this episode include:
- What’s happening in London vs the rest of the UK
- The recovery of inner city rental demand
- The exodus of private landlords, and what this means for the future of the rental market
To find out, I sat down with Andrew Baum, one of the most influential people in real estate and proptech. His credentials include being Chairman at Newcore Capital Management, Strategy Partner at PiLabs, Advisor at IMMO, on the Investment Committee at CBRE and as Emeritus Professor at the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School. He has also written six books on real estate investment with combined sales of over 75,000 - including the books I used at Cambridge!
Highlights of this episode include:
- What asset classes make sense to invest in in an inflationary environment?
- How real estate hedges investors against inflation
- What the cost of living crisis really means - socially and commercially
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-baum-303a014/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
Host website: immo.capital
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
To mark 4 years of the pod, and the launch of my latest book, Sustainable Residential Investing, the latest episode covers key market trends and changes of the last 4 years.
Topics include:
- The impacts of political uncertainty on real estate
- Using tech for good, and avoiding drinking the proptech koolaid (e.g. WeWork valuation; NFTs).
- Sustainable Residential Investing - and a 25% discount for my new book on this topic.
Check it out via the link below!
https://www.routledge.com/Sustainable-Residential-Investing-How-to-Make-Profits-with-Positive-Impacts/Harper/p/book/9781032053097
https://annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Real estate is responsible for 40% of global carbon emissions. And reductions have flatlined…
So how can we use tech to solve the climate change problem?
I spoke to Roelof Opperman, Partner at leading proptech venture capital firm, Fifthwall, on this topic.
Highlights include:
- If considered a country, the cement industry would be the third largest CO2 contributor in the world behind only the US and China.
- The commercial advantages of climate action in real estate
- The most exciting innovations at each stage of the carbon life cycle - combining material sciences with green finance and real estate to scale their positive impact
Check it out via the link below
https://annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
https://fifthwall.com/
https://uk.linkedin.com/in/roelofjopperman
I loved chatting to leading green real estate economist, University of Cambridge Professor Franz Fuerst, about measuring and improving the sustainability of real estate for the podcast.
Topics included:
- How the urgent situation in Ukraine affects important work in environmental performance of buildings
- The impact of Goodhart’s Law: "When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure"
- How we can understand and improve both potential and actual environmental and social performance of buildings, from knowing the limitations of EPCs to measuring spatial efficiency, walkability and ‘walkacity’
https://www.landecon.cam.ac.uk/directory/dr-franz-fuerst
https://annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
For years, we work towards retirement. In the UK, the average retirement now lasts 20 years… But what actually happens when you retire?
I quizzed Nick Sanderson, Founder and CEO of Audley Group, a leading retirement village provider in the UK and Chair of industry body ARCO on retirement living, with highlights including:
- The difference between care homes, retirement homes and staying at home, and why the fear of care home living keeps most people at home for too long
- The huge supply shortage - in the context of a growing population aged 65+, predicted to increase to 17.8 million people over the next 30 years!
- The investment case for retirement living, record sector growth to £1.3bn investment in 2021, and what is expected next
Listen in via the link below.
Guest website: https://www.audleygroup.com/
Host website: https://www.annaclareharper.com
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Q: Is talking about gender diversity (and indeed, any kind of diversity) in real estate and investment a waste of time?
A: Yes, unless it’s backed up by action.
So what kind of action can we take?
I got together with Rebekah Tobias, Head of Business Development at Family Office Marcol, to talk about:
- The realities of being a career-focused woman in investment
- International Women’s Day signalling vs reality (the paygap in our industry has got worse by 11% in the last 7 years)
- The power of education, visibility and personal responsibility
- What we wish we’d known earlier in our careers…
Listen in below.
Host website: https://www.annaclareharper.com
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
What are the key trends showing up in residential data right now?
What are the biggest influences on house and rental pricing, and how do you quantify them?
How can investors use data to work out the next hotspot, before it’s over-heated?
Will machines replace people in property investment decisions?
Some of the questions I got to ask Gavriel Merkado, Founder of leading residential data firm REalyse, in our latest episode of the podcast.
Guest website: https://www.realyse.com/
Host website: https://www.annaclareharper.com
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
For the last episode in this pod mini-series on life and legacy with the wonderful Victoria Hall, it seemed fitting to talk about the ‘art of changing’.
Victoria is a Leadership Consultant whose career has ranged from Operational Due Diligence at the UK’s largest private pension fund, to assessing C-Suite executives for major corporates and private equity firms. She’s super smart, with a first in Land Economy from Cambridge, where we met, and an MSC in psychology.
Her mid-covid cancer diagnosis has given her a unique perspective on what is really important in life, and for our legacies, and I think this episode of the pod is a great example.
In this final episode in the mini series, we covered changes - from relationships to investment opportunities, bad habits to jobs - with gems from Seth Godin’s The Dip through to the Explore/Exploit trade-off and using weighted pros and cons.
Resources:
https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/campaigning/never-too-young/
Instagram: @viva_vicks
https://www.annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
https://www.spi.capital
What’s the right work life balance and how do you get it?
How can property investment be used to improve work life balance and make it easier to retire comfortably?
When should you plan to retire, and how can you retire early (FIRE)?
The wonderful Victoria Hall joined me again on the podcast for our mini series on life and legacy - beyond the normal property and investment focus.
Victoria is a Leadership Consultant at YSC whose career has ranged from Operational Due Diligence at the UK’s largest private pension fund, to assessing C-Suite executives for major corporates and private equity firms. She’s super smart, with a first in Land Economy from Cambridge, where we met, and an MSC in psychology.
Her mid-covid cancer diagnosis has given her a unique perspective on what is really important in life, and for our legacies, and I think this episode of the pod is a great example.
Resources:
https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/campaigning/never-too-young/
Instagram: @viva_vicks
https://www.annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
https://www.spi.capital
Why are so many people now questioning the traditional idea of having children?
What’s the investment case for starting a family - the costs, benefits and alternatives?
When and how should, could or would you get started, if it’s something you want to do?
The wonderful Victoria Hall joined me again on the podcast for our mini series on life and legacy - beyond the normal property and investment focus.
Victoria is a Leadership Consultant at @YSC whose career has ranged from Operational Due Diligence at the UK’s largest private pension fund, to assessing C-Suite executives for major corporates and private equity firms. She’s super smart, with a first in Land Economy from Cambridge, where we met, and an MSC in psychology.
Her mid-covid cancer diagnosis has given her a unique perspective on what is really important in life, and for our legacies, and I think this pod episode is a great example.
Resources:
https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/campaigning/never-too-young/
Instagram: @viva_vicks
https://www.annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
https://www.spi.capital
Why are so many people now questioning the traditional idea of getting married, buying a house and having children, and are they right?
How much should you spend on a wedding, and what’s the opportunity cost?
Is marriage really forever? What are the financial and emotional realities?
The wonderful Victoria Hall joined me again on the podcast for our mini series on life and legacy - beyond the normal property and investment focus.
Victoria is a Leadership Consultant at YSC whose career has ranged from Operational Due Diligence at the UK’s largest private pension fund, to assessing C-Suite executives for major corporates and private equity firms. She’s super smart, with a first in Land Economy from Cambridge, where we met, and an MSC in psychology.
Her mid-covid cancer diagnosis has given her a unique perspective on what is really important in life, and for our legacies, and I think this episode of the pod is a great example.
How does a life-threatening illness like cancer affect your ability to live and your legacy?
How do you cope with major life changes that totally redefine your day to day, and your future?
Not exactly Christmassy questions, but important!
So proud of the wonderful Victoria Hall for sharing her perspectives on these important questions and more on our Christmas episode - the first in a mini series on the non-financial aspects of life and legacy that are so important to us all.
Victoria is a Leadership Consultant at @YSC whose career has ranged from Operational Due Diligence at the UK’s largest private pension fund, to assessing C-Suite executives for major corporates and private equity firms. She’s super smart, with a first in Land Economy from Cambridge, where we met, and an MSC in psychology. So she knows a lot of about investing and about how people think....and, due to a mid-covid stage 3 cancer diagnosis, she also now knows a huge amount about what is really important in life, and for our legacies.
Resources:
https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/campaigning/never-too-young/
Instagram: @viva_vicks
https://www.annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
https://www.spi.capital
I had the honour of chatting to leading green real estate economics expert, University of Cambridge Professor Franz Fuerst about the price of climate change.
We covered his fascinating research and topics such as:
- The house price impact of a low EPC rating
- Whether climate risk actually affects property prices
- Property as the biggest source of carbon emissions
Resources
https://www.landecon.cam.ac.uk/directory/dr-franz-fuerst
https://annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
https://spi.capital
I had the pleasure of chatting to FTI Consulting’s Rob Mindell and Giles Barrie about the property market and having a social conscience in real estate for their podcast on starting up, scaling up and stepping up.
Strange for me being on the other side of the interview for a change, but great fun and they asked excellent questions, so here it is!
Resources:
https://www.fticonsulting.com/emea
https://audioboom.com/channels/5054612
https://annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
https://spi.capital
Fear and greed drive prices across asset classes - from crypto to housing.
So how are these primal emotions affecting UK property prices?
In the latest podcast we covered topics such as:
- How fear and greed at scale drive average property prices
- Price vs value in an emotionally-driven market
- How basic emotions can make or break a deal
- What situations it makes sense to listen to fear (e.g. FOMO) and greed in, and why
https://www.annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
https://www.spi.capital
bit.ly/propertylegacy
Today’s the day! What day? 99p book launch day!
If you’re thinking about growing a property portfolio for the future or to pass on to your children, get your copy now because, did I mention, it’s just 99p (absolute steal) for today only…
So, this week’s top tip is to do that, and leave a review, and let us know you’ve left a review by emailing book@spi.capital as we’re giving 3 x the amount you paid, to Jimmy’s in Cambridge - a brilliant homeless charity in the city we wrote the book.
Also in this episode:
- The difference between day to day and strategic portfolio management
- The problem(s) with self-managing your portfolio, and how to overcome them
- Key focus areas for strategically managing your portfolio.
Resources:
Get your copy of the book here
https://www.annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper
https://www.spi.capital
Delighted to chat with Alexandra Notay, internationally recognised expert on Build to Rent, placemaking and sustainable urban development and Placemaking & Investment Director at PfP Capital, fund manager for one the largest property management and regeneration companies in the UK.
Alex has published and edited over 30 books and reports on real estate, been recognised as one of BISNOW’s women leading real estate, and has 7 non-exec roles at leading real estate organisations.
We covered:
- What Build to Rent is, and why major pension funds find it so attractive
- What investors of all scales can learn from the Build to Rent sector
- How to tackle the challenge of environmental performance in UK residential property
Tune in via the link below.
Resources:
https://www.annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
https://www.spi.capital
Finding the right properties is key if you want to grow a property portfolio.
The latest podcast episode shares some highlights from our upcoming book and real life stories on how to identify your next deal…
Damien Fogg (SPI Capital’s CIO, a chartered Building Surveyor and Financial Advisor, former Letting Agent and Mortgage Broker) and I focus on where to go to find the properties you’re looking for, sharing some tips from the book and some extra real life stories that could not be printed.
Highlights include:
- Where to go to find the kind of property you’re looking for
- The pros and cons of on-market, off-market, auctions, Modern Methods of Auction or pre-/post-auction
- Real life stories ranging from common auction mistakes to dealing with creepy vendors on off market deals
Resources:
https://www.annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/damienfogg1
https://www.spi.capital
If you’re thinking about building a legacy to hand on to your children, this episode is for you!
We shared some of the most useful snippets from the book we’re publishing in October, Building a Legacy, which is all about creating, growing and improving a profitable, socially conscious legacy. Highlights include:
- Top tips to get set up for success and due diligence deals you’re looking at
- Common, expensive and time-wasting mistakes to avoid
- What it means to build a profitable, socially conscious property legacy
Resources:
https://www.annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/damienfogg1
https://www.spi.capital
Something specific this week on the podcast...Let me know if it’s useful for you!
We work with so many lawyers and investment professionals who spend all day helping their clients make money, and struggle to invest for themselves.
So I wanted to share something that dealt with the issues - specifically those facing lawyers, but almost everything covered applies across professions.
The lovely Ruth McCarthy, Director at SPI Capital and former Head of Real Estate at Top 100 National Law firm JMW shared her experience - both having been a lawyer, and also having been exposed to real estate throughout her career.
Key topics include:
- Why lawyers are so great at helping their clients make money, but struggle with their own investments
- The most common mistakes lawyers make around investing such as buying overpriced off-plan and new build flats that often end up underperforming
- How lawyers can get round the common issues that hold them back
Resources:
https://www.annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
https://www.spi.capital
Ruth McCarthy Linkedin
I really enjoyed chatting with Roger Thornton, Director of Applications at Raspberry Pi, maker of the UK’s best-selling computer and Damien Fogg, CIO at residential consultancy SPI Capital on:
- What can the property sector learn from tech?
- How can hardware solve real estate problems?
- Will the masses really return to working in offices?
Highlights include:
- Understanding margin structure - and collaborative engineering to reduce build costs in real estate, as in hardware manufacturing
- Applying Agile software development approaches in construction projects to improve efficiency
- Integrating smart technologies to optimise buildings
- Whether ‘distance from power’ and the challenge of innovating alone will bring on the end of WFH
Resources
https://www.annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
https://www.spi.capital
Roger Thornton Linkedin
Raspberry Pi
It makes sense not to put all your money in one investment.
Traditionally, many investors have chosen residential property as their ‘diversifier’.
But is property still a good way to diversify, when prices are high?
I spoke to Rebekah Tobias, Head of Business Development at Family Office Marcol - who invest across Real Estate and Private Equity - about this.
Key topics include:
What is diversification and why is it important right now?
How can you diversify your portfolio?
Does residential property investing still make sense as a diversifier?
Listen in via the link - in comments below...
Resources:
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host Website: spi.capital & annaclareharper.com
I had the honour of interviewing the host of much-loved TV show, Nightmare Tenants, Slum Landlords, Founder of Landlord Action and policy advisor Paul Shaplina for the podcast.
We covered the truth about evictions, and the MASSIVE policy changes that are coming for landlords.
Resources:
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulshamplina/
Guest Websites:
www.landlordaction.co.uk
www.hamiltonfraser.co.uk
www.paulshamplina.tv
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host Website: spi.capital & annaclareharper.com
Despite a global pandemic and extraordinary unemployment figures, house prices in the UK have reached record highs.
This episode of the podcast shares a replay from a recent event where I discussed the current market with Heath Thomas, Head of Real Estate Finance at Natwest and RBS for the North/North West.
Key topics included:
- What’s happening in the housing market right now?
- What next for the housing market?
- What it all means for investors looking for opportunities in the current market
Enjoy!
Resources:
Guest LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/heath-thomas-b45bb417/
Host LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host Website: spi.capital & annaclareharper.com
The UK’s legally binding commitment to achieve net carbon zero by 2050 means that now, sustainability is no longer a ‘nice to have’. Our legal obligation is showing up in the form of new rules, regulations and best practices affecting all sectors that contribute to emissions.
40% of UK emissions come from households, which makes the chance of more regulations and policies around the environmental performance of residential property more likely than not.
These new regulations will affect investment risks, opportunities, value and performance.
Listen in to hear more about:
- Why sustainability is so important for residential property investors in the 2020s
- What sustainable property investing actually is
- How sustainability is creating risks and opportunities that affect value and returns for investors
Resources:
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host Website: spi.capital & annaclareharper.com
There’s a huge amount of capital coming into the ‘beds’ sector from major global institutions, catalysed further by Covid-19.
But there are still huge differences between how private individuals approach investing vs how big funds approach it.
I had the chance to quiz Paddy Allen, Head of Operational Capital Markets at leading international property business, Colliers, on topics including:
- The strategic outlook for operators and investors in UK real estate - from PRS to hotels
- The biggest opportunities and risks in the rental sector
- The most exciting technologies in real estate
Resources
Guest Website: https://www.colliers.com/en-gb
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paddy-allen-69035615/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host Website: spi.capital & annaclareharper.com
There are so many misunderstandings about women and wealth.
Whether you care about this because you want to reduce inequalities of opportunity for yourself or the women you care about, or because you work in this sector and know you need to understand the other half of the population better, there is a huge opportunity for change.
I had the chance to quiz three brilliant women in investment, finance and law on everything from practical advice around budgeting and risk, to common misconceptions such as:
- Pre-nups are just for wealthy men
- Investing is a man’s world
- Women are too risk averse to invest
This content was created for #InternationalWomensDay, but personally I think it’s important all year round and has never been more relevant. Also, it’s definitely not just for women!
Resources:
Guest LinkedIn: Ruth McCarthy: Linkedin.com/in/ruthmccarthy/ Elspeth Kinder: Linkedin.com/in/elspethkinder/Ann-Marie Atkins: Linkedin.com/in/annmariebanks/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
Host website: spi.capital
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
The idea of retiring early is, unsurprisingly, a popular one. But how do you do it?
I was delighted to quiz Ann-Marie Atkins, award-winning Financial Planner and Managing Partner at Tilney on this topic.
We covered:
- What kind of investments work, and how you can make them - including how to make the most of available tax reliefs, property and non-property investments
- Common mistakes people make, and how you can avoid them
- How much money you actually need to retire, or take ‘micro retirements’ throughout your career
Resources:
Guest website: www.tilney.co.uk
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tilney-group/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annmariebanks/
Host website: www.annaclareharper.com & www.spi.capital
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
We’ve had a huge spike in enquiries from international investors so far in 2021.
But the interest isn’t new. UK property has attracted attention and capital from all over the world for many years.
The trouble is, it’s very difficult for international investors to understand the key trends affecting the UK property market, before they invest.
We had some great feedback from an event we hosted on Property Investing for International Investors over the next three years.
So, here’s a replay, which includes:
- Key trends in UK residential property, 2021-2024
- Strategies - what works and what doesn’t for international investors
- How to overcome the barriers to growing your portfolio in the early 2020s
Resources:
To watch the video replay: https://spi.capital/international-investors-thank-you/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
Host website: spi.capital
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
I was delighted to have Lucian Cook, one of the UK property market’s leading commentators and Head of Residential Research at Savills, back on the podcast.
We covered:
- Where prices and rents are rising, and where is best to invest in a post-Covid housing market
- The most important regulatory changes you need to know about in the coming years, before you buy an investment property
- How ‘brown discounts’ are affecting investor value, and the impact of sustainability on investor returns
- The next wave of institutional investment in UK housing
Resources:
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucian-cook-482010141/
Guest Website: https://www.savills.co.uk/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host Website: spi.capital & annaclareharper.com
We’ve recently started working with some incredible entrepreneurs who have made money from their businesses, and want to protect and grow their wealth so that they can maintain their lifestyle into retirement and pass on a legacy to their children.
Residential property is a great fit.
The trouble is, most entrepreneurs don’t have spare time, and they don’t know enough to invest for themselves.
We had some great feedback from an event we hosted on Property Investing for Entrepreneurs.
So, here’s a replay, which includes:
- What property strategies work best for entrepreneurs in the 2020s?
- When is the best time to think about investing as a business owner?
- How can business owners overcome the barriers to growing their portfolios, and balance immediate business priorities with long term wealth preservation?
Resources:
Host website: spi.capital & annaclareharper.com
Host LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper
How can you invest sustainably in UK property?
Investment Banker turned Sustainable Investment Specialist, Forbes Contributor on Sustainable Investment and Host of leading impact investment podcast, JP Dallmann, joined me to discuss how to invest profitably and sustainably in UK residential property.
Highlights of this episode include:
- How to measure impact in a way that is accurate and commercially viable
- How to prioritise: should you care more about social impact or the environment?
- What we can learn from within and beyond the real estate sector to enable the majority of investors in UK property to invest profitably and sustainably
Resources:
Guest Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/impact-leaders-sustainable-impact-investment-performance/id1438001207
Guest Linkedin - linkedin.com/in/jp-dallmann
Guest website: ilaandpartners.com
Host website: spi.capital & annaclareharper.com
Host LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper
What’s changing in the UK rental property market??
Zoopla’s Head of Research, Gráinne Gilmore, joined me to discuss what’s really happening in the UK Private Rental Sector.
Gráinne was previously Head of Residential Research and Knight Frank, and an award-winning Economics Correspondent for The Times before her role at Zoopla.
So, she’s brilliantly placed to help explain the fascinating and complicated dynamics that are affecting the UK rental market.
Highlights of this episode include:
- What’s driving the entrenched ‘two-track market’, London rents fell by 8.3%, whilst non-London rents in the UK rose by 2.3% in 2020
- Why Rochdale, Mansfield and Hastings are becoming rental market ‘hotspots’
- What’s causing de-urbanisation and the ‘Halo Effect’, and how long it will last
- What’s next for the UK rental market
Resources:
Guest website: https://www.zoopla.co.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grainnegilmore
Zoopla Rental Market Report: https://advantage.zpg.co.uk/insights/rental-market-report/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
Host website: spi.capital
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Artificial Intelligence is transforming how major global funds invest in one of the largest, most resilient asset types: Private Rental Sector housing.
I had the privilege of finding out how - speaking to Samantha Kempe, Co-Founder and CIO of ground-breaking Investment Manager Immo Capital. Before this, Samantha cut her teeth managing portfolios at Blackstone, as well as working at PWC and Cushman and Wakefield, so she’s well-versed in both traditional and innovative investment management.
Highlights of this episode include:
- How AI and data can be used to solve the major hurdle funds face investing in Private Rental Sector property
- How hundreds of data points can be rapidly processed to create valuations, with accurate refurbishment costs, in a fraction of the usual time
- How AI and humans complement each other, rather than competing for jobs in a unique, and illiquid market
Resources:
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-kempe-3ab42394/
Guest website: https://immo.capital/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Host website: https://annaclareharper.com/ & https://spi.capital/
How to reduce risk in a fast-changing market
I had a great chat with Ruth McCarthy, MD of SPI Capital and former Head of Real Estate at top 100 National Law firm, JMW.
Highlights include:
- How to protect your rights and reduce risk through legals
- How to avoid common investor mistakes
- Balancing legal and commercial requirements to get quality deals done
Resources
Website spi.capital & annaclareharper.com
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthmccarthy/
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
What will happen to the property market in 2021?
I had a great chat with Damien Fogg MRICS - a surveyor, former Financial Advisor, investor, and Chief Investment Officer of residential property asset manager SPI Capital.
We shared 12 predictions for the UK housing market in 2021.
Highlights include:
- Key economic, political and policy drivers
- The impact of low interest rates
- Rising institutional investment, the emergence of the ‘corporate landlord’ and demand for end to end portfolio building
- The growing importance of social responsibility, as well as health, safety and risk management
Resources
annaclareharper.com
spi.capital
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/ & https://www.linkedin.com/company/spicapital/
How to avoid costly investment mistakes in 2021?
I had a great chat with Damien Fogg MRICS - a surveyor, former Financial Advisor, investor, and Chief Investment Officer of residential property asset manager SPI Capital.
We discussed 8 of the most common, costly mistakes investors make growing their portfolio, and how you can avoid them in 2021.
Highlights include:
- Emotional decision-making, paralysis by analysis and diving in
- Over-reliance on media predictions, and mistaking price for value
- Misunderstanding market timing and speculation
- Under-estimating the workload required
Resources:
annaclareharper.com
spi.capital
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Investing in residential property at scale
I was delighted to speak to Cedric Bucher, CEO of Hearthstone Investments, which is the UK’s first specialist residential property fund manager - with Assets under Management of over £280m.
They are leading the way in the Private Rental Sector, giving institutional investors access to mainstream family housing and low-rise apartment blocks.
Prior to this, Cedric has a brilliant career with leading global consultants, banks and asset managers. So he’s well versed in the financial aspects of property investing, as well as the more practical elements.
We first got talking on social media, when I was developing the strategy for my current business, SPI Capital, and I couldn’t resist inviting Cedric to the podcast to share his insights.
Highlights of the episode include:
- Overcoming the challenges of investing in property in 2020
- Hot opportunities in the Private Rental Sector
- Selecting the right kind of funding investor to work with - and what happens if you get it wrong
- Lessons learned from running a market-leading investment company
Resources:
Guest website: https://www.hearthstone.co.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cedric-bucher-8490329/
Host website: https://www.annaclareharper.com
Host website: https://spi.capital
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
I'm very excited to share my conversation with Tom Bloxham MBE, one of the best known and loved personalities in the real estate industry and a pioneer of urban regeneration.
Tom is the chairman and founder of leading regeneration company Urban Splash, which has received 419 (!) awards to date for architecture, design and business success.
He has a reputation as ‘the property developer who makes property development socially acceptable’, and the best accolade I’ve heard to date: a portrait in the National Portrait Gallery.
Highlights of our conversation include:
- How to handle challenges, changes and cycles in the property market
- Changing mean streets to green streets - lessons learned from spearheading unprecedented changes to our urban landscape
- How to prepare for the future as a property developer/investor
- Living well by design - the ethos of Urban Splash investments
Listen in to hear more.
Resources:
Guest website: https://www.urbansplash.co.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-bloxham-26055413/
Guest Twitter @TomBloxhamMBE
https://annaclareharper.com/
http://spi.capital/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
What’s changing in the UK rental market?
Zoopla’s Head of Research, Gráinne Gilmore, joined me to discuss what’s really happening in the UK Private Rental Sector.
Gráinne was previously Head of Residential Research at Knight Frank, and an award-winning Economics Correspondent for The Times before her role at Zoopla.
So, she’s brilliantly placed to help explain the fascinating and complicated dynamics that are affecting the UK rental market.
Highlights of this episode include:
- What’s driving the entrenched ‘two-speed market’, with UK rent growth of +1.7% vs -5.2% in London’s rental market
- Tenant demand 25% higher than last year overall - with particular demand for properties with gardens, parking, garages, balconies and ‘pets allowed’, and a shift away from office-driven cities such as Coventry and Reading
- What next for the UK rental market, in a context of reduced investment activity, muted earnings growth and limited affordability for many first time buyers
Resources:
Guest website: https://www.zoopla.co.uk/
Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grainnegilmore
Zoopla Rental Market Report: https://advantage.zpg.co.uk/insights/rental-market-report/
Host website: annaclareharper.com
Host website: spi.capital
Host LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Transparency, liquidity, and listed real estate
I had a fascinating discussion with Richard Croft, Co-Founder and Chairman of leading investment group, M7 and David Delaney, CEO of new property stock exchange IPSX about their first single real estate asset Initial Public Offering (IPO).
Richard and David have exceptional credentials in real estate and finance, with years of experience, and billions of transactions under their belts. Richard is the Executive Chairman and co-founder of the M7 Real Estate group, and has been involved in over €8 billion of transactions across the UK and Europe during his 26 year career in real estate, founded and sold a European real estate fund management business, and is a Non-Executive Director of IPSX.
David is IPSX’s Group CEO. His previous experience includes managing $1bn book of business at Thomson Reuters as Head of Strategic Clients and Solutions, and 25 years at Credit Suisse (where he became Head of Fixed Income Sales for interest rate products) and Barclays Bank.
Richard and David share a deep frustration with the issues that prevent investors from selecting and investing in assets for themselves, the lack of transparency in the listed real estate market, and the lack of liquidity available for many real estate assets.
Their current mission is to solve these issues, through an unprecedented single asset listing of Mailbox REIT on IPSX. So, will it work?
Highlights of the episode include:
- What liquidity is really worth to investors
- The high perceived risk of anything new
- The problems investors face with open-ended and closed-ended real estate funds
- Whether investors really value choice and democracy in investing
Resources:
Guest websites:
www.themailboxreit.com / www.ipsx.com / www.m7re.eu
Anna’s website:
www.annaclareharper.com & www.spi.capital
Anna’s LinkedIn page:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Would you start an investment business in a recession?
I would, and have.
I wanted to share a bit more about why. So in this episode of the podcast, Damien Fogg, CIO and I explain what we’re doing at SPI Capital and why.
Highlights include:
- The case for change, in life and business, post-lockdown (#1)
- The business and social case for investing in built residential assets worth <£5m
- Developing strategies and tech to solve property market and investor problems in the £1.5 trillion UK Private Rental Sector
This is the first episode in a new series on investing and running a business in the current environment.
The rest of the series will be a mix of discussions with other operators and investors (including some very exciting names from across the real estate sector) and less formal conversations like this, following the journey towards SPI Capital’s official platform launch in January 2021.
Resources:
www.spi.capital
Email: info@spi.capital
https://annaclareharper.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/damienfogg1/
How do you invest through a crisis?
It’s a cliche so say it, but undeniably we are in ‘unprecedented times’. As a result, it’s never been more important for individuals and families to preserve and grow their wealth, and to plan for the future.
I got the chance to pick the brains of Ann-Marie Atkins, the only female Managing Partner at award-winning Wealth Management and Financial Planning firm, Tilney.
We covered topics including:
- The most common mistakes that individuals, families and business owners make around financial planning, and how to avoid them
- The risks and opportunities of recent and proposed regulations such as changes to Capital Gains Tax
- Recession-proofing your finances
- Understanding your risk appetite and liquidity preferences
Resources:
https://www.tilney.co.uk/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/tilney-group/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annmariebanks/
www.annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
It’s not glamorous.
Yet building management has the potential to make or break both investor returns and customer satisfaction.
Historically, it’s been rare for investors to know (and perhaps, to care) how their building can be managed better. Until now.
Ryan Collier has specialised in the management of large and complex buildings for 10 years, and has overseen tens of thousands of homes.
He and his team at leading specialist block managers, Pod Management, provide residential estate and block management services - and comprehensive data analytics - for clients such as Bellway homes, Berkeley Homes and Tipi (Quintain) across some 9,000 homes (contracted and pipeline).
We discussed:
- How data analytics can be used to reduce investor costs and improve customer service for tenants - from optimising postroom staffing to 24 hour ‘between tenancy’ turnarounds
- The myth that new buildings cost less to run - since maintenance is about people and the quality of the building, not its age
- The myth that more data means better results - it’s not the data, but how you use it!
- Optimising building lifecycle costs - and the shocking cost of cheap taps, lifts and gates
Resources:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pod-management/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Instagram: @podmanagement
www.podmanagement.co.uk
www.annaclareharper.com
The flight-to-safety, dumb money and real estate
I had a great chat about Family Office, Private Equity and Institutional Investment in real estate in the current environment with Rebekah Tobias, leading investment specialist and Head of Business Development at Private Equity firm, Marcol.
Rebekah’s experience includes Partner and Director roles at Marcol, M7 and Cushman & Wakefield, spanning international capital markets through to operations-led asset management. So she is well-placed to comment, and is brilliant at explaining the complex real estate investment world.
Highlights of this episode include:
- How investors price real estate and take calculated risks in a fast-moving market - including re-pricing retail and offices, the premium required for investing further afield, and the ‘tech effect’ on valuations
- Dumb money and the financial consequences of herd mentality - even amongst sophisticated institutional investors
- The flight to quality and safety - and perceived low risk of prime real estate
- The importance of optimising operations as a way to create value - and how sophisticated investors are doing this across sectors.
Resources:
https://marcol.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebekah-tobias-2187b66/
annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
From valuations to international relations; cycles to ‘di-worse-ification’ - the world’s leading real estate investment textbook has a lot to say about investing right now.
I had the privilege of quizzing leading Oxford Professor Andrew Baum on what his latest textbook says, and what it means for investors.
Highlights include:
- Top tips for long term investors
- International drivers of demand - and how tense international relations will affect global real estate investment
- Common mistakes investors make with their numbers, and how to avoid them
- Understanding risk, and whether real estate can still be considered a ‘safe haven’
- Debt, development and market cycles
Resources:
Andrew's recently revised book: Real Estate Investment and Finance: Strategies, Structures, Key Decisions:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Real-Estate-Investment-Finance-Strategies-dp-1119526094/dp/1119526094/ref=dp_ob_title_bk
Oxford Future of Real Estate Initiative https://www.sbs.ox.ac.uk/research/centres-and-initiatives/oxford-future-real-estate-initiative
Andrew on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-baum-303a014/
Anna's website: annaclareharper.com
Anna on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
I had the pleasure of interviewing Gráinne Gilmore, Head of Research at Zoopla, following the release of their UK Rental Market Report to discuss what’s really happening in the UK rental market.
Previously an award-winning financial and economics journalist at The Times newspaper in London, and Head of Residential Research at Knight Frank, Gráinne is often interviewed by the media on the UK housing market, appearing on BBC Radio 4, Sky news, BBC Breakfast, and the BBC World Service.
So, she’s brilliantly placed to help explain the fascinating and complicated dynamics that are affecting the UK housing market right now.
Highlights of this episode include:
- The driving forces behind the emerging ‘two-speed market’, with London leading one track, and regional economies taking a different path
- What’s happened in the UK rental market this year, including a 3% fall in London rents
- Which rental markets are growing, and what this means for investors
- What next in an environment of rising unemployment, and why economic nerves are most likely to boost the UK rental market
Resources:
Zoopla website: https://www.zoopla.co.uk/
Gráinne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grainnegilmore
Zoopla UK Rental Market Report: https://advantage.zpg.co.uk/insights/rental-market-report/
Anna's website: annaclareharper.com
Anna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
I had a fascinating discussion with the Head of Real Estate at leading investment bank, Goodbody, Colm Lauder.
Colm is a leading authority on listed real estate. Since graduating with a MPhil in Real Estate Finance at Cambridge, Colm became the youngest Vice-President in the UK at MSCI in 2013. He was ranked #1 Real Estate Analyst in Ireland (Extel) in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
In this episode, we covered resilience, liquidity and recent trends in listed real estate.
Highlights included:
- The consequences of recent quantitative easing for real estate, and why it makes sense to prioritise inflation-hedged assets right now
- How listed funds are adapting their investment strategies, including sector specialisations such as supermarket vs PRS REITs, in response to investor demand
- The liquidity premium, and how it affects valuations in listed vs unlisted real estate
Resources:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/colmlauder/
https://www.goodbody.co.uk/
annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
In this episode, Toby Wilde and Anna Clare Harper discuss the common myths around how and whether proptech can solve housing market problems. Toby shared his controversial opinions on the major issues in the industry including the greenbelt, Airbnb and P2P lending.
Toby is a multi-time Proptech Founder whose experience includes scaling Sprift, currently the fastest growing property data resource for Estate Agents, Landlords, Developers & Solicitors, as well as in Estate Agency and in his family’s property development business.
Highlights includes:
- What problems can proptech (and specifically, algorithms) really solve in the UK property market, and how?
- How data can really be used to optimise where to build and what is built, from a developer and investor perspective
- What data reveals about a collapse in studio and 1 bed values, due to Covid-led limits on the airbnb ‘dark economy’
- The idea of a ‘barcode for every house’ and how tech can reduce inefficiencies in the housing market
Resources:
Oparo website: https://www.oparo.co.uk/
Sprift website: https://sprift.com/
Toby on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobywilde/
Anna's website: https://annaclareharper.com/
Anna on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
In this episode, Gavriel Merkado, CEO and Founder of leading residential property data and analytics company REalyse and Anna Clare Harper discuss the ‘myth’ of ‘material uncertainty’. What material uncertainty actually means, what the implications are for investors trying to assess a deal, and the real reason banks are cautious to lend when a valuation contains this clause.
A former quantitative analyst and expert in real estate data analytics, Gavriel shares his perspective on material uncertainty and whether there is a viable alternative right now in valuations. We also touched on why he believes ‘augmented valuations’ will be the future for companies looking to save time and cut costs.
Highlights of this episode include:
- How greater technology, transparency and ‘augmented valuations’ could revolutionise UK property transactions, and the implications for ‘industry middlemen’
- How disrupting the monopoly on valuations could impact the UK market
- Understanding value in the UK residential property market throughout market changes
- Why uncertainty is almost a certainty - in any market
Resources:
www.realyse.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavriel-merkado-17759917/
annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
In this episode, Mike Bristow, Founder of the UK’s leading property peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform, Crowdproperty, and Anna Clare Harper discuss why high rates don’t always mean high risk when it comes to property lending, and how peer-to-peer (P2P) is disrupting traditional bank finance.
As a registered chartered accountant, Mike also sits on the investment committee of proptech venture capital business Property Innovation Labs (Pi Labs), and is an angel investor in leading proptech and fintech businesses.
Highlights of the episode include:
- How tech is an enabler for solving problems in property and finance, and the importance for great proptech and fintech businesses of focusing on ‘holes’, not ‘drillbits’
- How investors (both lenders and borrowers) can understand and manage risks in P2P lending
- How the uncertain environment around Covid-19 has created an opportunity for P2P lenders to prove their point, and continue to disrupt traditional big bank lending in real estate.
Resources:
Crowdproperty.com
Blog - blog.crowdproperty.com = 40 articles all about alternative finance
Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbristow/
annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
In this episode, Guy Harrington, Founder of Glenhawk, one of the fastest growing property lenders in the UK, dispels common myths and misconceptions around short term ‘bridging’ property finance. Glenhawk has lent over £115m, secured £160m finance from JP Morgan, and is on track for its target £500m loan portfolio.
Highlights of this episode include:
- What’s really happening to lender appetite, through Coronavirus
- What developers and investors can learn from how lenders view risk
- How lenders are evolving from ‘shark’ to ‘heart’, becoming consumer-focused
- How to avoid the ‘loan to own’ lenders as a borrower
Resources:
Website: Glenhawk.com
Contact: gh@glenhawk.com & lendingteam@glenhawk.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/guy-harrington-glenhawk/
Find out more about The Return Podcast at annaclareharper.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
I had the chance to discuss the truth about hiring in real estate with Louisa Dickens, co-founder of LMRE, a leading global proptech recruitment business helping startups scale and corporates find new talent.
As a UK PropTech Association board member, Louisa is well-placed to understand what both proptech businesses and candidates expect from each other during the recruitment process and the common hiring mistakes that proptech startups and corporates make.
Highlights of this episode include:
- What employees really want, and what businesses look for in candidates
- How to build a diverse team
- How hiring is changing, and the importance of having a hiring strategy
- Where start-ups and corporates go wrong, and how to avoid common mistakes
Resources:
Lmre.co.uk
https://www.linkedin.com/in/louisa-dickins-ab065392/
annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
What works and what doesn't in this complex UK residential property market? Part #2
Panel discussion with one of the UK’s top planning lawyers, Martha Grekos, and Editor of the leading property investor magazine, Property Investor News, Richard Bowser, marking the paperback launch of Anna Clare Harper's book, Strategic Property Investing: What works and what doesn’t in a complex UK residential property market bit.ly/strategicpropertyinvesting
Highlights include:
- ‘Icarus syndrome’ - and the trouble with crowd-funding and over-leverage in property development
- Top tips for riding a challenging market, for long term landlords and ‘value add’ developers, including how to conduct due diligence right, and maintaining relationships so that you have the right people on your side, even if you’re not taking on new projects
- How to maximise the value of assets through planning uplift and how to avoid common mistakes developers make
Resources:
https://propertyinvestor.news
http://www.marthagrekos.co.uk/
bit.ly/strategicpropertyinvesting
annaclareharper.com/book
Marking the launch and promo offer for Anna’s book, Strategic Property Investing: What works and what doesn’t in a complex UK residential property market - bit.ly/strategicpropertyinvesting -
Panel discussion with Melanie Bien, award-winning PR specialist, former Personal Finance Editor of the Independent on Sunday, and author of four best-selling property 'for dummies' books, and John Howard, property investor, business owner and author whose latest project is a £26 million development funded by Homes England, and who has bought and sold over 3,500 houses, apartments and developments.
Highlights include:
- How not all parts of the property market will be affected in the same way by coronavirus - some geographies and tenant types are resilient from an investment perspective, and some are less so. How sweeping statements and statistics are not so helpful in this context
- How challenges opportunities and house prices will be defined by two main things: cashflow and liquidity - and the last 2 months have shown us we don't collectively know as much about this as we thought
- Market predictions - and how the key to sustainable success is taking a socially responsible, sensitive approach focused on the long term - from working with tenants to pricing
Resources:
Link to buy Anna's book: bit.ly/strategicpropertyinvesting
annaclareharper.com/book
Bien Media: https://www.bienmedia.com/
Melanie Bien, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-bien-4b67144/?originalSubdomain=uk
John Howard, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-howard-a59a1b43/
Data has been described as more valuable than oil. But not all data is created equally. Huge risks arise if you don’t have the right data, and you don’t use it correctly in property investment.
So how do you get it right, at a time when data collection seems topical, controversial and indeed essential for modern businesses?
Gavriel Merkado, CEO and Founder of REalyse, leading UK real estate data and proptech disruptor, joins Anna Clare Harper to discuss the value of data - including how successful investors are using it, and what the rest are getting wrong.
Gavriel is an expert in using data and analytics to drive the right investment decisions, with a strong background in quantitative analytics, hedge funds, trading and equity broking before making the shift to real estate, including at Quintain and Essential Living.
Highlights of this episode include:
- What data is actually valuable, and how it should be used in real estate
- The rapid evolution of data, and what this means for property investors
- Common mistakes investors make - that cause them to lose money and waste time - and the four characteristics your data needs
- Using data in a property crisis
Resources:
www.realyse.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gavriel-merkado-17759917/
annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
https://annaclareharper.com/book
In this episode, Ranjan Bhattacharya and Anna Clare Harper weigh up the challenges and opportunities for investors following the impact of coronavirus on the property market, and discuss how to survive both long- and short-term by shoring up your position, prioritising cashflow and knowing the right strategies to deploy.
Property entrepreneur and investor Ranjan is a well-known personality in the landlord community as the host of ‘the UK’s #1 property meet’, the Baker Street Property Meet, and a popular YouTube channel.
Highlights of this episode include:
- How the investment landscape has changed overnight, and what it means for residential property investors
- Long- and short-term survival - why cashflow is king, and how to navigate government and bank support to help tenants
- Risk analysis and open communication with tenants - and the biggest jobs landlords have right now
- When to buy, and when to pause over the coming months
Resources:
Baker Street Property Meet: www.BakerStreetPropertyMeet.com
YouTube channel: Ranjan Bhattacharya - Property Investment https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCycEMZPP06TrEN_oilCrjyg
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranjanproperty/
Anna’s book - ‘Strategic Property Investing: What works and what doesn’t, in a complex UK residential property market’ has never been more relevant than in these uncertain times. It will be published on 30th April 2020. Sign up to find out more and be the first to be notified about the 99p launch offer: annaclareharper.com/book
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
In this episode, Property Investor and Strategist Anna Clare Harper explores how the housing crisis is more than just a housing problem, and why headline grabbing policies win votes but generally prove expensive and unsuccessful.
Anna recently delivered her first TEDx talk in which she was privileged to explore the question ‘Can Socially Responsible Investing solve the UK housing crisis?'.
Since studying Land Economy at Cambridge University, the social and financial consequences of investing have influenced her career. She’s been privileged to be involved with £100m's worth of deals and strategies, most recently as Co-Founder of the UK property fund, Anglo Residential which focuses on rental housing, via working as a Strategy Consultant at Deloitte, working with High Net Worth Investors on individual projects and writing the book, Strategic Property Investing.
This talk shares the ideas she has developed, with highlights including:
- What the housing crisis really is, and why it is more than just a housing problem
- What investors really want, and how Socially Responsible Investing provides a solution - with Environmental Social and Governance investing amounting to c. 25% of professionally managed assets worldwide
- How building new homes and headline-grabbing policies like Help to Buy won’t solve the housing crisis
- The 5 things needed for Socially Responsible Property Investing to solve housing and investor problems
Resources:
bit.ly/strategicpropertyinvesting
annaclareharper.com
linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
In this episode, Simon Hughes, Co-Founder of leading real estate innovation consultant, Jell Consulting and thought leadership and research business Liquid Real Estate Innovation, discusses shaping the future of real estate through innovation with Anna Clare Harper.
Simon has an extensive track record of working with board level executives at publicly-listed and private equity-backed companies. He explains how property companies often falsely believe innovation is driven by technology, and how to really unlock fresh ideas and discover potential solutions in a sector known for being slow to adapt to change.
Highlights of this episode include:
- How to fail: by putting technology first
- How to innovate successfully and the power of problem-solving
- How small and large property businesses and investors can innovate to get ahead in a fast-changing environment
Resources:
liquidrei.com/
jellconsulting.co.uk/about
Linked in https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-hughes-a8a9a71b/
Twitter @SimonHughes497
annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
In this episode, Taylor Wescoatt, Founder of leading PropTech venture capital firm Concrete and Anna Clare Harper discuss analysing risk and reward, what venture capitalists look for, and the importance of understanding how to solve customer problems through new PropTech ventures.
Taylor brings his User Experience (UX) and Product Development experience with major brands such as eBay and Time Out to tackle real estate industry challenges and make the most of its opportunities.
Highlights of this episode include:
- What next for real estate and PropTech?
- What venture capitalists look for in a Founder
- Why we don’t learn from success and failure is crucial for growth
- The shift in focus in real estate from ‘occupier’ to ‘consumer’
- Why founders need inexhaustible energy
Resources:
www.concretevc.com
Email: info@concretevc.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorwescoatt/
www.annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Value investing specialist, author and acclaimed researcher Mallika Paulraj and Anna Clare Harper discuss how the school of thought so commonly associated with Benjamin Graham, then Warren Buffet, Charlie Munger et al really applies in the property world. Mallika shares top tips from a global investment and research career, from checklists to use before you invest, to understanding brain chemistry so that you can avoid common mistakes.
A graduate and researcher from Stanford University and the London School of Economics, Mallika began her career in Silicon Valley as a programmer before moving into finance in 2001, working with large financial institutions such as Lehman Brothers in Wall Street and Morgan Stanley in London. She runs a global investment education business, Four Minute Investing, and guest lectures in investing at Stanford and the London Business School.
Highlights of this episode include:
- How even the best professional investors paradoxically misunderstand personal investing
- Top tips for real estate investors looking to echo successful value investors like Warren Buffet
- How to put emotions aside, and really find value
Resources:
fourminuteinvesting.com
To find out more about monthly investment seminars held in London, email mallika@fourminuteinvesting.com
Mallika Paulraj LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpaulraj/
annaclareharper.com
Anna Clare Harper LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
In this episode, leading investment specialist Rebekah Tobias and Anna Clare Harper discuss risk, reward, diversity and how capital is really allocated by financial institutions including high net worth investors, private equity houses, family offices and pension funds.
Formerly a Partner at global real estate consultants Cushman & Wakefield, an Investment Director at CBRE and a Director at leading Real Estate Investor & Asset Manager M7, Rebekah is now Business Development Director for international investment house, MARCOL. Her real estate investment expertise spans investment advisory, valuations, capital raising and investor relations working with major institutional investors and private equity.
Highlights of this episode include:
- The most important questions different types of investor really want answered when evaluating real estate investments, and how this differs from traditional RICS valuation approach
- How risk appetites and return targets compare between private equity firms, large institutions like pension funds, high net worth individuals and family offices
- How ‘emotional’ decisions and personal relationships play a role when family offices and high net worth investors allocate their capital
- Top trends and changing strategies in family office investment
Resources:
Linked In - Rebekah Tobias
marcol.com
www.annaclareharper.com
Linked In - Anna Clare Harper
In this episode, Sebastian Bates joins Anna Clare Harper to discuss how to build systems and processes to build your lifestyle business and get into a mode of constant inspiration instead of solving small problems.
Dubai-based martial arts entrepreneur Sebastian is the founder of the Global Warrior Academy with over 2000 students across two continents. Through developing lean systems and processes he has built a team of 30 around the world to help him run the Academy and other martial arts businesses together with Holger Danske, his property development company.
Auditing his time every three months, Sebastian outsources everything except high value tasks, spending money to buy his time back. In this episode he discusses his systems and processes and how to save money on hiring a team.
Episode highlights include:
- How a big vision creates inspiration, and stops you from worrying about small stuff
- The best business tools for saving time, money and effort through streamlining processes
- How to deal with email culture, without constantly dealing with emails
- How to grow your team without spending your time training them up
- How to deal with business risk, stress, loneliness and ‘monkey mind’
Resources:
warrioracademy.co.uk
warrioracademy.ae
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-seb-bates-4b70412b
https://www.facebook.com/sebastianbates
annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
In this episode, Toby Wilde and Anna Clare Harper discuss how property investors can use data and algorithmic decision-making to identify better opportunities, safeguard against risk and drive efficiency.
Toby is a multi-time Proptech Founder whose experience includes scaling Sprift, currently the fastest growing property data resource for Estate Agents, Landlords, Developers & Solicitors, as well as in Estate Agency and in his family’s property development business.
Highlights of this episode includes:
- Using data, one of the most valuable resources in property, to make better investment decisions
- How identifying the early signs of insolvency and financial stress can give homeowners a quick and dignified exit
- The evolution of #proptech - and Proptech Version 4.0
- The de-skilling of the Estate Agency sector due to hybrid, low-fee agencies
- Why property is a human-led industry that can’t be ruled by data alone
- Why the old adage, ‘if you build it they will come’ may no longer apply
- Why taking a 10 year view in property may no longer be relevant
Resources:
https://oparo.co.uk/
toby@oparo.co.uk
https://welcome.sprift.com/
annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
In this episode, Paul Dunn joins Anna Clare Harper to discuss creating a positive impact and lasting legacy by giving back as part of business - in property and beyond. This is especially important in the property sector, which has built a reputation for not quite ‘getting’ the social responsibility agenda!
Paul is an award-winning global social entrepreneur, 4x TEDx speaker & Founder of B1G1 (which stands for ‘Buy 1, Give 1’). He was also one of Hewlett Packard’s first 10 team members in Australia, has successfully built and exited his own computer businesses and has mentored thousands of business leaders along the way.
Highlights of this episode include:
- Disrupting the old model of guilt-based giving
- Engaging the people you work with - your team, clients and even tenants - through making a tangible and meaningful impact as part of business
- How giving can bring heart, soul, purpose and meaning into your business from day one, and enable you to build a positive legacy of contribution over consumption
- The idea that it’s businesses that can change our world for the better, not governments.
Resources:
B1g1.com
https://b1g1.global/look Vimeo ‘inside view’
annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
In this episode, Anna Clare Harper is joined by leading smart building technology business Metrikus' CEO Gary Cottle (previously a global MD / Chairman at Nomura / RBS) and COO Michael Grant to discuss how the digitisation of buildings can increase well-being and transform profits for property investors.
The episode includes how real-time data capture can enable smarter decisions, making buildings and employees more efficient, profitable, healthy and better for the environment.
Episode highlights include:
- Why a busy, stuffy room is worse for productivity than drinking 2 pints of beer
- Why the biggest environmental crisis could be inside our buildings
- How live data can be used to save costs and increase business and investor returns
- Optimising New Build and Build to Rent schemes from day 1, to help investors and tenants alike
Resources:
Web: metrikus.io
Gary Twitter: @cottlegs
Gary LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-cottle-564508b3/
Michael LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mgrant26/?originalSubdomain=uk
Metrikus Twitter: @loveyourassets
annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
In this episode, Anna Clare Harper and Vadim Toader discuss Artificial Intelligence as a tool for forecasting house price growth and making better lending decisions.
Vadim is an Entrepreneur First alumnus and Forbes ‘30 under 30’ listed Proptech Founder with a first-class Masters degree from Oxford in Engineering, Economics and Management.
He co-founded the Savills-backed startup and FCA-authorised lender Proportunity, which uses machine learning as a way to predict property price rises and optimise lending decisions. The business was recently voted the ‘UK’s best proptech startup’ by Techworld.
Episode highlights include:
- Pushing the limits of first-time buyer mortgage lending by quantifying and modelling risk and returns, and making decisions driven by data
- How to understand value and forecast future house price growth using AI
- How local drug usage, sexuality and coffee shop menus influence lending decisions
- How the idea for Proportunity arose: from Vadim’s own property search and experience at Europe’s biggest incubator, Entrepreneur First.
- Working out the areas with strongest property price growth prospects in London, in an uncertain market
Resources:
https://proportunity.co/
@Vadim_Toader Twitter
@proportunity_uk Twitter
annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
In this episode, Anna Clare Harper and Ed Mead FRICS discuss how traditional estate agency needs to evolve, and how property viewing service Viewber is shaking up the process of buying, selling and letting residential property through what has been described as ‘the Uber of property viewings’.
Ed is a high-profile former London agent with 37 years’ experience. He is also a Non-Executive Director of London estate agent Douglas & Gordon and The Property Ombudsman. He has built a profile as one of the industry’s leading commentators, from two BBC TV series to writing regularly for The Sunday Times and The Telegraph as a property and agency expert. So, he is incredibly qualified to discuss the industry and its pain points!
Episode highlights include:
- Ed’s inside view on what’s really happening in estate agency - from referral fees to the impacts of new regulations
- Red flags around traditional practices that are now driving innovation
- How the new ‘Amazonised’ generation of property buyers will demand change
- Why landlords are abandoning agents and seeking different ways to let and manage their properties
Resources:
Viewber.co.uk
@ed_mead twitter
http://ed-mead.com
annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Why is ‘proptech’ hitting the headlines?
Angelica Donati, a Proptech Venture Capital investor, regular Forbes contributor and CEO of International development company Donati Immobiliare Group discusses how the property sector is changing through technology and innovation with Anna Clare Harper.
The episode includes why innovation and change is critical for the survival of businesses in property and construction in this new, consumer-focused world. It touches on some of the most exciting areas of innovation in the real estate sector right now, and the importance of technology as a problem solver, not a sticking plaster or shiny object.
Anna and Angelica discuss how proptech is breathing new life into struggling parts of the property sector, as well as the mistakes businesses often make when adopting proptech.
If you want to know more about one of the few areas of the UK property market that continues to attract substantial investment, and hear how proptech is enabling the property sector to evolve, this episode is for you.
Resources:
https://angelicadonati.com/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/angelicakrystledonati/#2d1d16b92583
Twitter: @angiekdonati
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelica-krystle-donati-63372b11
Facebook: @AngelicaDonatiProperty
Instagram: @angidonati
http://annaclareharper.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Series three continues with one of the world's leading brand experts, design agency founder and TEDx speaker Steve Edge, whose clients range from Cartier to the UK's leading Build to Rent operators. Steve joins Anna Clare Harper to discuss innovative branding for people and places. He shares his tips for finding your unique brand strategy and explains how the power of branding can add value to your business in the current property market.
With a fascination for the arts from a young age, Steve started his career in a top London graphic studio and was soon picked to work on Star Wars and Raiders of The Lost Ark films. Steve established his own design agency over thirty-five years ago, yet his branding expertise still remains in high demand by leading names such as Cartier, Dior, Skanska, Fortnum and Mason, Hamleys, Purdey Gun and Rifle Makers, and Essential Living. Steve believes that storytelling is key to successful branding. He works closely with clients to understand what makes them unique and incorporates this into the big idea behind the design.
In this episode of The Return, Steve tells us why it’s important to make your brand message inspirational instead of ‘informational’ in order to stand out in a crowded marketplace. He believes it’s a scientific process when building a bold branding story that pushes the limits in an industry that’s historically been slow to adapt to trends such as property.
Whether you are selling or investing, if you’re interested in finding out how to stand out from the crowd in this competitive digital world, this episode is for you.
Resources:
www.steve-edge.com
www.steve-edgeworld.com
www.annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
Kicked off Series 3 of The Return with Property Fortress founder, former computer scientist, Host of the London Real Estate Meetup, NED & International Investor John Corey.
We discussed the importance of strategy, value and innovation - the theme of Series 3 - in this complex environment.
Massachusetts-born John once worked for Steve Jobs at NeXT in Silicon Valley, where he made his first foray into property investment. Fast forward a few years and now with a property portfolio spanning from Hawaii to London, John founded property resource platform Property Fortress and brings property professionals and industry leaders together to share knowledge, skills and tools.
In this episode of The Return, John explains the rationale behind his own 'buy and hold' strategy and why he avoids property development. For those looking for the next proptech innovation, John reveals his commonsense ideas for bringing value to landlords and tenants.
If you’re looking for ways to capitalise on value and innovation, or define or refine your approach to property investing, this episode is for you!
Resources
www.propertyfortress.com
www.facebook.com/John.B.Corey.Jr/
www.linkedin.com/in/johncorey/
www.annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
UK residential property remains one of the most attractive investments available to many investors, seeking long term returns, without too much hassle. But the market has changed thanks to political, economic, social, technological and legal and regulatory shifts. Right now, investors of all scales are facing the prospect of no, low or negative real returns, uncertainty about the future, and the difficulty of accessing opportunities that suit their needs, resources and the market context.
The truth is, residential property is not as 'easy' as it once was: investors need to understand and navigate a complicated market. To succeed in this fast-changing, uncertain context with so many new regulations to comply with, investors of all scales need to be more strategic, value-focused, and professional in their approach. As market and regulatory pressures have grown, so have the chances and costs of making poor decisions, and expensive mistakes. Investors with access to funding run the risk of missing out on opportunities, and even losing out on hundreds of thousands of pounds each year by not making the wrong decisions, making no decisions at all, or not acting strategically and professionally.
This episode shared 5 questions to ask and answer, to help you to define a clear strategy, suited to your goals, situation and the market. Ultimately, the answers will help you to answer the question I am so often asked: how can I invest in UK residential property, grow wealth and leaving a lasting, positive legacy, regardless of what is happening in the market?
Resources: This episode was originally written as an article for What Investment Magazine: https://www.whatinvestment.co.uk/the-magazine/
www.annaclareharper.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
A sneak preview of Anna’s upcoming book, Strategic Property Investing. This episode shares why, how and who it’s for (and, who I am).
For potential investors across the world, investing in UK property is not only right of passage, but a signifier and determinant of success.
For more than 20 years, it has outperformed the alternatives available to many. And It has been seen as one of the best investments available, in particular for busy private investors looking to grow wealth, building a more secure financial future, without sacrificing their time.
But the UK property market is fast-changing and increasingly complex. Approaches which once seemed to guarantee success, without much effort, are no longer viable.
UK property remains one of the most attractive asset classes available. But to succeed in this fast-changing, uncertain context, without sacrificing their time, investors of all scales need to be more strategic, value-focused, and professional in their approach, and they need to understand and navigate a complicated market. This is easier said than done.
As market and regulatory pressures have grown, so have the chances of making poor decisions, and expensive mistakes. The types of investor I’ve worked with over the course of my property career so far often have access to funding in excess of £1,000,000. And right now, they risk not only missing out on opportunities, but losing out on hundreds of thousands of pounds each year by not understanding the market, and how value is affected, and through not acting strategically and professionally.
This book is not just for investors whose wealth and incomes bring them into the top percentile, financially. Investors of all scales are facing the prospect of no, low or negative real returns, uncertainty about the future, and the difficulty of accessing opportunities that suit their needs, resources and the market context.
My goal with this book is to enable investors to:
- More confidently navigate a complex UK property market
- More easily and efficiently access opportunities, without wasting time, money or effort
- Drive sustainable, value-driven rewards.
This book shares what I’ve learned, both directly and vicariously, through 10+ years focused on the property industry and as a professional consultant, across many millions of pounds worth of deals and strategies. Ultimately, it seeks to answer the question so many ask: how can I build a UK property residential property portfolio, growing wealth and leaving a lasting legacy, regardless of what is happening in the market - from Trump tweeting, to Brexit?
Find out more: annaclareharper.com
It’s no secret the UK housing market has major imbalances and inequalities - for aspiring investors and tenants alike. With little, marginal changes, innovation and technology have the potential to help open up aspects of the market, and so contribute to reducing a long-standing issue: inequality of opportunities. In another ‘between series’ of the podcast, I shared 3 ways innovation can help to reduce inequalities of opportunity in the residential property market - each on a very small scale, but with huge potential reach. This episode highlights just a few of the many free and low cost innovations that can be easily accessed by ordinary investors, and that have positive externalities beyond the cost to the user through:
- Increasing efficiency,
- Better targeting what consumers want, and
- Opening up opportunities,
To ultimately help reduce inequalities of opportunity in the UK housing market at the margin for tenants and investors alike.This was originally an article written for the Cambridge University Land Society Magazine titled, “3 ways innovation can help reduce inequalities in the UK housing market”. It touches on the trend towards a more consumer-focused market, for investors and tenants alike. It highlights how some specific innovations are having an impact on many people, ultimately helping - albeit in marginal ways - to rebalance resources, through:
- Alternative finance platforms
- Free and low cost data availability
- Standards and efficiency of management.
If you’re interested in innovation and the social impacts it can have in the property market - the positive externalities - this episode it for you.
Resources: Cambridge University Land Society Magazine
https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaclareharper/
As a bonus episode between series 2 and 3, Anna shares an article that she recently wrote for leading Small- and Medium-sized property investor magazine, Property Investor News (PIN), about preserving wealth in an uncertain market.
Anna shares 3 reasons why wealth preservation strategies have become more desirable for investors of all sizes, by minimising risk and maximising value in an uncertain market.
The key themes include:
- Why a slow and steady approach can be a great choice
- How risks have increased in property investment over the past few years
- What investors can do to avoid expensive mistakes - and frustration
Website: www.annaclareharper.com
In this episode, Anna reviews Series 2 of The Return podcast and considers the themes that have been covered on the show. A tidal wave of changes and challenges across the Political, Economic, Social, Technological and Legal landscape has hit small and medium residential property investors hard. Anna talks about how she and many other property businesses and investors have changed their approaches in recent times to adapt to the opportunities that are available now. Anna also gives a sneak peek at what’s coming up in Series 3.
The key themes include:
- Huge change in the market, and need to think strategically, as recent changes mean old approaches no longer work so well
- Where to find value, and how to approach it in this new environment - maximising returns and minimising costs through strong deal and operational management
- What industry experts are doing to adapt to changing conditions
Website: www.annaclareharper.com
In this episode, Anna and Lucian discuss how the Prime and Mainstream UK residential markets have been affected by recent change and uncertainty. They look at the data Savills uses to gain market insight and what the future holds for property investors. Lucian also shares some great advice for private investors and provides context to current fragile market sentiment.
Highlights include:
- How Prime and Mainstream residential market drivers differ
- What house prices will look like over the next five years
- Why private investors must understand competition from institutions
- How Brexit will affect the housing market – today and tomorrow
Resources:
Website: www.savills.co.uk
Twitter: @LucianCook
LinkedIn: Lucian Cook
In this episode, Anna and Mike discuss how P2P lending is supporting small and medium-sized developers to meet the UK’s housing needs. Mike shares his thoughts on how quality data plus human expertise can inform better decision making by lenders and explains why Alternative Finance will simply become mainstream finance over the next few years.
Highlights include:
- How peer-to-peer lending solves both lender and borrower problems
- Best practice approaches to balancing risk and reward
- How and why P2P for property will continue to grow over the coming years
Resources:
Website: www.crowdproperty.com
In this episode, Anna and Nicole discuss the changing face of development for small and medium-sized property investors. Nicole gives some great advice for property investors thinking about going into development and shares why she has diversified her investments into sectors other than property in recent years.
Highlights include:
- How Nicole started out in property development
- Why development has become a very risky strategy in recent years
- What small developers need to know to sleep well at night
Resources:
LI: Nicole Bremner
Instagram : @nsbremner
Twitter : @NicoleBremner
FB: Nicole S Bremner
Website: www.nicolebremner.com
Podcast: www.nicolebremner.com/podcasts
In this episode, Anna Clare Harper finds out about construction apprenticeships in London with Paul Ruddick, Co-founder of K10, London’s largest construction-specific Apprenticeship Training Programme (ATA). Anna and Paul are joined by Peter Bannister, Senior Apprenticeship Programme Manager and George, an apprentice Site Manager on the scheme.
Anna and Paul discuss why apprenticeships are vital to address the current construction skills crisis, which is a factor limiting the supply of new buildings. Peter explains how K10’s approach offers a win/win solution for contractors and apprentices and George outlines how the K10 programme has put him on track for a £60-70k salary within seven years.
Highlights include:
- How 40% of the construction workforce is due to retire within the next decade.
- Why taking on apprentices makes commercial sense and has a positive social impact.
- How the construction sector should see the industry skills shortage as an opportunity.
Resources:
https://www.k-10.co.uk/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/k10
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/K10socialimpact/
Instagram: @k10apprenticeships
Twitter: @K10socialimpact
In this episode, Anna and Ben discuss OakNorth’s approach to lending and how they use a combination of data-driven and human decision-making processes. They look at how challenger banks are addressing the finance issues experienced by property investors and developers and why OakNorth’s loan book currently stands at £2bn and rising, with continuing strong demand. Ben also shares some great advice for beginner investors and explains why there’s plenty of reason for optimism in the face of uncertainty.
Highlights include:
- Why property investors need to professionalise and learn the trade
- What lenders are looking for in successful applications
- Why no branches doesn’t mean no human interaction
- How the use of technology and data benefits bank customers
Resources:
www.oaknorth.com
In this episode, Anna Clare Harper finds out why institutional investors are increasingly investing in residential property and what small and medium sized investors and business owners can learn from their approach with Alexandra Thur, Director of Willow Isle Capital, Partner and Investment Director of Castelnau Estates and Founding Partner of two Multi-Billion Dollar Real Estate Investment Businesses.
Anna and Alexandra examine who institutional investors are and how they differ from SME investors in some surprising ways. Alexandra gives a great overview of ground rent investment and the appeal of this long-term, stable asset class to investors. Anna and Alexandra also cover the impact of a fast-changing UK property market from an institutional perspective and how one investor’s uncertainty is another’s opportunity.
Highlights include:
- Who the different types of institutional investor are and their investment criteria
- What ground rents are and how changes have affected this sector
- How the point where institutional interest ends marks the beginning of opportunities for smaller investors
- Why institutional investors now own c. 10% of UK property
Resources:
Email: thur@willowisle.com
Website: www.willowisle.com
In this episode, Anna Clare Harper discusses the impact - and opportunities - created by recent tax changes for property investors of all sizes with Tony Gimple, Founding Director of Less Tax 4 Landlords.
Anna and Tony explore how tax changes have been used as an instrument to professionalise the UK property sector. They also cover how individual and institutional investors can still find great returns, by shifting to a long-term focus.
Highlights include:
- How Section 24 is impacting landlords.
- Why being a passive landlord is no longer a viable option in the current market.
- How you need to get to grips with the detail to thrive in property.
- What investors looking to leave a legacy to their children need to know.
Resources: https://lesstax4landlords.co.uk
In this episode, Anna Clare Harper finds out how interior design can increase Return On Investment for developers, investors, in fact anyone selling or renting a property, with the Founder of Award-winning London Design Studio, Anouska Tamony Designs.
Anna and Anouska explore why interior design is important, especially in a stagnating market. They also cover the importance of knowing your target market and where to concentrate your efforts for maximum impact if you have a limited budget. Anouska explains how involving a professional designer can help to speed up property sales and even the construction process, in surprising ways.
Highlights include:
- Understanding interior design’s role in speeding up purchase decisions, by making potential buyers fall in love with the property
- How to research your target market and set a budget for design
- How to make the most of a professional design studio in the development process – from start to finish
- Top tips for a high-quality finish, with a limited budget
- How to re-invigorate a property that isn’t selling
Resources:
Email: studio@anouskatamony.com
Website: http://www.anouskatamony.com/
https://www.facebook.com/AnouskaTamonyDesigns/
Instagram and Twitter: @anouskatamonydesigns
In this episode, Anna Clare Harper discusses the benefits of modular construction with Paul Ruddick, MD of the UK’s leading modular construction design and build contractor, Reds10.
Anna and Paul explore what modular construction is and how the technology can boost build quality, while reducing cost and build time. They also cover Paul’s passion for training young people to address the UK’s construction skills shortage and why modular construction is the perfect fit in a time of uncertainty and increased regulation.
Highlights include:
- Modular construction – how the technology combats many of the problems associated with traditional construction, including the skills shortage.
- Paul Ruddick’s journey from QS to owning a company with a £20m turnover in 2018 and a goal of £100m turnover in the next three years.
- Making the most of modular construction.
- How the UK government is playing a major role in promoting the technology’s adoption.
Resources:
https://www.reds10.com/
https://www.offsitehub.co.uk/home/
https://www.k-10.co.uk/
Connect with Paul Ruddick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-ruddick-01b06a11
In this episode, Anna discusses the commercial reality in the property development space and the dynamics around the UK’s planning system with chartered planning and development surveyor and founder of an award-winning multi-million-pound development company, Paul Higgs.
The episode covers the reality behind the UK’s planning system and the potential problems regarding its application, in theory, the opportunities planning opens for investors and property developers. It looks at modern methods of construction as a potential solution to the housing shortage in the UK, land banking and whether it truly exists, and gives insights on how to unlock value through planning.
Highlights include:
– The UK planning system and how it works, as well as its unique points from a developer and investor perspective
– The biggest opportunities in the planning space within property in today’s market for investors and developers
– The possibility for the UK planning system to protect property value for potential investors and cope with the country’s housing shortage at the same time
– Tips on unlocking value in property through planning
– Land banking and the potential drivers behind the concept
Resources:
Connect with Paul on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/paul-higgs
Connect with Paul on Facebook: www.facebook.com/paul.higgs.50
Connect with Millbank on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MillbankLandAcademy
Website: www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk
Booking link for next webinar on Feb 6th: www.millbanklandacademy.co.uk/masterclass
YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UC93cmPAhBlXC_4fmMDctZnA
In this episode, Anna discusses how technology and theory can be used to make better investments, as well as leading multimillion-pound investment businesses whilst teaching at Oxford & Cambridge, with Professor Andrew Baum.
Andrew has combined an academic career including professorships at Oxford and Cambridge, with leading several multi-million-pound investment businesses. He is currently Chairman of Newcore Capital management, Chairman of consulting company Property Funds Research and Visiting Professor of Management Practice at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford.
Highlights include:
- The social obligation of investors – greedy investors don’t win!
- The importance of fundamental principles of investment – markets are generally efficient, and there are very few free lunches, which means speculative development to sell is like gambling
- Value investing – buy things that are worth more than you pay for them, with strong yields for the long term where possible
- The power of options – select assets that are performing well today with great upside potential
- The importance of never using the present tense (e.g. the stock market is rising) only ever explain what has happened (the stock market has risen)
Resources:
http://www.propertyfundsresearch.com/
http://www.newcorecapital.com/
In this episode, Anna discusses goals with a multi-million-pound investor, advisor and podcast host, Fredrik Sandvall.
When Fredrik came to the UK, he and his brother (who didn’t even have a UK bank account) had a goal of investing £2.5m. Part way through the year, they doubled their goal…twice… and they achieved it!
Fredrik also hosts two top-rated podcasts about investing and has written several best-selling books about investing – both financially, and in yourself.
So he’s brilliantly qualified to talk about goals – a hot topic at the end of one year, and the start of the next.
This episode includes:
- Frameworks and tools for setting goals for the new year
- The power of outside external influences for achieving your dreams
- Looking back on past goals and achievements
- Tips and tricks for making sure you reach your goals
Resources:
https://sandvallinvest.com/
http://fundx.global/
The 12 Week Year – https://www.amazon.co.uk/12-Week-Year-Others-Months/dp/1118509234 – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10009377-the-12-week-year
Invest in You – Fredrik’s podcast which includes episodes ranging from Ray McClennan, to Grant Cardone – https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/invest-in-you/id1353355236?mt=2
Investing Skills Podcast https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/investing-skills/id1445899547?mt=2
In this episode, Anna discusses the value of having a mentor with grey hair, with the Host of one of the longest-running property events in London, the London Real Estate Meetup, and Founder of Property Fortress, John Corey.
The episode includes 7 ways having a mentor can help property investors. This has never been more important than if you’re investing in UK property today, as the market is changing rapidly and full of new challenges. And a mentor with grey hair means they’ll have experience through market cycles and past changes…
Highlights include:
- The importance of factors such as expanding your network, accelerating learning, acting as a sounding board, and learning from their experience rather than reinventing the wheel.
- Avoiding mistakes others have made, thinking strategically, setting goals, encouraging development, and helping with big decisions.
Resources:
https://www.propertyfortress.com/start/
In this episode, Anna discusses fine wine vs real estate, with Senior Portfolio Manager at Cult Wine Investments, Jack Chapman.
Especially in an uncertain and fast-changing market, it makes sense to have a balanced portfolio. And fine wine can be a great ‘balancer’ to property…
In this episode, Jack and Anna discuss:
- The importance of factors such as location for wine vs property
- Wealth preservation through wine / property investments, and using ‘the alternative of all alternatives’ as a hedge against volatility
- Practicalities – ways to invest, affordability, liquidity, tax dynamics, and what happens if it all goes wrong
If you like wine, property and the idea of keeping your money in something tangible that holds value in volatile times, this episode is for you.
Resources:
Cult Wine Investments – www.wineinvestment.com
Trading and data for fine wine – https://www.liv-ex.com/
In this episode, we were privileged to speak to the Editor of one of the best-regarded magazines in the industry, Property Investor News, Richard Bowser, about recent property investment headlines and news, and huge opportunities in the UK property market, today.
In this episode, Anna shares her thoughts on what’s changed and changing in the UK property market, and how investors can see opportunity between the doom and gloom headlines.
In this episode, we share what series 2 of The Return: Property & Investment Podcast is all about (UK property investment, in a fast-changing market), what’s changing (a lot!), who it’s for (active and aspiring UK property investors), and what you can expect to get from listening to this series: insights, information and ideas for investors, in a fast-changing UK property market.
Andrei Polgar is a highly respected economist, investor, best-selling author and Founder one of the most popular economics platforms online, used in schools and universities worldwide…
And he believes we are set for a serious, global financial crisis.
Listen in for:
– Terrifyingly convincing evidence that we are set for a global financial storm
– What we need to know from economic history
– Why a portfolio of property, gold and crypto may be the best way to protect yourself
Andrei has just launched a book, The Age of Anomoly, which is heavily discounted during its launch – links below!
Links and resources:
One Minute Economics contest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0knwDyqDVTw
Book links:
https://www.kobo.com/ww/en/ebook/the-age-of-anomaly-spotting-financial-storms-in-a-sea-of-uncertainty
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/age-anomaly-spotting-financial-storms-in-sea-uncertainty/id1331704265
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-age-of-anomaly-andrei-polgar/1127084693?ean=2940155383970
In this episode, we talked crypto with Jacob Papageourgiou, long term investor, Founder of Bitmera, a crypto education platform, and Head of Education at London Block Exchange, a leading UK crypto exchange platform.
Jacob discusses risk averse crypto investing, starting investing as a hobby on the side of a demanding career, and taking time over new investment decisions. The interview includes:
- How to define a crypto investment strategy, whether you’re risk averse or risk tolerant, using traditional investment practices such as portfolio diversification and market timing
- The importance of research, and the crucial questions to ask before you buy, if you’re looking at crypto opportunities
- The difference between investing in and speculating with crypto
The interview was recorded when Jacob was balancing a demanding City career with his crypto passion and portfolio. As he’s since committed fully, the interview is great for anyone looking to test an investment strategy on the side, before diving in to investing fully – in crypto or other asset classes.
Resources:
- Coinbase – www.coinbase.com – platform for exchange and storage
- The Internet of Money 1 and The Internet of Money 2 – Andreas M. Antonopoulos (book, audio book or youtube) – for conceptualising crypto
- Mastering Bitcoin: Unlocking Digital Cryptocurrencies – Andreas M. Antonopoulos – for a more in depth overview
- Reddit – sub-Reddit: cryptomarkets
- Coindesk – www.coindesk.com – for crypto news
- Coin Telegraph – www.cointelegraph.com Cointelegraph Bitcoin & Ethereum Blockchain News
- Bitmera – www.bitmera.com – crypto education
- London Block Exchange – www.lbx.com – ‘the UK’s first dedicated cryptocurrency exchange built to help consumers and institutions join the digital money revolution’
- Medium.com
Investing in businesses: Private Equity.
The Return interviewed the ex-Terra Firma, Forbes 30 Under 30 awarded Founder of Starlake Capital, a rapidly rising Asian Private Equity company, to demystify the world of Private Equity and Venture Capital.
The interview, with Melvin Chen, includes:
- What Private Equity is really about, and how it differs from alternatives – for example in liquidity, and returns
- How Private Equity performs (typically 25% IRR), and why
- What’s happening in the Private Equity world, including the impact of technology, regulations, and global trends such as growth in Asian Private Equity
Melvin sheds light on what is often considered a murky asset class, which few people understand, and gives some great insights on what’s happening in the asset class.
Resources:
- Databases – preqin.com
- Specialist publications, e.g. penews.com, www.privateequitywire.co.uk
- General publications – ft.com / www.wsj.com
- Specialist consulting companies, e.g. starlakecapital.com
The Return interviewed one of the world’s leading bloggers on dividend stocks, Ben Reynolds of www.suredividend.com, to talk long term, income-generating dividend growth investing.
The interview includes:
- 8 rules for dividend investing
- How to find the right stocks to buy, and when to sell (rarely!)
- The importance of science over emotion in stock market investing for the long term
The interview dispels the myth that stock market investing is just about short term buy and sell decisions or gambling, and gives some great tips about how to get started and keep going, even when the market falls…
Resources:
www.suredividend.com (check out the Dividend Aristocrats list)
www.dividendgrowthinvestor.com
DRIP investing resource centre http://www.dripinvesting.org/
Investing…made beautiful!!
Find out how to buy jewellery – as a store of wealth, a balancer for other more traditional investments, or just as a gift (for yourself or for a loved one!)!
Find out:
- Top tips on how to buy jewellery, and avoid feeling flustered – wherever you are buying from
- How to research and understand what drives value in the jewellery world
- About the importance of expression and sentiment vs raw materias, for investing in jewellery – which can’t be quantified!
If you’re interested in investing in something you love, something you can wear, and something beautiful, this episode is for you!
Resources:
www.tessapackard.com
UK property investing – is buy to let dead?
We asked multi-millionaire landlord and author of one of the most highly regarded books on property investment, Angela Bryant, what’s really going on in the property market. Angela has bought 100+ properties and has 20+ years’ experience under her belt, yet remains incredibly humble…
Find out:
- If buy to let is worth the hassle, in the current market context
- Reducing costs in your property portolio
- The unanticipated impacts of policy change on homelessness
- The risks and rewards in stocks and shares vs property
Co-Founder of the UK’s largest Property Training business (Progressive Property), prolific multi-millionaire property investor and developer, World Record Holder, and #1 best-selling author, Mark Homer on how to get started in UK property investing, and how to scale up.
Mark started small, and has now developed 550+ properties and manages 720+ properties, so is the perfect person to discuss getting started and scaling up in property investment and development.
The interview includes:
– How to get started – from who not to listen to, to learning along the way
– How to scale up sustainably, and profitably
– Keeping up with regulations, market trends and taxes affecting the property market, and keeping an eye on the past, future and other assets
Resources:
www.progressiveproperty.co.uk
Profiting from exciting UK property investment opportunities without a big deposit or mortgage… And more affordable housing for end users, at a time when so many people who want to, can’t afford to invest in, buy or even rent a property.
In this episode, we discuss the exciting approaches being taken to open up the property market to investors and consumers, by one of the UK’s fastest growing property companies.
The Founder and CEO of Inspired Assets, Martin Skinner, explains:
- How ‘intensifying the use’ of property assets can generate higher returns for investors, as well as delivering more affordable housing for end users
- How indirect property investment puts power in the hands of the investor, in a more efficient way, and enables you to invest in property without a large deposit or mortgage,
- What exciting technologies developers are bringing in to their projects, and their impact – on cost base and consumers
Retirement might seem a long way off. But with increasing life expectancies, you could easily be relying on your pension for 1/4 to 1/3 of your life (longer than you were at school!)
Which makes pensions important to understand…But where to start?
We had the privilege of interviewing Howard Brindle, the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the UK’s largest private pension scheme, USS to discuss what you need to know about pensions.
The interview includes:
- How the different types of pension work
- How regulations and taxes influence outcomes for individuals and their future lifestyles
- Why pension funds are becoming some of the most powerful investors in the world!
Resources:
www.uss.co.uk
https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en
https://www.pensionwise.gov.uk/en
Entrepreneurialism and technology are part of the career and lifestyle goals for so many of us.
But what is it actually like to invest in tech start ups??
To find out, we interviewed Michael Dent, a serial tech start up investor and entrepreneur.
His experience ranges from co-investing with the Founder of Purple Bricks in Lavanda, to founding hot ‘proptech’ business, PropertyData.
In this interview, you’ll find out:
– What it’s really like to invest in tech start ups – a rollercoaster ride from the huge returns to ‘total loss of capital’ (on 6/10 investments!)
– What you really need to know, before you invest in tech start ups
– Top tips on what to look for, and what to avoid if you’re looking at a start up investment – from fancy offices to big name advisers
Find out more:
http://michaeldent.com/
www.PropertyData.co.uk
Crowd funding is revolutionising the way ordinary people can invest, and opening the doors to the world of investment.
Unlike many of the more traditional approaches to investing:
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It’s accessible… All you need is a laptop or smartphone and a small amount available to invest.
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It lets you be part of inspiring projects and exciting products that you’re passionate about
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It’s hassle free and flexible. You can choose when and how, and what investments you get involved with, from your living room… it can be as quick and easy as internet shopping!
In this episode, you’ll discover from Davin and Atuksha Poonwassie, founders of the fast-growing, very exciting crowd-funding platform, Simple Crowdfunding:
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What crowd funding is all about, and the different types of crowd-funding available
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How it works, and how you can get involved in projects your passionate about, without hassle!
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What to look out for if you’re researching your first or next crowd-funded investment