How an Expat started his Expat Property Story
#220
This episode explores how Matt, a Singapore-based expat, got started in UK property.
You’ll see the steps he took, the challenges he faced and lessons he learned.
You’ll get to see the detail behind the three deals he’s done so far: two buy to lets and one HMO.
During the episode, we discuss:
· Choosing Property over Stocks: Matt found stocks and shares less predictable and exciting, preferring the tangible, long-term benefits of UK property.
· Partnership with his builder Brother-in-law in the UK: leveraging complementary skills.
· Setting Up a Joint Venture: Challenges around residency, lender requirements, and shareholder splits.
· Company Structure and Lender Preferences: Limiting Matt’s share to 19% (under the 20% threshold for mortgages) maximized their mortgage options.
· Shareholder Agreement: They established a basic shareholder agreement (even using ChatGPT!) and took tax/accountancy advice to protect both sides and cover contingencies.
· 1st Deal—Buy-to-Let in Birmingham: Their debut property was a terraced house fully renovated by the brother-in-law—bought with cash, got rented quickly, but had modest ROI (~8%).
· 2nd Deal— Buy-to-Let: Boughton same street, similar renovation, lower purchase price, higher ROI (~20%).
· 3ed Deal— 5-bed HMO Project: Purchased via pre-auction offer, converted with all en-suites, targeting professional tenants.
· Navigating HMO Regulations: Matt emphasized the importance of understanding fire, safety, and local council HMO rules, leveraging an architect for compliance.
· Finance and Valuation Strategies: The HMO refinance options included commercial, hybrid, and bricks-and-mortar valuations—each affecting how much capital could be recycled.
· ROCE Comparison of Single Let Vs Hmo: Despite their HMO generating higher monthly cash flow, their standard single lets delivered a much healthier ROCE (Return on Capital Employed) of around 20%, while the HMO project achieved just under 9% ROCE,
· Challenges as an Expat: Communication issues (time zones, local contacts), UK call centre frustrations.
· Lessons Learned: the dangers of overanalyzing, the value of taking early action, and being flexible with deal expectations to maintain momentum.
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UK property investment, expat property investing, buy to let, HMO investment, joint venture property, property portfolio, Singapore expat, UK mortgages for expats, remote property investing, property partnership, limited company for property, shareholder agreement, property renovation, Birmingham property, property valuation, commercial valuation, bricks and mortar
Expat Property Story
A podcast for expats investing in UK property
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