[SanMiguel]

It sounds like a riskier way to do it - lower quality housing and LQ tenants means more potential for problems. That said I've read online about people doing the same thing with very good results. It's no different to the cheap housing in the States that rents in poor neighbourhoods for great returns - there's a decent thread on here somewhere about someone doing that to fund a location independent lifestyle.

I'd recommend against investing in an area you don't have good local knowledge in, or somewhere far from home where you can't keep an eye on the property or tenants. You can use an agent to help but you need someone you can really trust, in your case your mate who's already doing it is the best option. The plan sounds good to me, except hold around £10k back for any unexpected repairs you might have. Also after you've mortgaged the houses to raise funds look at buying a different type of property like a student let or apartment to rent to professionals, so your portfolio is diversified.

[jbkunt2]

Just wondering how this is all going now?

I’m originally from the UK but in the US now. My brother is in Manchester and we are interested in student rentals.

[bws8118]

I prefer the stock market as a more reliable source of income to live off but I do have a few properties, two of which are rented out. The Government have changed the game in regards to buy to let. It used to be made up of people foregoing a private pension and owned a buy to let to find their retirement instead. Now, with a housing shortage, changing tax rates etc it's only worth going into if you want to do it properly. Gone are the days where you could get a massive % house price increases in a year. Most people talk a good game but renting out properly really isn't fun. Renovating out and then renting out is a different ball game. My rental property in Europe is worth around 1.350.000 euro and is a pain in the arse to run. Higher value tends to mean far more upkeep, tax etc.

[montaigneesque]

As someone UK based, I'd take advantage of the good rates for loans over here, and then invest 'over there'. I know this doesn't sound regular, but it's proven true for those I know.

Take out the biggest loan you can.
Buy the biggest home you can in/near Hollywood.
Rent + Sell like any property using common sense.

The simple fact that it's in Hollywood assures you can flip for more than what it was bought for; people throw around cash in Hollywood like it's nothing, and can't discern between a house worth 5m and a house worth 15m.

On paper, it's surprisingly easy to buy a home in Malibu or Laurel Canyon for 900k, and sell it later that year without touching it for 1.2m. I highly recommend it; though i'll eat my own words if necessary, as i'm about to start the very same path.

[bws8118]

(04-10-2018 09:04 AM)montaigneesque Wrote:  

As someone UK based, I'd take advantage of the good rates for loans over here, and then invest 'over there'. I know this doesn't sound regular, but it's proven true for those I know.

Take out the biggest loan you can.
Buy the biggest home you can in/near Hollywood.
Rent + Sell like any property using common sense.

The simple fact that it's in Hollywood assures you can flip for more than what it was bought for; people throw around cash in Hollywood like it's nothing, and can't discern between a house worth 5m and a house worth 15m.

On paper, it's surprisingly easy to buy a home in Malibu or Laurel Canyon for 900k, and sell it later that year without touching it for 1.2m. I highly recommend it; though i'll eat my own words if necessary, as i'm about to start the very same path.

If it was that easy, everyone would be doing it...

[bigswingingdick]

(04-10-2018 12:12 PM)bws8118 Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 09:04 AM)montaigneesque Wrote:  

As someone UK based, I'd take advantage of the good rates for loans over here, and then invest 'over there'. I know this doesn't sound regular, but it's proven true for those I know.

Take out the biggest loan you can.
Buy the biggest home you can in/near Hollywood.
Rent + Sell like any property using common sense.

The simple fact that it's in Hollywood assures you can flip for more than what it was bought for; people throw around cash in Hollywood like it's nothing, and can't discern between a house worth 5m and a house worth 15m.

On paper, it's surprisingly easy to buy a home in Malibu or Laurel Canyon for 900k, and sell it later that year without touching it for 1.2m. I highly recommend it; though i'll eat my own words if necessary, as i'm about to start the very same path.

If it was that easy, everyone would be doing it...

No. Some people are afraid. And have no will for risk. Crossborder mortgages are a reality.

[bws8118]

(04-11-2018 05:33 PM)bigswingingdick Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 12:12 PM)bws8118 Wrote:  

(04-10-2018 09:04 AM)montaigneesque Wrote:  

As someone UK based, I'd take advantage of the good rates for loans over here, and then invest 'over there'. I know this doesn't sound regular, but it's proven true for those I know.

Take out the biggest loan you can.
Buy the biggest home you can in/near Hollywood.
Rent + Sell like any property using common sense.

The simple fact that it's in Hollywood assures you can flip for more than what it was bought for; people throw around cash in Hollywood like it's nothing, and can't discern between a house worth 5m and a house worth 15m.

On paper, it's surprisingly easy to buy a home in Malibu or Laurel Canyon for 900k, and sell it later that year without touching it for 1.2m. I highly recommend it; though i'll eat my own words if necessary, as i'm about to start the very same path.

If it was that easy, everyone would be doing it...

No. Some people are afraid. And have no will for risk. Crossborder mortgages are a reality.

My comment was in regards to making serious money in the property market and not taking out mortgages. To understand why some peple don't want to take risk one needs to understand behavioural economics and risk as a whole. It's easy to sit there and say, "people are afriad". If you graduated University and you have car payments to make along with rent and a child, it's not hard to see why taking even more risk is not an option for most people.