If  I Had to Start Property Investing From Scratch Today – Here´s What I Would Do

If  I Had to Start Property Investing From Scratch Today – Here´s What I Would Do

Author: Kevin McDonnell February 24, 2026 Duration: 12:16
Become a part of the Progressive Property refer-a-friend scheme and Earn up to £250 when someone attends one of our events – you can enrol here: https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/ For property businesses, 2026 is a noisy year – shiny regeneration schemes, hot new coins, “next big thing” strategies are everywhere, so deciding which direction to go in, is very difficult. Today, Mark cuts through that noise by answering the question he gets asked most: If he had to start again from scratch today, what would he actually do?   He breaks down why he’d still buy simple single lets, move quickly into higher‑end HMOs and blocks, avoid the fads, and use development, debt, and daily habits to build a safer, scalable, more profitable portfolio that survives all kinds of regulation, tax, and market cycles. If you want to take the next step and put what you have learned from this podcast into action, you only need to click here - https://www.wealthbuilders.co.uk/progressive-podcast KEY TAKEAWAYS Blend what you already know, what you’re good at and what you enjoy - but make sure every strategy and deal is ruthlessly profitable.   Ignore the shiny penny stuff. Buy unloved assets in real demand areas, force the value through refurb, conversions, and better operations, then hold them.   Leverage the efficiency of owning and running larger assets e.g. a block of flats, HMOs, or co-living spaces. Carry on learning, networking, and improving efficiency. Spread your income across different assets, areas, and deal types, so when tax, regulation, or the market changes negatively for one sector, the rest of your portfolio keeps you afloat.  Build your track record first with smaller wins you can document, then use that evidence to raise JV and private capital on better terms.   Take on sensible debt to build up good assets, let inflation erode that debt, but don´t borrow so much that a downturn can wipe you out.  Take full advantage of the impact of compounding interest. BEST MOMENTS  "Lots of people say, Oh, you just need to follow your passion and follow your dreams. Well, I don't think it's quite that simple."  "Ignore all of the shiny Penny regeneration programmes in property."  "Over the long run, it means that you can't fail, and you'll get richer and richer."  "Too many people think that wealth building is all about finding that one thing that will make you rich. The reality is that it is about developing yourself and developing 1000 daily habits."   VALUABLE RESOURCES MSOPI – Multiple Streams of Income: https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk https://kevinmcdonnell.co.uk ABOUT THE HOST Sean Fitzpatrick is a property investor, educator, and the Face of Progressive Property. With a 6-figure portfolio and expertise in creative strategies, finance, and off-market deals, Sean shares success stories from the Progressive Property community, expert insights, and real-world strategies to help investors succeed. Tune in for practical tips and no-nonsense advice to accelerate your property journey. ABOUT THE HOST Kevin McDonnell is a Speaker, Author, Mentor & Professional Property Investor. He is an expert when it comes to creative property investment strategies. His book No Money Down: Property Invest talks about how to control and cash flow other people’s property to create financial freedom.   CONTACT METHOD https://www.facebook.com/kevinMcDonnellProperty https://kevinmcdonnell.co.uk TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progressiveproperty YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0g1KuusONVStjY_XjdXy6g Twitter: https://twitter.com/progperty LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/progressiveproperty Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressiveproperty Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/progressivepropertycommunity Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Progperty This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Hosted by investor and educator Kevin McDonnell, The Progressive Property Podcast is a regular source of actionable strategies for navigating the UK property market. This isn't about generic theory; it’s a practical resource dissecting the methods that work for building a portfolio, from foundational principles to advanced scaling techniques. You’ll hear detailed discussions on buy-to-let, flipping properties, and creative strategies like deal packaging, all aimed at constructing multiple streams of property income. The focus is on leveraging knowledge-and often other people's capital-to build assets, emphasising how to move forward effectively even if your own starting capital is limited. Each episode is designed to condense years of experience, helping you avoid common pitfalls and make informed, strategic decisions that save both time and money. For anyone serious about property investment, from taking the first step to systematising a large-scale operation, this podcast serves as a direct line to the nuanced knowledge required for long-term financial freedom. Tune in for candid conversations that cut through the noise, offering the specific skills and confidence needed to progress in the complex world of real estate investment.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

The Progressive Property Podcast
Podcast Episodes
How We Replaced Our Salaries in 12 Months with Erika & James [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:23
https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/ Former journalists Erica and James share their journey building a property portfolio through Progressive Property's education and community. After experiencing redundancy and li…
How To Create Wealth Through Property [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:08
Kevin joins Jessen James on the Mind Over Money podcast to talk about the power of property investing itself, as well as his own personal journey in business, and the part that mind-set has played in his incredible rise…
7 Tips on How to Flip Properties For Profit | Replay [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:59
How can you flip properties easily and successfully? Listen in to this episode to hear Kevin’s 7 tips of flipping properties for profit. If you are new to this area or have only done one or two property deals this is the…
Building a Property Portfolio That Works with Hamish Douglas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:55
https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/ Sean is joined by property investor Hamish Douglas. Hamish shares his how he became an accidental landlord who went on to build a nine-property portfolio that includes buy to le…
How to Spot Red Flags in a Mentor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:37
https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/ Kevin joins Sean to talk about how to recognise mentor red flags and prevent yourself from being taught by the wrong person. He shares the easiest ways to spot a bad trainer or…
5 Ways To Add Value To A Property [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:53
FREE DOWNLOAD How YOU Can Make A FORTUNE From Buy-To-Lethttps://bit.ly/BTLReport-POD One of Kevin’s most asked questions is how to add value to a rental property, in this episode he explores various ways you can do this…
The Big Property Investing Question Quantity or Quality ? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:54
Join Kev as he explores the question of quantity -vs- quality in property investing. He talks about the quality of house, tenants, refurbs and and reveals the most important things you need to weigh up when purchasing pr…
Why 99% of Investors Are Wrong About Problem Properties [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:18
https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/ Sean is joined by Shimon Ruach, a property solicitor who uses creative property investing in the UK! From cycling through Manchester snow with no bus money to becoming the pione…
How Property Investing Can Enhance Your Life with Tabitha [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:41
https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/ Sean speaks to Tabitha about what lead her to investing in property and how this has impacted all areas of her life. Tabitha shares her early experiences in property buying, why…