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
The Big Property Investing Question: Quantity or Quality? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:06
FREE DOWNLOAD How YOU Can Make A FORTUNE From Buy-To-Let https://bit.ly/BUYTOLETPOD Join Kev as he explores the question of quantity -vs- quality in property investing. He talks about the quality of house, tenants, refur…
NMD Techniques Get started in Property Investment this year! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:14
FREE DOWNLOAD How YOU Can Make A FORTUNE From Buy-To-Let https://bit.ly/BUYTOLETPOD What is the best property investment strategy this year? Join Kevin in the first episode of 2024 of the Progressive Property Podcast and…
9 Things I've Learnt in 9 Years as a Property Investor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:07
FREE DOWNLOAD How YOU Can Make A FORTUNE From Buy-To-Let https://bit.ly/BUYTOLETPOD Kevin shares 9 top tips he has learnt in the past 9 years as a Property Investor. Kevin has been in the property game for over 20 years,…
How to Flip a House A Beginners Guide with Scott Wroe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:06
FREE DOWNLOAD How YOU Can Make A FORTUNE From Buy-To-Let https://bit.ly/BUYTOLETPOD Kev is joined by social media expert and property investor Scott Wroe in this episode. They talk about strategies anyone can follow to f…
Mopping Up The Riches How One Leaflet Inspired A Business Empire [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:12
FREE DOWNLOAD How YOU Can Make A FORTUNE From Buy-To-Let https://bit.ly/BUYTOLETPOD Rachel is a property investor in Peterborough, the same location as Progressive Property founders Rob and Mark. In this episode, she pro…
SELL or BUY The Truth About Raising Interest Rates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:27
FREE DOWNLOAD How YOU Can Make A FORTUNE From Buy-To-Let https://bit.ly/BUYTOLETPOD Kevin talks openly and factually about whether you should be selling or buying in the wake of the further BOE interest rate rise! KEY TA…
STOP Paying Too Much Tax In Your Property Business! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:17
FREE DOWNLOAD How YOU Can Make A FORTUNE From Buy-To-Let https://bit.ly/BUYTOLETPOD In this episode of the Progressive Property Podcast, Kevin discusses everyone’s most hated topic, Tax! There are new tax changes incomin…
7 Tips on How to Flip Properties For Profit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:59
FREE DOWNLOAD How YOU Can Make A FORTUNE From Buy-To-Let https://bit.ly/BUYTOLETPOD How can you flip properties easily and successfully? Listen in to this episode to hear Kevin’s 7 tips of flipping properties for profit.…
Self Management Vs Outsourcing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:40
FREE DOWNLOAD How YOU Can Make A FORTUNE From Buy-To-Let https://bit.ly/BUYTOLETPOD Should I manage my own properties or outsource them to a lettings agency? This might be a question that you are asking yourself, as you…
Real estate, AI and how it affects the Property Investor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:18
FREE DOWNLOAD How YOU Can Make A FORTUNE From Buy-To-Let https://bit.ly/BUYTOLETPOD Kev is interviewed by MJ, who is doing a dissertation around AI and wants to quiz Kev on what he thinks the impact will be on the proper…