Raising Finance, Moving Fast, and Buying Big: My First Years in Property
I started in property long before I bought my first house. I grew up watching close family friends build real success through property, and seeing the freedom they had made a massive impression on me. It wasn’t just the money, it was the lifestyle, the choices, the confidence. I knew I wanted to follow a similar path and create that for myself.
When COVID hit, it pushed me to finally take action. With everything on pause, I used the opportunity to learn as much as I could about investing, deals, and the mechanics behind building a portfolio. I started deal sourcing in the little free time I had, slowly building momentum and learning through every conversation and every deal I analysed.
By the time I turned 20, I’d made over £40,000 from sourcing and saved enough to buy my first property. That first purchase gave me the belief that I could genuinely build something long-term.
My First Deal
It was on for £200,000 and I negotiated it down to £160,000. I rolled up my sleeves and did as much of the work myself as I could. The novelty wore off quickly, but the lessons were worth it. I spent £12,000 on it, and it revalued at £235,000. That house is still in my portfolio today, with the same tenant who moved in on day one.
In 2024 I realised I could move much faster by leveraging the people around me. I raised my first pot of private finance from a close friend and bought a small portfolio in Southport. I managed the refurbs, handled the asset management, and we sold for strong capital gains.I then bought six properties using a mix of my own money and investor loans.
But 2025 is where things have really accelerated. I’ve purchased 23 properties, split across different strategies, and more than £2.5m worth retained in my long-term portfolio.
For me, the sweet spot is running two strategies side by side:
cashflow for security and
trading for capital.
This year I’ve leaned heavily into auction trading, its quick completions, fast turnarounds, and resales for lump-sum profits.
My fastest deal? Thirteen hours from agreeing the purchase to completing with cash. The seller had originally gone with another buyer who offered £3,000 more. Seven months later, after being messed about, they came back to me. I renegotiated £10,000 off my original offer and completed the day after. Speed, certainty, and doing what you say you will are three things that open more doors than anything else I’ve tried.
Alongside the trading, I’ve been keeping the best assets for my long-term portfolio: simple single lets in strong areas for both private and corporate tenants, mixed-use shops-and-tops, and bigger, more complex blocks.
After buying several smaller properties, I realised the process is exactly the same on bigger deals; the only difference is the extra zeros.
I started hunting for undervalued assets in areas on the up and found a mixed-use building that had failed to sell twice at auction, first at £750,000, then at £700,000. A vendor dropping their price with no success is usually a flashing neon sign of motivation.
Here’s how it moved:
Viewed: 6 August 2025
Negotiated & agreed: 7 August 2025
Exchanged: 8 August 2025
Completed: 5 September 2025
I secured it at £460,000, exchanging within two days of viewing with 10% down. That speed is ultimately what sealed it.
I raised private finance at 12% per annum, and a recent RICS valuation came back at around £900,000 once the minor works to the two apartments are completed. The building will profit about £4,500 per month, with all my capital back out.
This is now the benchmark I’m chasing: solid income, strong equity, and scalable processes.
My plan moving forward is simple, keep buying reliable single lets in good communities as these, in my opinion, form the backbone of long-term wealth.Continue trading off-market properties for fast capital profit, and go after more undervalued larger MUFBs (Multi Unit Freehold Blocks) with chunky income and uplift potential.I also want to partner with local councils to help families in need while keeping the portfolio stable.
A few things have pushed my journey forward faster than anything else:
Being around winners. You rise to the level of the people you spend time with.
Remaining teachable. Everyone knows something you don't.
Partnering well. The right people speed everything up.
Building a real-life network. My closest friends in the industry have helped me avoid major mistakes.
And most importantly: stop talking and get on with it.
There’s a trend right now where people try to raise finance online or assume Instagram will build their business for them. It won’t.
Start with the people you actually know. That’s where the trust already exists.
Get in the room with people. Look them in the eye. See if you share values. Long-term relationships are built offline.
A personal brand has its place, but action and genuine relationships beat aesthetics every time.
I’ve had my share: refurb overruns, knotweed nightmares, trading losses, tenant situations gone horribly wrong, and a £7,000 mistake because of incorrectly served paperwork. But the key thing is I learn fast and always keep moving.
Contact details:
Will Broad
Broad Property
E - info@broadproperty.co.uk
