Show notes
Ready to grow your property business without the hype? Start your free two-month membership trial with This Property Life today! https://bit.ly/this-propertylife-memebership——————————————————————In this episode of This Property Life, host Sarah Blaney speaks with Esther Smith, a successful property investor, corporate contractor, and busy parent. Together with her husband Mark, Esther has built a portfolio of HMOs leased to supported living providers such as Serco. The conversation explores how to strategically balance property investing with a demanding career and family life, and dives into the practicalities and pitfalls of the supported housing model.Esther Smith is a contractor in the corporate world and a mother of young children, one of whom has autism. Esther brings a realistic, no-frills perspective to property investing, blending analytical skills, financial forecasting, and an acute awareness of social needs to build a portfolio with both purpose and profit.What You'll Learn:Why supported living HMOs can be a smart long-term investment strategyThe real timelines and work involved before a property begins cash flowingHow to manage property investing alongside a demanding job and family lifeTips on working with providers like Serco and handling bureaucratic challengesThe importance of aligning investment strategies with personal and family goalsTimestamps[00:00] – Introduction to the Episode[02:18] – Why Esther chose property investing alongside a corporate career[04:32] – Transitioning to HMOs and choosing supported living as a strategy[06:08] – Challenges of property management and moving outside London[08:31] – The importance of patience and persistence in property[11:15] – The true timeline to cash flow a supported living HMO[19:30] – What to expect during refurb and compliance processes[26:24] – Lease signing: navigating Serco’s contracts and requirements[32:28] – Lending, insurance, and operational costs: myth vs reality[42:01] – Long-term goals, charitable aspirations, and future plans[47:37] – Wrapping up: advice on staying focused and aligned with your goals[51:37] – Where to connect with Esther SmithThis Episode is Kindly Sponsored by:Visit thispropertylife.co.uk for more resources, networking events, and industry insights.Follow Esther Smith Socials:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/esthersmith1Website: https://espeopleandchange.com/Follow Sarah Blaney Socials:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahpropertyandbusiness/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.blaney.1232Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.in.property/Follow This Property Life Podcast on Socials:Website:https://thispropertylife.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thispropertylife/# Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564457166712&locale=en_GB Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/this-property-life-podcast/id1540075591 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ULlN2eRKWojGRAkiSa0mZ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/this-property-life-podcast/about/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thispropertylifeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtmPj98bC6swNuYRCaUGPUg Twitter: https://x.com/propertylifepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
