INVESTING
Darren Francis received well-deserved recognition for his efforts when he won the Investor for Change award at the SA Property Investors Network ( SAPIN ) event . His achievements didn ' t stop there ; he was also named the overall winner of the Investor of the Year awards in 2021 , earning a standing ovation for his outstanding contributions to the property investment community .
When did he start investing in property ? His journey truly began at 27 when he read " Making Money out of Property in South Africa " by Jason Lee , a renowned South African property investor , developer , realtor , and bestselling author , back in 2009 . Gripped within the first five pages , he dived into research , talking to people , and analysing property trends . Focusing on residential property for the first three years , he had no idea of the incredible journey and growth that lay ahead . Ten years later , he sold his first investment property .
What made him choose property ? He dabbled in Forex trading , photography , PR , and other businesses , but property proved to be the most consistent in terms of growth . His strategy was straightforward : target markets that were not popular and also keep an eye on the big players , even if they seemed overcrowded . Since 2019 , the Return on Investment ( ROI ) on almost every property has been above average . He has flipped six homes , is in the process of registering a vacant erf for development and sale , and
32 JUNE 2024 Real Estate Investor Magazine