Real Estate Investor Magazine South Africa Dec/Jan 2016/17 | Page 44

INVESTOR PROFILE

Helping Offshore Investors

become Financially Free
Cash flow positive properties only
BY NEALE PETERSEN

D

ave Portas is an investor, consultant and
coach based in Birmingham in the UK. Dave
started his career from humble beginnings as
an electrician and later worked in several industrial
corporations in various positions and management.
He realised that working long hours for a boss was
not enough to make a living and control his future.
In 2010 he founded a Property Sourcing Business
and has already founded over 300 properties for
investors. He specializes in residential buy-to-let
and House of Multiple Occupancies (HMO’s) or
multiple room lets. Today he has his own portfolio
of cash flow positive properties, a successful letting
and property management company including the
property sourcing company. He enjoys mentoring
and coaching potential students and newbie investors
to invest in the UK. He works alongside two South
African investor partners Andrew Walker and
Warren Brusse who also are invest and assist South
Africans to invest in the UK market.

How did you first become involved in the
property industry?

My girlfriend (now wife) moved in with me in 2006
and we let her house. We didn’t make much cash but
in 2008 when the interest rates fell sharply in the
UK the property cash flowed approximately £450 per
month. This opened my eyes to the potential of rental
property and got me looking at how I could get more
involved in investing.

Share any highlights and insights gained
during your investment journey?

Property investment is not a hobby. Treat it like one
and it pays you like one. It doesn’t have to be full time
but any participation in the arena needs to be done
ethically, professionally and diligently. Every deal I
buy or find for clients is a highlight as its experience in
creating a win/win scenario with someone who needs
some help to move on with their life.
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DEC/JAN 2017 SA Real Estate Investor

Personal Info:
Age: 45
Married: Rachel
Children: Teagan 18, Jake 5, and Zach 4
Who do you consider to be your most important
mentors/role models?
My business coach. Mark Dalton and Robert Kiyosaki
What are you reading at the moment?
The Grunch of Giants by R Buckminster Fuller
What is your life motto?
Helping people get what they want helps you get what
you want. Work hard and have fun.
What would you still like to achieve?
I’m still looking to double my income every year. My
goal is to build a substantial legacy for my children
and have an abundance of quality and fun experiences
through retirement.

Please share your property investment
philosophy?

Any deal has to cash flow positively. Ideally high
yielding multilet properties that have at least a 20%
Return on Investment (ROI) and smaller family
dwellings must have at least a 50% ROI. Properties
must be in areas of high demand where quality longterm tenants can be found. My ethos is to provide
good quality accommodation for good quality
tenants, providing homes where people feel happy and
comfortable. All deals have to be a win/win for both
the seller and the investor.

Describe your first property deal and the
most important lessons you learnt from the
experience?

The first deal I bought was a 2-bedroom terrace
property in the North of England. I bought it
substantially below market value, and it needed a lot of
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