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. 42 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 www.reimag.co.za