Starting up

Hansel and Gretel were here

If you're the kind of person who is interested in property, it's a kind of bug that you just can't get away from. Whether it's searching for your next house, or watching the property market, or finding out about mortgage deals, it's one of those hobbies that takes hold of you and before long you find you need your daily dose of rightmove.

I started investing in property 16 years ago, although at the time I had no idea that I was 'investing', I just sort of had a hunch that this was a more sensible use of my money than it would be if I put it into a bank. Since then, our property portfolio has grown and we are about to embark on our seventh property - and this time, we are venturing into the HMO market. (Don't worry, in no time at all you too can learn the three-letter-acronym lingo that goes with the territory. The property territory that is. This one means House of Multiple Occupation)*.

I began to think that maybe my experience (albeit small) might be able to help others, so here is my bricks and mortar guide to buying property for investment purposes. Compared to many other landlords, ours is still a modest portfolio (I've always wanted to sound like a prospective art student and have a portfolio). But it is growing, and like many other b-t-l (buy-to-let) landlords we intend to grow our investments by purchasing more properties in the near future.

So hopefully you can learn from our experience and mistakes, and also gain confidence to enter what seems to be a daunting yet exciting world. Once you have your first property deal under your belt you'll soon be wondering when your finances are ready for the next ...and the next ... and the next. And before long you'll be conversant with the world of yields and profits without sounding like you're an agricultural speculator.

* A property that you let (or plan to let) to at least three tenants who form more than one household and who share (or will share) toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities. Usually, these need a licence from your local authority.