The dream of making money through property investment doesn’t need to remain a dream, although those that begin on this path do need a certain amount of knowledge and industry expertise if they are to avoid the pitfalls that threaten the new property investor.

In 2014, government statistics revealed that there were 1.6 million buy-to-let investors in the UK, an increase of 13% upon the preceding year. This indicates that once again, now is the right time to start making money through property investment.

Potential investors can start making money by signing up for Glenn Armstrong’s property course and these free seminars are for both investors with no experience or existing property investors looking to maximise their returns.

Property investment guru Glenn Armstrong, began investing in property in 2004 and today has a property portfolio worth over £45 million. His free one day property course has seen over 60 of his mentees become millionaires and his own success has been featured on media channels such as the BBC, Channel 4 and the Daily Telegraph.

The one day property course enlightens enrollees with the strategies that lead to financial success. The key pillars of building a property portfolio are discussed in detail on the course and are preceded here by five areas of consideration:

1. Location

Location is one of the most important factors to consider when looking to start earning money through property investment. It is essential to choose a location that is close to your own locality for practical reasons, but the selecting of the exact micro-location requires thorough consideration.

The locations that offer the quickest, and most dependable, routes to making money typically have a minimum of 20k people within them of working age. This information can be found on the census or researched over multiple locations across the internet.

Areas of special appeal should tailor the location equation further. Properties that are close to transportation hubs have high appeal with those looking for an ideal commute. Families will typically find properties close to schools and supermarkets the most desirable, enabling you to get maximum returns on your investment.

2. Refurbishment

Almost all property investments have at least some element of refurbishment within their schedule and this is one area that creates a return, be that through flipping the property or offering it as a rental upon completion.

The target market should dictate the refurbishment that takes place. Properties that will attract students usually have good catering spaces where socialising can take place. In contrast professionals tend to look for properties with modern decoration while families prefer a blank canvas upon which they can create a home.

3. HMO’s

If a property investment is to generate rental income then it is essential to decide from the outset whether the property will be refurbished for a single-let or a multiple-let, commonly known as an HMO (House in Multiple Occupation).

HMO’s have private bedrooms coupled with shared amenities such as bathrooms, living areas and kitchen. A single-let will usually give a 6-7% yield, whereas as HMO’s usually yield in the region of up to 20%.

This higher overall return additionally benefits from a reduced risk of loss of income. If rental payment isn’t made by one tenant or one of the rooms is vacant, then this constitutes only a smaller part of the overall rental income from the property.

Making money from a HMO requires an understanding of many aspects, making these free seminars invaluable. These aspects include knowledge on HMO licences for properties that have three or more storeys and are occupied by at least five people.

Knowledge of investor tax returns, capital losses that can be offset against non-property income to generate tax rebates and wear and tear allowances that can be claimed as a percentage of of rents claimed, demonstrate the value of the seminars further.

4. Financing

New would-be property investors often find that their working capital can be depleted quickly. Financing may then be desired through a buy to let mortgage or a via a joint venture agreement, which can be sourced via Glenn Armstrong’s services.

Financing considerations should include an awareness of mortgage lender deposits, expected rental returns that need to be offset against mortgage payments and interest rate changes. Financial returns can also be secured through Rental Guarantee Insurance and an understanding of the pros and cons of these should be weighed up.

5. Negotiating

Negotiating skills form part of the property investors profit-making arsenal and can be directed at handling estate agents and gaining preferential purchase prices through not being part of a chain.

If you are looking to start making money through property investment then sign up for the next Glenn Armstrong property course