Honest Property Investment with Natasha Collins

GET ACCESS TO CROSSING OVER TO COMMERCIAL BY CLICKING HERE If you’re not here for Pregnancy content, you can skip this weeks newsletter/pod.But let me tell you it’s been my most requested podcast and so here it is, warts and all. Currently I’m on Maternity leave. Team NCRE have me covered and are still running the ship because I have the best team of Surveyors and  Property experts so service was never going to slip. But I may have got ahead of myself. I originally recorded this pod on the 28th Jan, thinking that I had a planned C Section a few weeks later so was feeling pretty together after just handing everything over to my interim MD and then planning for a 2 week crossover period… well I ended up having a real living baby in my arms 4.5 hours after I finished recording.  One of my good friends and mentors once said to me ‘there’s a reason pregnancy is 9 months… its so you can get everything ready and in your case that means your business too!’ And so I had two choices, stop NCRE during maternity and pick up any pieces after (because I just didn’t have the capacity to keep it running) or spend time putting in place the right team and make it better than its ever been… knowing full well that it would be hard (and it was, I have never been so unwell in my life). But the decisions I’ve made over the last 8 months have allowed me to have some sort of Mat Leave (yes I know whats going on in my business I haven’t disappeared completely, we have targets and deadlines!) which means I get to be Mum to Harry and Get to know him AND I’m not trying to give my best advice whilst my new Mum brain is swirling around because no one wants that (and seriously my team are just as good if not better!) With that, I’ll leave you to listen to this Pod!  Natasha

Have you started my free mini-course Crossing Over to Commercial?  It’s prompting a lot of questions, which I’m more than happy to answer… here’s a biggie: ‘You say only search in one location, but I can’t find any BMV deals there, so can I expand my search?’ No 👏 no 👏 no Mainly because… BMV (below market value)  just isn’t a thing in commercial property (I don’t believe it is in resi, but we just don’t have time to go through that right now). Commercial properties are priced based on risk and its investment value… as well as what the seller wants to sell for. SPOILER ALERT a commercial property that can immediately be increased in value isn’t going to jump out and punch you in the face whilst you’re scrolling RightMove. You have to delve deeper into the deal than that. To increase the value of a commercial property, you either have to decrease the risk of the deal by making sure the rent is secured and will be coming in for a long period of time OR you have to increase the rent. Therefore, you have to analyse a deal and see where you can do that. It can take hours… when we do that for clients it can take days to get a deal right and to see where the value add comes from. It’s not about expanding your location, it’s about looking at every single deal that is going on in that area and exploring the possibilities. Yes it takes time, but yes that’s where you find your deal! In todays podcast I’m going to go through exactly how to do this, find a commercial property that you can add value to.

I’m going to start by celebrating the fact that after 3 valuations I finally got a valuation for my remortgage that is what I wanted it to be… the RIGHT VALUE! I had to get to that figure mainly because I had my second charge mortgage relying on it and quite frankly, anything less and I was going to be out of pocket, which I’m not doing. To keep you in suspense, I’ll give you the names of the lenders and valuers in my pod ;) All I can say is, if you know the Comps state your property should be higher, keep pushing for it! Next Topic… Asset Management 101. When was the last time you ACTUALLY looked at the stats for your property portfolio? I mean really and truly compared them to see what’s working and what’s not. As an Asset Manager that’s the very first thing I do, I look at the figures, as they don’t lie. They give a true picture of how the portfolio is performing. From there I can make changes. If you want details on how to use it and what to measure, you are going to need to follow along with this weeks podcast. I challenge you to get this done! Let me know is there anything that surprised you about your portfolio? Will you be making changes as a result? Also don’t forget you can still pick up my Crossing Over to Commercial mini-course just CLICK HERE

You can sign up to Crossing Over to Commercial HERE First things first, I need to get a public announcement out there to ask… please, commercial agents, stop with the Catfishing! I just can’t… What do I mean?! Pricing property deals way too low so that you get eyeballs or bids and then being shocked when I call up and give you an offer at the market price and you saying ‘No that’s way too low!’. Errm yass… so why bother listing at that price… grrrr! The problem being that I have to look into it because I couldn’t possibly tell my clients I overlooked it, in case it’s actually correct and I’ve found myself a unicorn. **Rant over** Second point I want to cover today is ITZA’s. I’m noticing a lot of commercial property investors ignoring this because they just don’t understand. NOTE: You cannot ignore this if you want to be successful here!! This is about valuing retail rents! I'll explain in the podcast...

It may sound obvious that you MUST be good at decision making in order to be a property investor… But it truly shocks me the number of investors who say to me ‘is this a good deal, would you buy it?’ Because that’s not the question you should be asking. That’s asking me to judge a deal based on decisions I’d make for my own portfolio… that’s not your portfolio and your goals. I know for a fact that clients of mine and friends definitely wouldn’t buy the same things that I buy and that’s brilliant because I’m not led by what they do. Instead the question you should be asking is: ‘I've found this deal, my goals are X, Y and Z, does it hit those goals?’ But before asking that, you have to make an important decision. What is it you’d actually like to achieve?! Yield / Purchase Price… any other stat you’re measuring by. That way, when it comes to purchasing property the next decisions become easier: Choosing the right location Identifying if a deal really works for you, or deciding to let it go Knowing what finance option works best Want to a dig a little deeper into how to think about these decisions and a step by step guide into how to buy your next commercial property; Listen to this weeks podcast. And now I have something even more special for you a freebie unlike any other freebie before it… Crossing Over To Commercial, my mini-course on everything you need to know before delving into the world fo commercial property. It will take you 60 mins to complete, but once you have, you’ll be more clued up as to how to make these decisions!!

Now it's time to focus and I want you to listen closely because there are some tripping hazards in 2022, that if you don’t concentrate on, will slow your property investment success this year. The biggest tripping hazard… F👏I👏N👏A👏N👏C👏E (Finance) Firstly, if you need an affirmation, use ‘There will always be finance for my property’... I firmly believe that. However, it’s taking longer than ever to find a product that suits that you’re aiming for. This is across the board for both residential and commercial. The reason being is that lenders want to do due diligence, but also don’t want to get sucked into the hype bubble from last year, where there was a lot of overpaying for properties. So, you are going to have to stay resilient when it comes to finding finance. You are going to get a lot of NOs and you are going to come across a lot of products where you think WT eff is this?! Ultimately you will get the finance you need but it could take 3-6 months (or sometimes longer). The investors that will succeed this year will build relationships with lenders and be able to present why a deal works to a lender so that they can get the best rates and loan to value. Those who will fall flat in the mud, won’t prepare and won’t spend the valuable time needed to get this right. I delve into this in more detail on my Podcast and share some things I’ve learnt recently in regards to refinancing property (Oh and some super exciting news!)

This weeks podcast is a Mail Bag episode, I answer your questions, including what keeps me up at night and: What is your advice for first time buyers and do you have any tips for doing your APC? How to source and finance mixed use property? Have you come across any property investment scams? Why would an agent pass to you without putting it on this market and getting the best price for their vendor? Why don’t you negotiate on your fees? How would you buy a property in America if you are living in the UK? How do you buy a property in the UK if you are nowhere near it? This is the last in this series BUT don’t fear I’ll be back in a few weeks time with Series Three AND I’d love your input what would you like to hear more of FILL THIS FORM IN HERE If you need to reach out to LIONHEART you can do so HERE.

Part 1 - I talk through why it's important that you have a strategy AND give you some homework! Part 2 - Take a break with LionHeart  Part 3 - #ditlos is Dr Samantha Organ  Part 4 - Planning for retirement through property investment with Felicia Flinders  Come follow me on Instagram @honestpropertyinvestment P.S This episode is for guidance purposes only and does not constitute professional advice!

This is a Jam Packed Show (P.S There is some swearing in here so be warned if you don't like the F-word)! 1. I start off by talking about Mental Health Awareness Week and how perfectionism can ruin property investors 2. Break with LionHeart --> http://lionheart.org.uk/ 3. #ditlos is James Greenway, Director of Estates, Facilities and Business Services at Highways England 4. Finally my good friend Danielle Bell joins me to talk about How to avoid disasters in Commercial Property & Residential Property Investment PLUS the forecast for what to look out for post-pandemic Please come and follow this pod on IG @honestpropertyinvestment

After a few weeks of downtime to recreate the podcast, it’s back AND rebranded. I present to you… Honest Property Investment with Natasha Collins, for investors who aren’t taking shortcuts. (If you’re already subscribed to the NC Podcast, this will automatically update!) So here’s how I’m going to run this, each week I’ll start with a 10 minute catch up on the things I’ve been working on, industry trends I’m seeing and things to watch out for. This season I’ve partnered with LionHeart, who will get the break (I’m one of their mental health ambassadors, I take no £’s for this… just go use them if you need them PLEASE!!). Next up is a new feature, A day in the life of a Surveyor or #DITLOS, where colleagues and friends of mine leave me a voice note explaining who they are and what they do and why it’s so important to the property industry. Buckle up, Pasq a Project Management Surveyor is up first! Finally, you’ll get an interview with an industry expert or advice from yours truly… I listened to what topics you wanted this season so watch this space, I’ve got most of them covered. This week I have to tell you about why it’s so important to start picking up the phone more! Yes we can listen to the naysayers about the market being problematic right now and yes it’s trickier than pre-covid times, but seriously where there is a will there’s a way. I’ll tell you about how I use off the record conversations and why they should be a staple of your communication. It’s a good one!! Last request, go follow @honestpropertyinvestment on IG. That’s the community for this podcast. It’s where you can leave feedback or requests for future topics PLUS ask questions for my mailbag episodes. Woop! I’m so excited about this Natasha P.S If you don’t use IG you can always email natasha@ncrealestate.co.uk with your suggestions!

I see a lot of commercial landlords assume that if a unit isn’t letting, the rent must be wrong.In this episode, I talk through why that instinct can be misleading — and how reacting too quickly can actually attract the wrong tenant and create longer-term problems.I cover:how I interpret Rightmove stats and what high view numbers really tell mewhy poor enquiry quality is often a positioning issue, not a pricing onewhen dropping the rent or offering incentives can backfirewhat I look at before I touch the headline rentwhy proactively targeting the right occupiers often works better than waiting for enquiries to come inThis episode is for commercial landlords who want to reduce voids without compromising on tenant quality or making decisions they later regret.You can book a call to speak to us here: https://ncrealestate.co.uk/bookacall

In this episode, I tackle one of the most common (and most frustrating) sticking points I see when investors assess commercial property deals:“Is the uplift enough to get all, or most, of my money out?”It’s an understandable question — but when it becomes the only question you ask, it will stop you buying almost anything.Using the same commercial property deal, I walk through what that question looks like over 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, and show how dramatically the pressure, risk, and probability of success changes hookup change depending on the timeframe you’re forcing onto the deal.Nothing about the property changes. Only the expectations do.Why focusing solely on “getting all your money out” is a mental handbrakeHow compressed timeframes make good deals look bad on paperThe real cost of trying to force a one-year refinanceWhat changes (and what doesn’t) when you give a deal 3 yearsWhy a 5-year timeframe is often the most stress-free and realistic optionHow lenders, valuers, leases and rent events behave over timeWhy time is the cheapest form of risk reduction in commercial propertyHow to assess deals without forcing certainty too earlyCommercial property isn’t about forcing a deal to perform quickly.It’s about giving it enough time to do what it naturally does.If every deal you analyse almost works but never quite stacks up — the problem is rarely the deal.It’s the timeframe you’re forcing onto it.You can book a call with us here: https://ncrealestate.co.uk/bookacall/

In last week’s episode with Gerard, we talked about how smaller commercial property deals can quietly outperform expectations — and it got me thinking about where people actually start.So I did what most investors do.I went on Rightmove.In this episode, I walk through four real, entry-level commercial properties I found and explain how I’d genuinely think about them as an investor — not to pitch deals, but to show you the decision-making process behind them.These aren’t perfect assets. That’s the point.Why entry-level commercial property is often the best place to learnHow I assess risk beyond just headline yieldWhy freehold matters more at lower price pointsHow lease events can be learning opportunities, not problemsThe difference between passive income and operational optionalityA small freehold retail unit in Minehead, producing £4,700 pa — and why I’d consider it purely as a lease-renewal practice assetA high-yield dental lab in Wolverhampton — and why yield alone never tells the full storyA piece of land in Avonmouth, where I explore parking income versus container storage and what actually governs those decisionsA retail unit in Devizes, letting for £600–£650 pcm — and why deals like this are often overlooked by investors crossing over from residentialYour first commercial property doesn’t need to be exciting.It needs to teach you how to own the next one properly.This episode is about building confidence, understanding leases, and learning how to spot opportunity — not chasing the biggest yield on paper.If you’re looking at a commercial property (or thinking about buying your first one) and want a second pair of experienced eyes on it, you can book a call with me and the NC Real Estate team.We’ll talk through:whether the deal stacks upwhere the real risks sitand how it fits into a longer-term commercial property strategy👉 Book a call here: https://ncrealestate.co.uk/bookacall

In this episode, I’m joined by Gerard Davis, a qualified commercial solicitor and Business Development Manager at Talbots Law, to break down a real commercial property deal involving lock-up garages — and why this type of asset can be a smart, low-barrier entry point into commercial property.We talk through Gerard’s purchase of 12 lock-up garages for £51,000, how he identified that the asset was significantly under-rented, and why the value in the deal came from fixing the income, not development. By using commercial agents to increase rents and re-let units properly, the income was stabilised and later supported a RICS valuation of £140,000.We also discuss how Gerard structured the deal long term by selling the asset into his SSAS pension, allowing rental income to be received tax free within the pension — and why getting the legal and professional advice right is critical when using this type of strategy.This episode is particularly useful if you’re:Investing in residential and considering moving into commercialCurious about under-rented assets and income-led value creationExploring lock-ups as a first commercial investmentInterested in pension-led property strategies such as SSASTalbots Law: https://www.talbotslaw.co.uk/site/people/gerard-davis/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerard-davis-solicitor-a1a923155/🔗 Connect with Gerard

This week I discuss the pending legislation that will make upwards only rent reviews illegal, how that will impact your commercial property and what to do about it.I also discuss open market rent reviews and why they aren't actually cost effective for landlords to have in their leases and again what you can do about it.

Happy New Year! The podcast is back. Today I start by discussing what I'm focusing on in my commercial property portfolio, why I still hate Air BnB.The main topic of the week is about what I mean when I talk about risk and yields and what yields I'm expecting to see from each commercial property type in 2026.My question for you: What commercial property yield are you targeting this year?

This year, I’ve seen a lot of investors buying good commercial and mixed-use buildings... but quietly leaving value on the table. Not because the buildings are wrong, but because of how they’re assessed and how they’re held.In this episode, I break down two strategies I’ve personally used this year to increase commercial property value without development:• Buying mixed-use property without pulling value into the residential unit • Structuring ownership correctly by splitting assets between a SSAS and a Ltd companyThese are not beginner tactics, but when applied correctly, they can materially change value, financeability and exit options.What You’ll Learn• Why over-valuing the residential element in mixed-use property often destroys deal quality • How commercial valuers and lenders actually assess mixed-use buildings • Why residential units should often be treated as upside, not justification • How ownership structure can influence value, risk and long-term strategy • When splitting a building between a SSAS and a Ltd company makes sense • The biggest mistakes investors make when attempting these strategies without adviceReady to Go Deeper?Book a call with the NC Real Estate team.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the exact reasons why some commercial property deals stack up beautifully… and why others fall apart the moment you start doing the maths.Most investors think a deal stacks up because “the yield looks good” — but that’s only one tiny part of the picture. A solid deal is built on verified income, realistic costs, a sensible purchase price, and a plan that actually works in real life, not just on paper.I’ll walk you through:What “stacking up” truly means in commercial propertyThe 5 factors that make a deal workThe common pitfalls that cause even promising deals to unravelA simple checklist you can use on your next opportunityIf you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “This looks great… but something feels off,” this episode will help you understand exactly what to dig into before making an offer.Why verified income is your starting pointHow service charges, insurance and capex change the true pictureWhat a sensible purchase price actually looks likeHow to decide whether a deal offers upside or stabilityThe red flags that should make you walk awayA 5-point checklist to test whether a deal genuinely stacks upBook a call with my team to go through your next deal: https://ncrealestate.co.uk/bookacallTake the What Commercial Property Should You Buy Next? quiz: https://nextcommercialproperty.scoreapp.com/Explore NC Real Estate services: https://ncrealestate.co.uk/

In this episode, Steve Wallis and I sit down to unpack what the latest UK Budget really means for commercial property investors. There’s been so much noise, speculation and confusion over the past week, so we’re cutting through the chaos and focusing purely on what impacts you if you own, manage or plan to buy commercial property.We break down the new tax rules on property income coming in from 2027, including the introduction of separate tax bands for rental profits and what this means if you hold property in your personal name versus through an SPV. We also discuss the increases to dividend tax, how this affects anyone extracting profits from a company, and why overall this Budget pushes investors even further towards using corporate structures.Together, we cover the changes to salary sacrifice pension contributions, the government’s tougher stance on HMRC enforcement, and the move towards more automatic and regular tax payments for Self Assessment — all of which will influence cashflow planning and portfolio management.By the end of the episode, you’ll understand exactly what’s changing, how it affects your current investments, and where the opportunities now sit. If you want to talk through how this applies to your personal strategy, you can book a call with my team at https://ncrealestate.co.uk/bookacall

In today’s episode, I’m stripping away the legal jargon and giving you clear, simple explanations of the commercial lease terms that matter most. Whether you’re reviewing your first lease or your fiftieth, understanding this language is essential — because the lease is the value of your commercial property.I walk you through the key terms you’ll see in every lease, why they matter, and how they impact risk, cashflow and negotiations. By the end, you’ll be able to pick up a lease and instantly make sense of 80% of it.What Heads of Terms really areWhat “the demise” means — and why it’s crucialService charges, in plain EnglishRepairing obligations (FRI, IRI + Schedule of Condition)Break clauses — and the conditions that catch people outRent reviews: open market, index-linked, caps + collarsAlienation and why you do want control over who occupies your propertyUser clauses and planning + valuation implicationsSecurity of Tenure under the 1954 Act — and whether your tenant has renewal rightsIf you’ve ever felt like leases were deliberately written to confuse you, this episode will change that.LINKS: More information about the 1954 Act your full guide is here:https://ncrealestate.co.uk/1954-act/Find out your next best investment move:https://nextcommercialproperty.scoreapp.com/If you want to understand what a property is really worth:https://ncrealestate.co.uk/investment-calculator/Your no-nonsense guide to commercial property:https://ncrealestate.co.uk/bookIf you need help reviewing a lease, analysing a deal or setting your strategy:https://ncrealestate.co.uk/bookacall