The Progressive Property Podcast

Become a part of the Progressive Property refer-a-friend scheme and Earn up to £250 when someone attends one of our events – you can enrol here: https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/

The spring statement looked quiet on the surface - but for property investors and business owners, the undercurrents and general direction the economy is headed in is anything but calm. They are still dealing with higher taxes, rising national insurance, a minimum wage hike, and some parties’ hostile stance toward landlords. Inflation, rising unemployment, and overheads all increase the chances of future tax grabs being needed. 

Mark also unpacks the impact of Middle East turmoil on energy prices, interest rates, and the government’s looming need for “more money” in the autumn and what would happen if The Greens got into power.

If you want to take the next step and put what you have learned from this podcast into action, you only need to click here - https://www.wealthbuilders.co.uk/progressive-podcast

KEY TAKEAWAYS


At first glance it appears that the spring statement did not have a lot in it - very few changes were announced. But the damage is already done, the tax, NI and inheritance tax changes already put in place are really biting.


For entrepreneurs, the UK has become a hostile place and nothing in the Spring statement improves that situation.


The Middle East conflict is likely to push inflation and interest rates higher.


Rising support for the Green Party has the potential to directly impact landlords and property investors. For example, at their last conference they voted to end Buy-To-Let Mortgages and several other changes that would make things much harder for property entrepreneurs.

BEST MOMENTS 

"Some of their voters might like it, but it's not actually helping." 

“Generally, make entrepreneurs feel like an unwanted species, a la 1940 … this is why the country is not growing.”

“They have a stated aim of banning buy-to-let mortgages and getting rid of landlords.”

“There will be absolute chaos in the streets if they get anywhere near government.”

“It looks like the government's going to have less money, so they're probably going to come for more money from you and I and anybody else who's paying tax in this country.”

EPISODE RESOURCES

YouGov voting intention poll - https://yougov.com/en-gb/trackers/voting-intention

Green Party Conference Private Rental Vote - https://www.greencoordinate.co.uk/motions/abolish-landlords/

VALUABLE RESOURCES

MSOPI – Multiple Streams of Income:

https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk

https://kevinmcdonnell.co.uk

ABOUT THE HOST

Sean Fitzpatrick is a property investor, educator, and the Face of Progressive Property. With a 6-figure portfolio and expertise in creative strategies, finance, and off-market deals, Sean shares success stories from the Progressive Property community, expert insights, and real-world strategies to help investors succeed. Tune in for practical tips and no-nonsense advice to accelerate your property journey.

ABOUT THE HOST

Kevin McDonnell is a Speaker, Author, Mentor & Professional Property Investor. He is an expert when it comes to creative property investment strategies. His book No Money Down: Property Invest talks about how to control and cash flow other people’s property to create financial freedom.  

CONTACT METHOD

https://www.facebook.com/kevinMcDonnellProperty

https://kevinmcdonnell.co.uk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progressiveproperty

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0g1KuusONVStjY_XjdXy6g

Twitter: https://twitter.com/progperty

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/progressiveproperty

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressiveproperty

Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/progressivepropertycommunity

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Progperty

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Become a part of the Progressive Property refer-a-friend scheme and Earn up to £250 when someone attends one of our events – you can enrol here: https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/

If you are hungry, ambitious and want the smoothest start possible in your property journey, then this is for you. One mistake in property can set you back years.

As someone who has built a successful portfolio, replaced his income and has coached 1000s of new property professionals, this is my list of the top five mistakes new starters make when starting in property.

If you want to take the next step and put what you have learned from this podcast into action, you only need to click here - https://www.wealthbuilders.co.uk/progressive-podcast

KEY TAKEAWAYS


Counterintuitively low-ball offers kill great deals. Exactly why that is and what you should be doing instead is explained in full.


The best investors buy on numbers and due diligence, not emotion – ugly but profitable beats pretty and pointless, every time.


Education isn’t optional: learning from experienced mentors lets you sidestep years of costly trial and error.


Your environment is destiny; if the people you surround yourself with have no ambition, they’ll drag you back down when you try to grow.


Sustained action turns a painfully slow start into a business that almost runs on its own.

BEST MOMENTS 

“You will only get paid in proportion to the value that you provide. If you can provide more value by helping that person with their problem, then you're going to get a really good deal.”

“Numbers are rational. Feelings are emotional, so you need to buy based on numbers and due diligence and not how you feel about the property.”

“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.”

“You become your environment.”

“Knowledge, accompanied with appropriate consistent action leads to success.”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

MSOPI – Multiple Streams of Income:

https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk

https://kevinmcdonnell.co.uk

ABOUT THE HOST

Sean Fitzpatrick is a property investor, educator, and the Face of Progressive Property. With a 6-figure portfolio and expertise in creative strategies, finance, and off-market deals, Sean shares success stories from the Progressive Property community, expert insights, and real-world strategies to help investors succeed. Tune in for practical tips and no-nonsense advice to accelerate your property journey.

ABOUT THE HOST

Kevin McDonnell is a Speaker, Author, Mentor & Professional Property Investor. He is an expert when it comes to creative property investment strategies. His book No Money Down: Property Invest talks about how to control and cash flow other people’s property to create financial freedom.  

CONTACT METHOD

https://www.facebook.com/kevinMcDonnellProperty

https://kevinmcdonnell.co.uk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progressiveproperty

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0g1KuusONVStjY_XjdXy6g

Twitter: https://twitter.com/progperty

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/progressiveproperty

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressiveproperty

Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/progressivepropertycommunity

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Progperty

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Become a part of the Progressive Property refer-a-friend scheme and Earn up to £250 when someone attends one of our events – you can enrol here: https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/

For property businesses, 2026 is a noisy year – shiny regeneration schemes, hot new coins, “next big thing” strategies are everywhere, so deciding which direction to go in, is very difficult. Today, Mark cuts through that noise by answering the question he gets asked most: If he had to start again from scratch today, what would he actually do?  

He breaks down why he’d still buy simple single lets, move quickly into higher‑end HMOs and blocks, avoid the fads, and use development, debt, and daily habits to build a safer, scalable, more profitable portfolio that survives all kinds of regulation, tax, and market cycles.

If you want to take the next step and put what you have learned from this podcast into action, you only need to click here - https://www.wealthbuilders.co.uk/progressive-podcast

KEY TAKEAWAYS


Blend what you already know, what you’re good at and what you enjoy - but make sure every strategy and deal is ruthlessly profitable.  


Ignore the shiny penny stuff. Buy unloved assets in real demand areas, force the value through refurb, conversions, and better operations, then hold them.  


Leverage the efficiency of owning and running larger assets e.g. a block of flats, HMOs, or co-living spaces.


Carry on learning, networking, and improving efficiency.


Spread your income across different assets, areas, and deal types, so when tax, regulation, or the market changes negatively for one sector, the rest of your portfolio keeps you afloat. 


Build your track record first with smaller wins you can document, then use that evidence to raise JV and private capital on better terms.  


Take on sensible debt to build up good assets, let inflation erode that debt, but don´t borrow so much that a downturn can wipe you out. 


Take full advantage of the impact of compounding interest.

BEST MOMENTS 

"Lots of people say, Oh, you just need to follow your passion and follow your dreams. Well, I don't think it's quite that simple." 

"Ignore all of the shiny Penny regeneration programmes in property." 

"Over the long run, it means that you can't fail, and you'll get richer and richer." 

"Too many people think that wealth building is all about finding that one thing that will make you rich. The reality is that it is about developing yourself and developing 1000 daily habits."  

VALUABLE RESOURCES

MSOPI – Multiple Streams of Income:

https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk

https://kevinmcdonnell.co.uk

ABOUT THE HOST

Sean Fitzpatrick is a property investor, educator, and the Face of Progressive Property. With a 6-figure portfolio and expertise in creative strategies, finance, and off-market deals, Sean shares success stories from the Progressive Property community, expert insights, and real-world strategies to help investors succeed. Tune in for practical tips and no-nonsense advice to accelerate your property journey.

ABOUT THE HOST

Kevin McDonnell is a Speaker, Author, Mentor & Professional Property Investor. He is an expert when it comes to creative property investment strategies. His book No Money Down: Property Invest talks about how to control and cash flow other people’s property to create financial freedom.  

CONTACT METHOD

https://www.facebook.com/kevinMcDonnellProperty

https://kevinmcdonnell.co.uk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progressiveproperty

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0g1KuusONVStjY_XjdXy6g

Twitter: https://twitter.com/progperty

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/progressiveproperty

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressiveproperty

Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/progressivepropertycommunity

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Progperty

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Today Sean visits Kensington, the wealthiest borough in the UK, where million‑pound homes are standard and property prices sit at around ten times the national average. On the streets of West London, he stops everyday people who already live in the area to ask a simple but pressing question: how does anyone get onto the UK property ladder now?

You might be surprised by some of the answers he got.

Become a part of the Progressive Property refer-a-friend scheme and Earn up to £250 when someone attends one of our events – you can enrol here: https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/

If you want to take the next step and put what you have learned from this podcast into action, you only need to click here - https://www.wealthbuilders.co.uk/progressive-podcast

KEY TAKEAWAYS


Without the “Bank of Mum and Dad,” the ladder has basically been pulled up for many young people.


In London, a 5–10% deposit might as well be a million – normal wages can’t keep up. In Kensington, properties are often in the millions, which means you’re looking at deposits of at least £100,000. 


Foreign money and bad policy have turned homes into assets first, shelter second – especially in high‑priced places like London.


As a generational investment, property still wins long term - but the game is now stacked against most people. Yet, with the right knowledge, strategies, and a pragmatic approach, some are still finding a way through and becoming owners. 


Until we fix tax, planning, and incentives, we’re raising a generation of permanent renters.

BEST MOMENTS

“If only it was just about working harder. It's about having the right knowledge and strategies to be able to go from a standing start to building long term wealth that will benefit generations to come.”

"It is difficult, but I saved for 20 years before I actually bought somewhere,  you just got to do it." 

"It literally has taken me to have my own company in order to get that deposit together." 

"We have condemned generations of children not to be property owners or to be slaves to a system." 

VALUABLE RESOURCES

MSOPI – Multiple Streams of Income:

https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk

https://kevinmcdonnell.co.uk

ABOUT THE HOST

Sean Fitzpatrick is a property investor, educator, and the Face of Progressive Property. With a 6-figure portfolio and expertise in creative strategies, finance, and off-market deals, Sean shares success stories from the Progressive Property community, expert insights, and real-world strategies to help investors succeed. Tune in for practical tips and no-nonsense advice to accelerate your property journey.

ABOUT THE HOST

Kevin McDonnell is a Speaker, Author, Mentor & Professional Property Investor. He is an expert when it comes to creative property investment strategies. His book No Money Down: Property Invest talks about how to control and cash flow other people’s property to create financial freedom. 

CONTACT METHOD

https://www.facebook.com/kevinMcDonnellProperty

https://kevinmcdonnell.co.uk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progressiveproperty

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0g1KuusONVStjY_XjdXy6g

Twitter: https://twitter.com/progperty

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/progressiveproperty

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressiveproperty

Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/progressivepropertycommunity

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Progperty

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Become a part of the Progressive Property refer-a-friend scheme and Earn up to £250 when someone attends one of our events – you can enrol here: https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/raf/

2026 has kicked off with fear, headlines, and a very soft market – but also some of the best buying conditions Mark has seen in years. In this episode, he breaks down what’s really happening across the UK property market: London’s slow‑motion crash, why the Midlands and North are holding firm, and how the Renters’ Rights Act and higher taxes are quietly reshaping the game for landlords. 

He reveals where the real value is right now for investors, developers, and landlords, how to use falling interest rates and rising incomes to your advantage, and why this “weak” market is exactly when serious investors should be buying, not selling. 

If you want to take the next step and put what you have learned from this podcast into action, you only need to click here - https://www.wealthbuilders.co.uk/progressive-podcast

KEY TAKEAWAYS


The UK market is fragmented. Prime central London has been in a slow‑motion correction, with falls of 30%+ over 10 years. While the Midlands and North still stack up on yield and even trade below rebuild cost. 


Focus your buying on high‑yield, real‑demand areas first, and be highly selective if you buy in the softened prime areas of London.


The Renters’ Rights Act and extra regulation will push out smaller landlords, tighten supply, and keep rents rising. Hoover up the stock smaller landlords are dumping that stacks up compliance-wise.


Don’t panic, and sell solid, high‑yield assets - use this weak market to add to your portfolio over the long-term. 


Interest rates are easing, incomes are up, and affordability is set to gradually improve. Lock in good deals now, let inflation quietly reduce your debt, and ride the capital growth when confidence returns. 

BEST MOMENTS 

"You should be holding and using the weak market to increase your portfolio. That's what we're doing.”

"I think there's still genuine, below market value stuff to buy, for flipping and for landlords to refurb. So, I think it's a great time to buy." 

"Inflation erodes. Inflation actually destroys and reduces your mortgage."

"You can't really reliably predict when capital growth is going to come. You just know it will do over the long run."

“You'll be able to buy lots of rental properties from landlords exiting.”

VALUABLE RESOURCES

MSOPI – Multiple Streams of Income:

https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk

https://kevinmcdonnell.co.uk

ABOUT THE HOST

Sean Fitzpatrick is a property investor, educator, and the Face of Progressive Property. With a 6-figure portfolio and expertise in creative strategies, finance, and off-market deals, Sean shares success stories from the Progressive Property community, expert insights, and real-world strategies to help investors succeed. Tune in for practical tips and no-nonsense advice to accelerate your property journey.

ABOUT THE HOST

Kevin McDonnell is a Speaker, Author, Mentor & Professional Property Investor. He is an expert when it comes to creative property investment strategies. His book No Money Down: Property Invest talks about how to control and cash flow other people’s property to create financial freedom. 

CONTACT METHOD

https://www.facebook.com/kevinMcDonnellProperty

https://kevinmcdonnell.co.uk

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@progressiveproperty

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0g1KuusONVStjY_XjdXy6g

Twitter: https://twitter.com/progperty

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/progressiveproperty

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/progressiveproperty

Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/progressivepropertycommunity

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Progperty

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/