Find out how a stressed-out teacher ditched her job to grow her property empire
Have you always wanted to find a dilapidated house, do it up as the perfect home and rent it out, but haven't got the funds to get going?
Karen Marshallsay left behind a job that made her unhappy and now has a fantastic property profile thanks in part to both her determination and being armed with the tools she learned from Touchstone Education’s Wealth Through Property course and the Serviced Accommodation Bootcamp package.
Thanks to its Wealth Through Property course, you could learn the foundation skills and techniques to help you find an investor, begin your property portfolio and then go on to more advanced courses if you wish to just like Karen Marshallsay.
The course is packed with expert insights, strategies, and guidance. You'll also unlock access to investors who are looking to take a chance on someone who's got the ambition and drive to turn a house into a home.
Touchstone Education believes that networking and real-life deal analysis are key to building valuable connections and finding profitable investment opportunities. So, if you do join the course, be sure to take advantage of the in-person opportunities for you to meet and learn from like-minded individuals.
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Read on to find out how Touchstone Education could help you make that happen.
Karen is now a determined property developer
Karen Marshallsay has an impressive property profile“Before property investment, I was a teacher," she said. "Despite being part-time on paper (and in wages) the reality was that it was full-time to keep up with the never-ending workload. Because so much of my family time was taken up with all the planning and marking, I was starting to resent my job which was not fair on the students.
“The idea of giving up the security of a salary was daunting, but something had to give, and I wasn’t going to give up my precious time with my children while they were still young.”
“We have always liked the idea of property and had a buy-to-let property we had taken on a few years before with no real idea or education. After discovering Paul Smith on Facebook we opted to join him for Touchstone Education's two-day Wealth Through Property investment course. It is not normal for us to sign up for things straight away (let alone things that cost a significant amount) but having been so inspired and convinced from that weekend we knew we could change our lives through property. We went on to invest in Touchstone Education's full-year package that very weekend.
Inside one of the properties Karen has renovated“From there, we committed our time to learning about all the strategies included in the Serviced Accommodation Bootcamp package online training and quickly realised we needed to focus on one to actually move forward. Our plan was to perfect one strategy before moving on to diversifying with others. We initially decided on BRR (buy, refurbish, refinance) combined with Rent to Buy as we loved the idea of combining business with helping others too.
“Our first project was a two-bed terraced property in Stoke-on-Trent (where we are based). We did a full renovation, including adding a third bedroom, which took around eight weeks to complete. By advertising it as a Rent to Buy, we had it filled before the refurb was complete. This meant the tenant was ready to move in as soon as it was finished. It also created a waiting list of tenants who wanted Rent to Buy properties so that we could almost purchase to order. By using BRR, we added equity to our portfolio straight away and it has already gone up in value significantly since we bought it which is great.
“Our latest project was a bungalow flip. This was our first flip and our first fully investor-funded project, which we did as a joint venture with another couple we met through the Touchstone community. We managed to turn round a £55K refurbishment in seven weeks and made just under £60K profit – a fantastic result for us. We managed to pay back our investors early, another big win.
Karen initially decided to buy, refurbish and refinance combined with rent to buy“We did have challenges as the weather delayed the warm deck roof on the existing extension but my husband is amazing at project management, so he was able to adjust plans to account for this and we all mucked in to get it done quickly.”
What does life look like for Karen now?
“Our portfolio currently has a GDV (Gross Development Value) of around £1.5m. We are on target to complete 15 refurbs in our first three years, and we also run our own Project Management business – Gold Star Property Group – alongside our own portfolio. We are now focusing on increasing our monthly income which we are fortunate to be able to do through helping others as a result of our refurb successes and being approached for guidance. We are also adapting our BRR strategy to HMO and commercial conversions.
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“Our goal was always the long game to build a legacy for our children and build equity, which we are proud to be making happen.
“My life has changed massively. It wasn’t about making big money for us (although of course that is welcome) but my stress levels from teaching are gone and I never miss anything that the boys do from football matches to school assemblies.”
“The boys play a lot of sport and without the flexibility property investment has given us, I would not be able to take them everywhere they need to go so they would end up missing out.”
Karen and Barry MarshallsayWhat would Karen say to somebody considering studying with Touchstone Education?
“If you are determined to succeed in property you need the right education to get you there. Touchstone Education has allowed us to push forward in our journey in the right way and with the support and guidance of their mentors both in mindset and strategies, their encouragement has been fundamental in our success.”
What’s next for Karen and Barry Marshallsay?
"On the horizon, for us, are bigger projects, which we now feel ready for. We currently have some off-market commercial properties we are working on whilst also pushing forward with HMOs and other joint venture opportunities which have all come about as a result of being part of the Touchstone network."
What to expect from the two-day Wealth Through Property course
- Expert Insights on property strategies: The seasoned speakers will delve deep into proven property investment tactics, sharing their wealth of knowledge and experience to empower you with strategies.
- Step-by-step guidance for creating a portfolio: Learn the precise steps and methodologies to build a property portfolio that has the potential to yield returns.
- Comprehensive structures for long-term success: Discover the intricacies of structuring your property investments for sustained growth and stability. The course covers everything from asset allocation to risk management, ensuring your portfolio stands the test of time.
- Maximising tax efficiency for optimal returns: Gain invaluable insights on legally minimising your tax liabilities while maximising your property investment returns. You will provide actionable strategies to optimise your tax position.
Final Considerations
It's always wise to consult independent financial advisors to determine if property investment aligns with your financial goals. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and results are not guaranteed.
To find out more and register your interest click here or read more success stories here.
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