The Scottish Property Podcast

In this episode, hosts Stephen Clark and Nick Ponty are joined by Ricardo Giovanacci from Rosevale Lettings to discuss the latest news and events in the Scottish property market. They delve into the current challenges and opportunities, including rising rents, housing shortages, and government policies.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. UK Inflation and Mortgage Rates
   • UK inflation rate has dropped to 2.3%, approaching the Bank of England's target of 2%.
   • The Bank of England's base rate remains steady at 5.25%.
   • Potential for mortgage rate cuts in the near future, contingent on economic and political developments.
2. Scottish Government's Housing Emergency
   • The Scottish Government has declared a housing emergency due to escalating rents and housing shortages.
   • Measures to address the crisis include building more affordable homes and managing rental market pressures.
3. Rental Market Trends
   • Rising rents and housing shortages are major issues.
   • Increased demand for rental properties, with many tenants struggling to find suitable accommodation.
   • Landlords are facing challenges due to new regulations and rent controls.
4. Investment Opportunities and Challenges
   • Property investors need to adapt to evolving market conditions and regulations.
   • Long-term investments in property remain viable despite current challenges.
   • Portfolio landlords are adjusting strategies, such as reducing loan-to-value ratios to manage risk.
5. Build-to-Rent Developments
   • Large-scale build-to-rent projects are part of the solution to the housing crisis.
   • Political and legislative changes are influencing investment decisions in this sector.
   • Some developers are hesitant to invest in Scotland due to rent controls and regulatory uncertainty.
6. General Election and Political Landscape
   • The upcoming general election could significantly impact the property market.
   • Political parties' policies on housing and taxation will be closely watched by investors and stakeholders.
7. Short-Term Letting Regulations
   • New regulations on short-term lets are causing disruptions, especially in Edinburgh.
   • A black market for short-term lets is emerging due to stringent licensing requirements.
   • The impact on tourism and local economies is a growing concern.

Visit Rosevale Lettings and follow them in Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

🔗⁠ Subscribe and watch episodes on our YouTube channel⁠

**DISCLAIMER**Please do your own due diligence on any of our guests you may decide to do business with. We interview in good faith. However, we cannot be held responsible for any credibility issues that may arise.

🤝 Visit one of our monthly networking meet-ups. We run them on the 1st Wednesday of each month and have some fantastic guest speakers.🎟 ⁠ Book your place at the networking events here⁠

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hope you find content useful and we would really appreciate it if you could leave a review on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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In this episode, Nick and Steven are joined by property investor and construction professional Mark Downie, who shares his incredible journey from working on mega-projects in Saudi Arabia to building a property portfolio back home in Scotland.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale, this episode offers a raw and honest look at what it really takes to build a portfolio while working abroad.

Episode Highlights

🏗️ Mark’s Journey: Construction & Property Investing

• From civil engineering in Scotland to managing billion-dollar infrastructure projects in Saudi Arabia
• How he transformed an 8-bed Victorian villa in Falkirk as his first big project

🏠 Portfolio Building: Buy-to-Let & Flips

• Scaling to 11 properties in under a year with deals in Aberdeen and Falkirk
• Using credit cards and investor finance to fund deposits and renovations
• His first successful flip and how off-market deals helped him get started

📉 Lessons from a Failed Serviced Accommodation

• The painful £18k loss on a Bathgate SA due to planning rejection
• Why it’s critical to have multiple exit strategies and check licensing rules early
• The differences between SA rules in Aberdeen vs West Lothian

💷 Financing & Lender Challenges

• Tips for expats navigating UK mortgages while living abroad
• How Mark structures deals for better tax efficiency and cash flow
• Refinancing wins and losses — and dealing with down valuations

🌍 Saudi Arabia Mega Projects & Life Abroad

• Inside the $500 billion NEOM “Line” project and what it’s like building in the desert
• Why working abroad offers tax advantages—but comes with family sacrifices
• Mark’s plan to return home, scale to 30-50 properties, and support other investors with project management services

Mark’s story is a powerful example of resilience, risk-taking, and real-world property investing. Whether you’re working offshore, considering SA, or looking for ways to scale, this episode is packed with practical lessons and cautionary tales. Get the full picture on building wealth through property while navigating the challenges of today’s market.

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Prime Property Auctions – Sell your property with no upfront costs and control the reserve price.

Prime Property Auction: www.instagram.com/primepropertyauctions/

John: www.instagram.com/john_property_auctioneer/

Luis: www.instagram.com/luis_property_auctioneer/Visit Prime Property Auction website: https://primepropertyauctions.co.uk/

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Follow us on all of our social media accounts: https://linktr.ee/scottishpropertypodcast

**DISCLAIMER**Please do your own due diligence on any of our guests you may decide to do business with. We interview in good faith. However, we cannot be held responsible for any credibility issues that may arise.

🤝 Visit one of our monthly networking meet-ups. We run them on the 1st Wednesday of each month and have some fantastic guest speakers.🎟 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book your place at the networking events here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hope you find content useful and we would really appreciate it if you could leave a review on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

Connect with us on social media:🔗 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our private Facebook group ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔗 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📩 Email us:

[email protected]

[email protected]

In this episode, we are sitting down with Gemma Russel, the new co-host from Aberdeen, and covers various topics, including personal backgrounds, career transitions, and property investments. Gemma shares her unique journey and insights, offering inspiration and practical advice for listeners interested in property and personal development.

Key Points:

Introduction of Gemma:

• Gemma joins the podcast as a new co-host.
• She discusses her background and previous reluctance to travel to Glasgow due to personal reasons.

Gemma's Career Journey:

• Started with various jobs, including working in windows, at her dad's bookies, and offshore as a stewardess and radio operator.
• Transitioned to recruitment and later found success in network marketing with Forever Living, earning significant income.
• Emphasizes the importance of personal development, citing influences like "The Secret."

Challenges and Learning:

• Gemma shares her experience of managing multiple jobs and the struggle of balancing work with being a single mother.
• Talks about the financial ups and downs and the importance of understanding business fundamentals, not just sales.

Personal Impact:

• Discusses the impact of her mother's suicide on her life and the importance of mental health awareness.
• Highlights her passion for helping others through her work as a clinical hypnotherapist.

Property Investments:

• Transitioned into property investment, starting with a mentorship program and purchasing properties in Carrick and a five-bed house in Fochabers.
• Shares experiences and lessons learned from property renovations and the challenges of managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Successfully flipped properties, highlighting a significant profit from a three-bed house in Carrick.

Service Accommodation:

• Discusses the profitability of her Airbnb in Fochabers, catering to groups, families, and events.
• Explains the licensing process and the challenges of managing service accommodations.

Future Goals:

• Plans to scale up the service accommodation business and continue investing in properties.
• Emphasizes the desire to achieve financial freedom and give back to the community.

Follow Gemma on Instagram!

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Prime Property Auction: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/primepropertyauctions⁠⁠

John: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/john_property_auctioneer⁠⁠

Luis: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/luis_property_auctioneer⁠⁠

Visit Prime Property Auction website: ⁠⁠https://primepropertyauctions.co.uk/⁠⁠

🔗⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe and watch episodes on our YouTube channel⁠⁠⁠⁠

**DISCLAIMER**Please do your own due diligence on any of our guests you may decide to do business with. We interview in good faith. However, we cannot be held responsible for any credibility issues that may arise.

🤝 Visit one of our monthly networking meet-ups. We run them on the 1st Wednesday of each month and have some fantastic guest speakers.🎟 ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Book your place at the networking events here⁠⁠⁠⁠

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hope you find content useful and we would really appreciate it if you could leave a review on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

Connect with us on social media:🔗 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join our private Facebook group ⁠⁠⁠⁠

🔗 ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow us on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠

📩 Email us:

[email protected]

[email protected]