3 Simple Steps to Buy Your First Investment Property

Buying your first property can feel overwhelming — but it doesn’t have to be. Like any big goal, the key is to break it into manageable steps. Here’s how to do just that.

Step 1: Get Clear on Your Strategy Before you look at a single property, you need to define your investing strategy. Ask yourself: Are you looking for cash flow (monthly income) or capital growth (long-term asset appreciation)?

If your goal is to escape the 9-5 sooner, you’ll want strategies focused on cash flow like:

• Buy-to-let (BTL) for consistent rental income

• House of Multiple Occupation (HMO) for higher per-property yields

• Rent-to-rent serviced accommodation for strong returns without buying

  
  

If your goal is long-term wealth and stability, you might explore:

• BRR (Buy, Refurbish, Refinance) for recycling your deposit

• Capital growth areas with strong future appreciation

  
  

Knowing your goal clarifies everything else — location, property type, financing.

Step 2: Understand Your Finances You can’t play the game if you don’t know your hand. Speak to a mortgage broker early. They’ll help you:

• Understand how much you can borrow

• Get pre-approval for mortgages

• Explore creative funding options (bridging, private finance, etc.)

  
  

You’ll also want to calculate:

• How much deposit you can raise

• What your monthly expenses and risk tolerance are

  
  

If you don’t have enough saved, start looking into joint ventures, angel investors, or rent-to-rent as an entry strategy.

Step 3: Start Viewing Properties & Making Offers This is where most people stall. They learn, read, analyze — but never act. The first deal is the hardest, but it teaches you everything. Start:

• Calling agents and booking viewings

• Analysing deals using ROI calculators

• Practicing negotiation and submitting offers

  
  

Even if your first 10 offers are rejected, you’re building momentum. You’ll learn what works, what doesn’t, and how to adapt.

Takeaway: Property investing doesn’t require perfection — it requires progress. Start small. Take one step at a time. Learn as you go. Inaction is more expensive than a beginner mistake.

A modern home available for exclusive property deals.

Need more help getting started? Join my email list or drop me a DM on @the9to5founder. Let’s get your first deal done together.