What is Trump Thinking? Why New Tariffs May Lead to Recession

In the first episode of the Property Ladder, Mark gives the 5 top reasons hotspots based on regeneration are nonsense. He shares why buying in regeneration areas could be a mistake and talks about what you should be focusing on as a property investor instead.   KEY TAKEAWAYS   You never know when regeneration is actually going to happen, even after it’s been announced. Regeneration doesn’t always increase demand. Once regeneration has been announced, it is very quickly baked into the price, so any capital growth that might be there has most likely already gone by the time you get to market Regeneration is a very easy sell to investors but it is forward priced and the developer and vendor are taking the capital gains from you. People focus on regeneration areas as they think it will go up in the medium to long term, but what they should be focusing on instead is those properties that are easy to rent and high yielding. There’s a lot of developing of houses and flats in regeneration areas because developers know they can sell a lot to naïve investors.   BEST MOMENTS   "You can’t be sure when regeneration happens what happens to capital growth” “If you buy new build property, you need to be very alive to the forward pricing concept in regeneration areas” “All you need to do is focus on the fundamentals, the boring stuff” "There's  often too much supply"   VALUABLE RESOURCES  https://www.youtube.com/user/progressiveproperty https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/the-progressive-co-founders/   ABOUT THE HOST Mark has bought, sold or has managed around 1,000 property units for himself, Rob, his family and his investors since 2003. He is a system and spreadsheet geek and has developed a complex, confidential deal analyser system of buying residential, commercial and multi-let properties.   CONTACT METHOD Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhomer1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markprogressive Twitter: https://twitter.com/markprogressive‘Brought to you by Progressive Media’: https://progressivemedia.uk/

Mark gives his thoughts on Trump’s recent tariffs including why it’s both a confusing and a poor choice for the U.S. He shares the economic problems with what Trump has announced and predicts what will happen next.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Trump has announced tariffs on China and over 70 other allies, which makes little economic sense. The U.S are consumers rather than savers which is the core problem with these tariff announcements.  The tariffs may reduce imports but they are also likely to reduce economic growth.   BEST MOMENTS "The markets have been up and down like a whores drawers”  “The U.S does have a big current account deficit”  “There is a 60% chance of a U.S recession after this”   VALUABLE RESOURCES  https://www.youtube.com/user/progressiveproperty https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/the-progressive-co-founders/   ABOUT THE HOST Mark has bought, sold or has managed around 1,000 property units for himself, Rob, his family and his investors since 2003. He is a system and spreadsheet geek and has developed a complex, confidential deal analyser system of buying residential, commercial and multi-let properties.   CONTACT METHOD Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhomer1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markprogressive Twitter: https://twitter.com/markprogressive‘Brought to you by Progressive Media’: https://progressivemedia.uk/

Mark gives his analysis of the UK's dire economic situation following the spring statement. Mark talks about the current national debt and reveals why we're caught in a dangerous doom loop of increased spending, higher taxes, and reduced growth. He dissects the chancellor's recent announcements, calling most of it "just noise" while highlighting the critical issues that politicians aren’t properly addressing.   KEY TAKEAWAYS   The UK's debt crisis has reached critical levels at approximately 100% of GDP (£2.65 trillion), with interest payments alone now costing taxpayers £105 billion annually which is nearly 10% of all government spending. Government spending is £1.27 trillion yearly (roughly 50% of all money generated in the economy), with welfare representing the largest portion at £313 billion, yet the chancellor's proposed cuts amount to less than 2% of this budget. The UK is caught in a doom loop where increased taxes to fund growing expenditure only reduces economic growth and productivity, ultimately generating less tax revenue and worsening the debt situation. The government is using inflation as a strategy to reduce the real value of the national debt, effectively devaluing the pound in everyone's pocket by approximately 3% annually. Public confidence in economic management is abysmal, with only 16% of voters believing the government is handling the economy well and just 11% viewing the chancellor's performance positively. Housing may be the one bright spot, with the OBR forecasting construction will reach a 40-year high of 305,000 homes annually by the end of the forecast period, approaching the government's promise of 1.5 million new homes.   BEST MOMENTS "Currently we're riding at about 100% of GDP, so the UK owes £2.65 trillion, or 96% to be precise, of the amount of money that flows around this economy every year, which is a huge amount of money."   "What they should have done was fix the roof when the sun was shining. But instead what they've done, they've increased welfare spending, they've increased spending on the NHS, which seems incredibly wasteful."   "We're in a doom loop. And it needs somebody to come along and take some very difficult decisions to fix that."   "It's going to take somebody, a Margaret Thatcher style character, I think, to come along and really get government spending in check because I just don't think Labor are going to do it."       VALUABLE RESOURCES  https://www.youtube.com/user/progressiveproperty https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/the-progressive-co-founders/   ABOUT THE HOST Mark has bought, sold or has managed around 1,000 property units for himself, Rob, his family and his investors since 2003. He is a system and spreadsheet geek and has developed a complex, confidential deal analyser system of buying residential, commercial and multi-let properties.   CONTACT METHOD Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhomer1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markprogressive Twitter: https://twitter.com/markprogressive‘Brought to you by Progressive Media’: https://progressivemedia.uk/

This is a revisit of a previous episode. Join Mark as he talks about how to build the power team you need for your business. Mark also talks about how to keep your team motivated and why it’s essential for the success of your business to work with a team. KEY TAKEAWAYS Working with property is a team sport, you can’t do everything yourself. Find the people who know more than you and work with them. Due diligence is essential in finding the right people for the jobs you need. There are a lot of specialists when working with property, especially if you are working in renovating or conversions. You want an expert with experience, someone who has verifiable skills in the exact job you want doing. Progressive Property Approved, is a list of approved specialists that have proven experience with progressive so you can feel confident you have the right person for the job. Mentorship is essential for building you and your power team, allowing you to continue to learn from those who have been where you are. BEST MOMENTS  "I’m a bit of a conductor, trying to find the right person for each job that I need doing”  “You cannot know even a tiny percentage of what goes on in the property market” “I've kissed so many frogs, picked so called experts, picked the wrong ones for the wrong jobs" VALUABLE RESOURCES  https://www.youtube.com/user/progressiveproperty https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/the-progressive-co-founders/ ABOUT THE HOST Mark has bought, sold or has managed around 1,000 property units for himself, Rob, his family and his investors since 2003. He is a system and spreadsheet geek and has developed a complex, confidential deal analyser system of buying residential, commercial and multi-let properties. CONTACT METHOD Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhomer1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markprogressive Twitter: https://twitter.com/markprogressive‘Brought to you by Progressive Media’: https://progressivemedia.uk/

Mark and Jonathan Collins continue their conversation into the intricacies of UK infrastructure, planning systems, and local government challenges. They discuss the complexities of planning permission, energy and local council operations. Collins shares expertise from his experience in local government and his current role as a planning consultant, making this episode essential listening for developers, property investors, and anyone interested in UK infrastructure development and local politics.   KEY TAKEAWAYS The planning system is too complex, projects that should be simple often get bogged down with unnecessary requirements and delays. Most council money goes to social care, leaving little for other important services like planning and development. Extra rules and taxes on landlords have led to fewer rental properties and higher rents for tenants. The UK's energy pricing makes no sense, we pay the highest possible price even when cheaper energy is available. Getting planning permission takes too long because councils don't have enough staff and the process is overly complicated. Infrastructure projects in the UK often cost far more than in other countries because we try to make everything perfect rather than practical. Local politics has become less cooperative over time, making it harder to get things done that everyone actually agrees need doing.   BEST MOMENTS   "The whole thing is bonkers and if the market means anything, surely it should mean that me as an electricity purchaser can go to a solar person and say, I'll have your electricity." "When you sit down and you talk to people, most people will agree what the challenges are and some of the ways forward by way of solutions." "Infrastructure projects suffer because they're over-engineered and gold-plated, which means they run out of money before completion.” "Local democracy is great, but we've all voted in a national election and if the government is saying it's infrastructure and growth, sorry guys, but we're going to have to constrain your local ability to say no." "The nature of our politics has got worse... there's an inability to actually listen and to debate and to understand and to compromise."   VALUABLE RESOURCES  https://www.youtube.com/user/progressiveproperty https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/the-progressive-co-founders/   ABOUT THE HOST Mark has bought, sold or has managed around 1,000 property units for himself, Rob, his family and his investors since 2003. He is a system and spreadsheet geek and has developed a complex, confidential deal analyser system of buying residential, commercial and multi-let properties.   CONTACT METHOD Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhomer1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markprogressive Twitter: https://twitter.com/markprogressive‘Brought to you by Progressive Media’: https://progressivemedia.uk/

Mark talks to Jonathan Collins, friend and former leader of Nottingham City Council for 16 years. They discuss in depth Labour's recent budget decisions, infrastructure challenges, and the complexities of political promises. While coming from different sides of the political spectrum, their frank discussion explores local government, infrastructure investment, and the realities of political decision making. The debate around HS2, regional development, and political accountability makes this a must listen for anyone interested in UK politics and economic policy.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Good infrastructure (railways, roads, broadband) is essential for local economic growth - when these basics are missing, even successful businesses struggle to expand. Politicians avoid being honest about taxes before elections, creating a cycle of unrealistic promises and voter disappointment. There aren't enough young people being born causing a social care and tax crisis. Government projects often cost much more than necessary because officials are too focused on avoiding any possible criticism rather than being practical. The constant stopping and starting of major projects like HS2 wastes enormous amounts of money as contractors have to keep reorganising their work. Many areas of the UK are held back not by lack of business opportunity, but by poor transport connections and outdated infrastructure. Union influence on Labour Party decisions is less direct than many people think. Professional experts often over-engineer infrastructure projects due to fear of future criticism, leading to gold-plated solutions rather than practical ones. Local councils face challenges in basic service delivery (like waste collection) due to the complex relationship between unions, management, and practical realities.   BEST MOMENTS   "Part of the challenge with politics is that it often descends into personalities... But ultimately, this is all about how we run the country and it's about policy."  "The country isn't working anymore. It isn't functioning and so the conversation is, so are we happy with that? Are we happy to continue doing that?" "There aren't enough young people being born. You're not enough working age people to pay for the old people. We've got social care issues." "If you concentrate on infrastructure and housing, you will get growth. Infrastructure and housing will deliver you growth."  "Why does it cost four times as much to do HS2 per mile than it does to do the TGV?"  "Each time they get all of their payments, as soon as the government decides to stop again, it's massively disruptive and costly. Stop starting. I mean, it's completely bonkers."   VALUABLE RESOURCES  https://www.youtube.com/user/progressiveproperty https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/the-progressive-co-founders/   ABOUT THE HOST Mark has bought, sold or has managed around 1,000 property units for himself, Rob, his family and his investors since 2003. He is a system and spreadsheet geek and has developed a complex, confidential deal analyser system of buying residential, commercial and multi-let properties.   CONTACT METHOD Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhomer1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markprogressive Twitter: https://twitter.com/markprogressive‘Brought to you by Progressive Media’: https://progressivemedia.uk/

Mark outlines his predictions for the housing market in 2025. He talks about what he thinks will happen to rental prices, interest rates and the impact of the US Election as he gives his 6 Property predictions for 2025.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Rent will continue to rise in 2025 due to stamp duty increases, EPC ratings and the repeal of section 21, meaning less buy to let landlords will be buying property, increasing demand. Economic growth is still going to be slow in 2025, interest rates are likely to continue to drop. Mark predicts that build-to-rent is a sector that is going to grow in 2025 Donald Trump being elected is going to have a significant impact on the world economy including the UK, particularly if we get a good trade deal directly with the U.S If Elon Musk is able to save the US government as much as predicted, what he does will become a model for the rest of the world Permitted development conversion caps have been removed, Mark predicts there will be more conversions of office and retail spaces into domestic accommodation in 2025   BEST MOMENTS   "I’m targeting between 5-10% of growth in build to rent” “If Elon Musk gets into the US government, there’s talk of him saving $2 Trillion a year in their budget”  “You can convert lots more retail buildings now”   VALUABLE RESOURCES  https://www.youtube.com/user/progressiveproperty https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/the-progressive-co-founders/   ABOUT THE HOST Mark has bought, sold or has managed around 1,000 property units for himself, Rob, his family and his investors since 2003. He is a system and spreadsheet geek and has developed a complex, confidential deal analyser system of buying residential, commercial and multi-let properties.   CONTACT METHOD Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhomer1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markprogressive Twitter: https://twitter.com/markprogressive‘Brought to you by Progressive Media’: https://progressivemedia.uk/

Mark hosts an informal session answering attendees' questions on property investing and business. Topics covered include managing tenant arrears, using AI systems, recovering securing finance, choosing property strategies and leveraging technology to remove reliance on people. Mark provides his famous direct, no-nonsense advice, drawing on his extensive experience. The session offers valuable insights for property investors and business owners alike. KEY TAKEAWAYS Pursue former tenants with county court judgments using options like winding-up petitions to pressure payment, despite the costs involved. Expect Bank of England base rates to remain around 4-4.5% through 2025 before dropping, according to trading market predictions. Resolve cladding issues for financiers by providing EWS1 reports showing remediation works address combustible materials. Get multiple assessments when handling property contamination like asbestos to determine actual risks and remediation needs. Institute gradual rent increases for retained tenants to keep pace with market rates and offset rising mortgage costs. Leverage technologies like AI wherever possible to remove reliance on staff and minimise people management headaches. Seek out self-motivated employees requiring minimal oversight to avoid poor performance issues plaguing growth. BEST MOMENTS  "I issued a winding up petition on a care company...it probably cost four or five grand, but it's existential for them." "I check our rents once a month...I look back and a block we finished two years ago...Those rents are now going up 40%."  "When you attack landlords...then rents have to go up to a level where it works again. That's the adjustment that's taking place." "I'm looking forward to that because apparently this can remove quite a bit of admin. I would put as much technology in as possible."   VALUABLE RESOURCES  https://www.youtube.com/user/progressiveproperty https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/the-progressive-co-founders/ ABOUT THE HOST Mark has bought, sold or has managed around 1,000 property units for himself, Rob, his family and his investors since 2003. He is a system and spreadsheet geek and has developed a complex, confidential deal analyser system of buying residential, commercial and multi-let properties. CONTACT METHOD Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhomer1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markprogressive Twitter: https://twitter.com/markprogressive‘Brought to you by Progressive Media’: https://progressivemedia.uk/

Mark talks through budget and tax rumours and gives a breakdown of current government spending. He shares why he thinks the decisions and choices will be made and also gives the real numbers and statistics around government spending.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Around $340 billion, equivalent to almost 30% of this year’s budget is spent on social protection which covers things like, housing benefit, income support and pensions. Personal social services have increased to £43 billion Only 60% of the country is paying in, 40% of people in the UK are economically inactive Labour are claiming a £20 billion black hole which they are using to justify tax increases. The conservatives would have had to either reduce spending or put up taxes if they had remained in power. Covid cost the UK £400-£500 billion. Labour have been leaking information around which taxes may increase to help soften the blow to the public. There are rumours about capital gains tax increasing to 45% for high earners, but this could discourage investment. We can’t grow the economy if we scare off investors. From 1st January 2025 it's proposed that there will be VAT on school fees.   BEST MOMENTS   "40% of this country is economically inactive” “Rachel Reeves used to be in the treasury, so she’ll know exactly where to look for this information” “I suspect the conservatives would have had to reduce spending or put up taxes up anyway I think whoever got in that was about to happen” “I think the government have been leaking like hell” "I understand the politics of envy are at work here"  "Why would you want to tax excellence"  VALUABLE RESOURCES  https://www.youtube.com/user/progressiveproperty https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/the-progressive-co-founders/ ABOUT THE HOST Mark has bought, sold or has managed around 1,000 property units for himself, Rob, his family and his investors since 2003. He is a system and spreadsheet geek and has developed a complex, confidential deal analyser system of buying residential, commercial and multi-let properties. CONTACT METHOD Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhomer1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markprogressive Twitter: https://twitter.com/markprogressive‘Brought to you by Progressive Media’: https://progressivemedia.uk/

A revisit of Mark talking through property news headlines including why UK rental prices have continued to increase despite government measures. Mark gives his thoughts on proposed rent controls being introduced in Wales, the impact of current rent controls in Scotland and why the UK does not offer value for money in renting properties. He also reveals the many other reasons behind the current rental crisis in the UK. KEY TAKEAWAYS 50k rental properties are needed to meet the demand in the UK Rent controls do not work. In the 60s and 70s, this was proven and it is being proven again. Rent control reduces the rental stock and pushes prices up, it also impacts the country's labour market as people cannot move around easily. People in the UK live in smaller homes than many other countries including France, Germany and Japan. Planning is extremely slow in the UK, this impacts the speed at which properties can be developed. Women in the UK are having fewer children than are needed to sustain the workforce which means immigration is heavily relied on. BEST MOMENTS  "For the 17th consecutive time, the price of renting in the UK has gone up”  “Rent control doesn’t work” “It will reduce the quality and selection”  “Reduce the cost of childcare and get women back to work” “It’s stealing off a section of society and it’s not right” VALUABLE RESOURCES  https://www.youtube.com/user/progressiveproperty https://www.progressiveproperty.co.uk/the-progressive-co-founders/ ABOUT THE HOST Mark has bought, sold or has managed around 1,000 property units for himself, Rob, his family and his investors since 2003. He is a system and spreadsheet geek and has developed a complex, confidential deal analyser system of buying residential, commercial and multi-let properties. CONTACT METHOD Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhomer1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markprogressive Twitter: https://twitter.com/markprogressive‘Brought to you by Progressive Media’: https://progressivemedia.uk/