To start a thread to discuss Samuel Leeds, the property investor?

[AmateurInvestor]

I've been watching his YouTube videos for a few years now and read a couple of his books.

The advice he shares about property investing seems to be pretty credible, despite him also being considered somewhat controversial.

He has lots of students who go on to have quite big successes in the property investment arena, these don't appear to be paid actors or anything.

Just wondered if anybody else follows this guy and what your thoughts are on him and the advice he shares?

Anybody been on any of his crash courses?

If someone has a YouTube channel on investing, it means they aren't making enough money from investing and need to make it from advertising instead.

Property is not a great investment and not suitable for most people. Anyone who claims it is easy is lying.

Without even knowing anything about him, I would assume he is yet another grifter on Youtube who actually makes his money by selling overpriced courses to vulnerable people, not actually running a property business.

Googled for less than 10 seconds and found I was correct:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/sep/09/property-investor-samuel-leeds-accused-of-shutting-down-criticism-over-10000-courses

He is a multi-millionaire and seems to have made his millions from property, not YouTube/crash courses.
He says the reason behind his YouTube channel is to educate as many people as possible about how to generate passive income via property because he’s passionate about it and wants to help others succeed.

For a multi-millionaire, I don’t think the advertising income made from YouTube is that much?

Why do you say property is not a great investment? I agree it is not easy. Interested in hearing different views so thanks for replying.

Well, why don’t you send him £10,000 and then let us all know how that goes.

There was a BBC investigation into him. Which is available on youtube:

Thanks for sharing the video, I just watched it. The video shows a darker side of things and perhaps some extreme cases. But what about all of the hundreds of success stories of students he also seems to have?
Nobody is forced to do anything or borrow/spend money that they don't choose to, but if you are in a financial hole and are prone to debt and borrowing I can see how that can happen to somebody.

I am looking for balanced views good and bad so thanks for replying.

I've never attended a crash course so can't comment on that.
His videos give good logical advice. But I'm not sure what extra help by paying for the courses.

He is extremely litigious so I wonder how long this thread will stay up.

Also would be sceptical about him being a multi millionaire. That's not what his company accounts suggest....

Hi Sam 😄

I have worked with some of these 'property influencer' types and trust me when I say they are shysters who are using your money to prop up their income streams.

Not a very subtle advert, OP. I think your marketing people need to try harder.

I don't know who he is but if he makes money from buying property and renting it out at ridiculous prices then no I wouldn't be interested in doing that.

OP, is this a badly disguised advert for him? Because that’s how this is coming across.

I didn’t pay £10K for my MSc, there is no way I would spend that on a scammy course from an “investment guru”.

I've only seen a couple of his videos but he's a scammer.

I am a landlord, there's a reason why so many are selling up. There's an interesting piece about the LTV you would need to make any money here https://www.newstatesman.com/business/2023/10/uk-housing-crash-just-beginning

If you want to know about investing then get a copy of "how to own the world" by Andrew Craig. Listen to "the meaningful money personal finance podcast".

For those speculating, no this isn't an ad, just wondering what other people's thoughts and experiences are as I'm in 2 minds about attending a crash course.

One of my kids friends went to a property guru meeting. Not sure who it was but he was giving advice on property investment. I watched some of one of the sessions online out of interest and, while I can't comment on a lot of it I know that he was talking absolutely bollux whenever he mentioned tax.

Joe lycett did an investigation into him and was of the opinion he was a scammer.

If you would consider spending £13,000 on an investment guru, which is probably at least two years net profits on the average rental, you don’t have the business sense to be an investor.

On the positive side, I have an aloe vera juice business that you can buy into. You just have to pay me a ludicrous amount for “stock”, and promise to post daily “Boss Babe” memes on Instagram.

Why don’t you look at the property hub instead - the two Robs write for the Sunday times and don’t charge for their knowledge.

property is still a good investment and will always be as over time it’s growth exceeds inflation - depending on the asset class. I work in the sector and the largest investors and funds in the world all invest in RE.

but there are lots of disclaimers to that and pitfalls. I wouldn’t spend £13000 on a course until you learn the basics.

You're not in two minds at all.

Every time another poster points out the obvious and backs it up with a link or other evidence, you refute and defend - to the point where others are speculating you're somehow connected.

So just go and do it. That way you'll spare us the tales of Sam's benevolence.

Go and google Vanessa Warwick

This. 10K? Bugger that.

Plus most property investment is horribly unethical and making the world a much shitter place, creating misery, money laundering, homelessness and division.

Even if I could, I wouldn't. Would you take a course in arms dealing or running sweatshops?

How much is it?

The hardest part of making money from property investing is having the capital to get started.

The rest of it is common sense.

If you need a paid course to be able to do this, it's not for you.

The guy is a grifter, same as the rest of them.

Property investment, common sense? It involves, solicitors, surveyors, mortgage brokers, accountants, have to follow very particular tax laws, many legalities involved in being a landlord. It's hardly as simple as 'common sense'.