Four years ago, Everton Valley wasn’t exactly investor heaven. Boarded-up terraces. Low rental demand. A postcode people avoided unless they supported the Toffees. But I spotted something others missed. The £500 million Everton Stadium project was more than just bricks and football. It was the spark for a wave of regeneration. Pair that with £1.5 billion of infrastructure investment into Liverpool Waters, and suddenly the “rough” side of town started to look like a smart long play. Fast forward to now: • House prices in L4 have jumped 18%+ since the stadium was announced • Rental yields are hitting 8–9% in streets that were once tough to fill • The area’s reputation is changing—and fast I didn’t get lucky. I followed a simple framework I still use today when analysing any new investment area. It’s called D.E.A.L.S. — here’s how it works: D – Demand Is there a genuine need for housing? Look at void periods, tenant turnover, and listing-to-let ratios. E – Employment Are there local job hubs, major employers or planned business parks? No jobs = no tenants. A – Affordability & ROI Do the numbers work for your strategy? What’s the rental yield, capital growth history, and price entry point? L – Local Insight Speak to letting agents, developers, trades. They know what’s flying—and what’s failing. What regeneration is planned? How much is being invested? What impact will this have on the area? S – Strategy Fit HMOs, flips, SA—whatever your model, make sure the area supports it. Don’t try to force a round peg into a square postcode. Or “Polish a turd” as I like to call it 💩 Where are your upcoming hotspots?

Posted by Paul Stapleton at 2025-04-14 06:26:19 UTC