Property investors, due diligence, ethical property development, protecting overseas investors, lessons from real deals. One bad property deal can wipe out years of hard work. And what I heard recently at the Global PIN meeting was a reminder of just how easily it can happen when the wrong people sit on your power team. A big thank you to Andy Haynes for hosting another fantastic Global PIN meeting where it was great to see so many familiar faces again from the wider PIN, MWM and Property Entrepreneurs community, because one of the most valuable things about these gatherings is not just the networking but the honesty of the lessons being shared. Leon’s presentation was one that stayed with many of us in the room, as he openly walked through a deal that could easily have cost him a significant loss, and yet the situation was eventually rescued because another PIN member stepped in and helped him find a financially viable way forward, which is exactly how a genuine community of investors should work. Unfortunately, I see the darker side of this industry far too often, particularly where overseas investors are concerned, because there are still far too many sharks circling in the property space, presenting deals that barely stack up, developments that cannot refinance without pushing the investor into negative equity, or projects where the taxation implications have been so poorly handled that the investor later faces penalties from HMRC. What concerns me even more is when the very professionals who are supposed to protect the investor are the ones working against them, because I have personally heard the sorry stories where the contractor, the structural engineer, and other members of the so-called “power team” were quietly working together behind the scenes, leaving the investor completely exposed without even realising what was happening until it was too late. The evening then shifted into a different but equally powerful reflection when Phil Bygrave spoke about the “bear of distractions” and the difference between struggling with purpose versus struggling without purpose, which struck a deep chord with many of us in the room. All of us carry struggles in different areas of life, whether it is career decisions, finances, family pressures, parenting, health, or the constant challenge of trying to build something meaningful while balancing everything else that life throws at us, but when that struggle is connected to a purpose it somehow gives you the strength to keep going for another day. Struggle with purpose builds resilience. Struggle without purpose slowly destroys people. And once you start recognising that difference in yourself and in others around you, you also begin to understand why mental health awareness and meaningful work matter so much, because purpose gives direction to the hardship we inevitably face. For me, that purpose is very clear. It is why we continue to focus on ethical and sustainable property development that transforms tired and neglected buildings into modern homes and workplaces, because quality housing and environments have a real impact on people’s health and wellbeing, and because solving housing supply and appropriate step-down accommodation is also part of addressing the billions currently spent by the NHS on patients who are medically fit to leave hospital but cannot yet return home safely. Brick by brick, both in property and in healthcare systems, we try to build solutions rather than simply talking about problems. If this resonates with you, I would genuinely value your perspective, so please share your thoughts in the comments as these conversations help more investors see both the risks and the responsibilities within our industry. And if you are interested in how we approach property development with long-term purpose and responsible investment principles, feel free to connect or send me a direct message for a conversation

Posted by Per & Lily at 2026-03-05 10:22:12 UTC