Robert Best bought his first investment property in 1988, well before the BTL mortgage had even been invented. The property was in Belfast, and was the first of a portfolio that was created in that city between 1988 and 1993. This business was built with a partner who had the local knowledge of where to buy – and, most importantly, where not to buy! – as well as being an excellent builder.
He sold out after the Good Friday Agreement was signed, and moved to France, where he bought a small, derelict hamlet, and developed it with his first wife, who still lives there. His proudest achievement of that period was the renovation of the farmhouse, and the creation of a nature reserve on the land.
Moving back to the UK in 1999, on his way to a divorce, he set about building a third portfolio, this time in mainland UK.
Over the years he’s done buy to let, buy to sell, renovations, reversionaries (before the FSA regulated the market), sale and rent-backs (before the FSA regulated the market) and lease options.
Having reduced the UK portfolio right around the 2008 Crunch, and separating from his second wife, he realised, through his work with Darren Eden, that he loves doing property deals way more than he loves owning property. He then joined Ningaloo Reef Investments in 2009, where he heads up the UK operation, sourcing off-market property assets for hedge funds, private equity firms, property funds and UHNWIs.
He now lives with his partner Paula and her three children on a small country estate in rural Northumberland. He sees his Little Boy, Sam, at least every other weekend.
Robert has written four property books…
Property Auction Secrets – two editions, both under the pen name Damon Leigh
Portfolio Property Secrets – under the pen name Damon Leigh
How to Buy Half-Price Houses – under the pen name Leo Summers (who also used to run The Property Man as a subscription newsletter service) and no longer available.
He’s spoken at numerous seminars and conferences over the years (usually as Damon Leigh) but now prefers to keep a lower profile, spending more time with his extended family, putting together larger property transactions, and enjoying the beauty and wildlife of Northumberland.
He’s also in the process of sourcing a drawdown facility of around £25m for Ningaloo Reef, so the company can start building a property portfolio of its own, probably a mix of commercial and residential.
