He Lost £30,000 at 22... Then Owned 13 Properties by 26 with Adam Newlands

Описание: In this episode of the Scottish Property Podcast, we’re joined by Adam Newlands, a 26-year-old accountant who rebuilt his finances and went on to build a 13-property portfolio after losing £30,000 in his early 20s.

Adam shares a brutally honest account of how chasing “rent-to-rent” opportunities in England — influenced by online algorithms and high-profile property education — led to financial losses, compliance issues and hard lessons. But instead of quitting, he regrouped, refocused on Aberdeen, and built a sustainable business through deal sourcing and disciplined investing.

This is a powerful conversation about resilience, accountability and why local knowledge always beats hype.

🔑 Key Episode Highlights

Early Career & Background
-Grew up in a small coastal village near Cullen.
-Chose accountancy over the traditional offshore career path.
-Completed a modern apprenticeship with a large chartered accountancy firm in Elgin and became fully qualified.

The £30,000 Loss
-Entered rent-to-rent service accommodation in Southern England.
-Expected £200 nightly rates — actual averages closer to £90.
-Faced compliance challenges including an illegal HMO investigation.
-Lost roughly £30,000 of personal savings by age 22.
-Learned the dangers of relying purely on remote education and projected figures.

The Strategic Pivot
-Sought local, live education and mentoring in Aberdeen.
-Focused on deal sourcing to generate upfront cashflow.
-Prioritised credible deals first, clients second.

Building Momentum in Aberdeen
-Identified opportunity in the volume of flats available on the open market.
-First successful sourced deal: Jasmine Terrace, Aberdeen (£1,500 fee).
-Built investor relationships through consistent delivery.

Portfolio Growth
-Reinvested profits strategically.
-Built a 13-property portfolio by age 26.
-Turned early failure into long-term motivation and discipline.