By Jamilah Hassan, Founder, JH Property Connect
One of the questions I’m asked most often is, “What actually makes a good investment property?”. People usually expect me to talk about discounts, yields or finding the cheapest house on Rightmove. The truth is, I’ve looked at plenty of properties that looked like bargains on paper, but I wouldn’t have touched them. For me, a good investment is about much more than the purchase price. Over the last few years, working within the property sector and with investors and agents across the North East, I’ve found myself looking at the same five things every single time a property lands on my desk.
The first is simple. Would someone actually want to live there? You can buy the cheapest house on the street, but if tenants don’t want to live in the area, or there isn’t enough demand, it can quickly become an expensive lesson.
The second thing I look at is the local market. What are similar properties actually selling for? Not the asking prices, but the figures buyers are genuinely willing to pay.
Then I look at the works involved. Can value be added? Is it a straightforward cosmetic refurb or something much bigger? More importantly, does the investment still make sense once those costs are taken into account?
The fourth thing is the long-term picture. I always ask myself whether I’d be happy to own this property in five or ten years’ time. The North East has some fantastic areas with strong rental demand and exciting regeneration, but not every opportunity is the right opportunity.
Finally, I think about the investor. Not every client wants the same thing. Some are looking for a straightforward buy-to-let that will quietly generate income for years to come. Others are interested in value-add opportunities such as BRRR (Buy, Refurbish, Rent, Refinance).
The best investment property isn’t always the one with the biggest discount or the highest yield. It’s the one that matches the person buying it.
At JH Property Connect, we work with time-poor business owners and investors who have the capital, but not the time to speak with agents every day, scroll property portals for hours or spend their weekends at viewings. We do all of that for them, looking beyond the headline figures and focusing on the details that really matter. As I always say, property has never just been about bricks and mortar to me. It’s always about people, communities and making good decisions that stand the test of time.
