How I’d Get Started in Property Investing in 2026: A Four Step Guide

Table of Contents

• Why You Should Listen to Simon Zutshi
• Step One: Educate Yourself
• Step Two: Attend Property Networking Events
• Step Three: Develop the Right Property Investor Mindset
• Step Four: Find the Right Property Investment Mentor
• Frequently Asked Questions

If you are wondering how to start investing in property in 2026, you are asking exactly the right question. Getting started in property investing looks very different today than it did 30 years ago. There are more resources, more networking opportunities, and more proven systems available than ever before. But there is also more noise. In this post, Simon Zutshi, who has been investing in property for over 30 years and has helped thousands of people replace their income with property, shares the exact four step process he would follow if he were beginning again today. Whether you are looking to build a property investor mindset, find the right property investment mentor, or simply understand where to start, this guide covers everything you need.

Why You Should Listen to Simon Zutshi on How to Start Investing in Property

Anyone can put a video on YouTube. The problem is you often have no idea how credible or accurate that information is. Many people sharing property advice online have only been investing for a few years. They simply have not been through enough cycles, challenges, or setbacks to give you the full picture.

Simon Zutshi started investing in property in 1995. He left his corporate career at Cadbury’s in 2001 after replacing his income with property in just six years. Since then he has helped thousands of investors across the UK get started in property investing and build long term wealth. He is also the founder of Property Investors Network, the very first property networking organisation in the UK, established in 2003.

Key takeaway: When learning how to start investing in property, always check the source. Make sure you learn from someone with a proven track record and a community of successful students behind them.

Step One: Educate Yourself Before You Begin Investing in Property

The first step in how to start investing in property is education. When Simon began his property journey in 1995, there was no YouTube, no podcasts, and no property networking events. He had to learn everything through trial and error. That process took time, cost money, and involved mistakes that could have been avoided.

Today you have access to an extraordinary amount of free content. The Property Magic Podcast, this blog, and Simon’s YouTube channel are all packed with practical advice for anyone getting started in property investing. Use them.

Read the Right Books

Two books every investor should read before getting started in property investing:

• Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki – introduces the concept of good debt vs bad debt and the importance of owning assets that generate income. Many successful investors say it was the book that first sparked their interest in property.
• Property Magic by Simon Zutshi – where Rich Dad Poor Dad gives you the mindset foundations, Property Magic gives you the specific property strategy and practical steps to begin investing in property in the UK. Together they are the perfect starting point.

Be Careful Where You Get Your Information

As you educate yourself on how to start investing in property, always ask these questions about your source:

• How long have they been investing?
• How many people have they successfully helped?
• Do they have real case studies and proven results?
• Have they personally experienced the problems and pitfalls they are teaching about?

Key takeaway: Getting started in property investing with the wrong information can be costly. Choose your educators wisely.

Step Two: Attend Property Networking Events

The second step in how to start investing in property is to get yourself to property networking events. This was so important to Simon that he founded Property Investors Network in 2003 specifically because he could not find a community like it when he needed one most.

Why Property Networking Events Change Everything

When Simon left Cadbury’s in 2001, he found the experience of investing alone incredibly isolating. His friends were employed. His family did not own investment properties. Nobody around him truly understood what he was trying to build or the challenges he was facing.

Property networking events solve that problem. They give you:

• A community of like minded people who understand what you are doing
• Inspiration from investors who have already replaced income with property
• Direct access to people who have made the mistakes so you do not have to
• The self belief that financial freedom through property is genuinely possible

Meet Motivated Sellers and Joint Venture Partners

Property networking UK events are not just about inspiration. They are deal making environments. More and more landlords are attending these meetings looking to sell their portfolios because of the Renters Rights Act and section 24 landlord tax pressures. These are motivated sellers sitting in the same room as you.

Key takeaway: If you are not going to property networking events, other investors are. And they are getting those deals.

Find Your Local Property Investors Network Meeting

Property Investors Network runs over 40 meetings every month across the UK. There is almost certainly one near you. Find your local Property Investors Network meeting here and book your place.

If you have never attended before, use the voucher code podcast to come along to your very first meeting completely free.

• Turn up early
• Stay late
• Go regularly
• Become a familiar face

The connections you make at property networking events could transform your results.

Step Three: Develop the Right Property Investor Mindset

The third step in getting started in property investing is developing the right property investor mindset. This is one of the most overlooked and underestimated parts of the journey.

Employee Thinking vs Owner Thinking

The difference between an employee and an owner comes down to this:

• Employee: trades time for money, gets paid monthly, builds life around a salary, has a cap on earnings
• Owner: invests time and money upfront, gets paid for years afterwards, builds passive income from property, has unlimited earning potential

That shift in thinking is harder than it sounds. When you are getting started in property investing and weeks or months go by without visible results, your brain tells you it is not working. Many investors give up just before they would have seen results.

Key takeaway: The right mindset for property investing means staying patient, trusting the process, and persisting even when progress feels slow.

Your Environment Shapes Your Mindset

Henry Ford said it best. Whether you believe you can or believe you cannot, you are absolutely right. Your property investor mindset is directly shaped by the people you spend time with.

• Talk to friends and colleagues about replacing your income with property and most will think you are crazy
• Talk to people at property networking events who have already achieved passive income from property and suddenly it stops feeling impossible

That shift in property investment mentality is often what separates investors who succeed from those who quit too soon.

Property Investing Is Not Get Rich Quick

• Property is not a get rich quick strategy
• It requires work, time, and effort
• But with a job you work and get paid once. With property you invest once and get paid forever
• That is the power of passive income from property

Step Four: Find the Right Property Investment Mentor or Coach

The fourth and final step in how to start investing in property is to find the right support. At some point on your journey, going it alone will slow you down. The right property investment mentor or coach can help you move forward significantly faster.

Training, Coaching and Mentoring: What Is the Difference?

• Training: teaches you what to do. Gives you the knowledge, strategies, and systems to follow. Speeds up your learning and helps you avoid costly mistakes.
• Property investing coach: holds you accountable, keeps you focused, supports you through challenges, and helps you keep moving forward when things get tough.
• Property mentorship: combines both. A good mentor has done what you want to achieve, has helped many others do the same, and guides you through both the knowledge and the mindset challenges.

How to Choose the Right Property Investment Mentor

When looking for a property investment mentor, ask yourself:

• Have they personally done what you want to achieve?
• Have they helped many other people get the same results?
• Do they have genuine case studies and testimonials from students who have replaced their income with property?

Simon Zutshi took eight years to replace his income with property doing it alone. Many of his students have achieved the same result in twelve months by following a proven system. That is the value of the right property mentorship.

Book a Complimentary Strategy Call

If you would like personalised guidance on how to start investing in property, you can book a complimentary strategy call with Simon’s team. On that call they will help you identify:

• Where you want to get to
• Where you are now
• What the gap is between the two
• How to close it as quickly as possible

Click here to book your free strategy call and find out how to begin investing in property with the right support behind you.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Start Investing in Property With No Experience?

The best way to start investing in property with no experience is to educate yourself first. Read Property Magic by Simon Zutshi and Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. Attend property networking events to meet experienced investors. Develop the right property investor mindset. And consider working with a property investment mentor who can guide you through a proven system rather than learning through costly trial and error.

How Long Does It Take to Replace Income With Property?

The time it takes to replace income with property varies depending on your starting point, the time you invest, and the support you have around you. Simon Zutshi did it alone in eight years. Many of his students following a proven system have achieved financial freedom through property in as little as twelve months. Getting started in property investing with the right knowledge and property mentorship significantly speeds up the journey.

What Is the Right Property Investor Mindset?

The right property investor mindset means thinking like an owner rather than an employee. It means being patient when results take time, persisting when progress feels slow, and surrounding yourself with people who share your goals. Attending property networking events and developing a property investment mentality built on long term thinking rather than short term expectations is essential for anyone getting started in property investing.

What Is Property Investors Network?

Property Investors Network is the UK’s leading property networking organisation, founded by Simon Zutshi in 2003. It runs over 40 property networking events every month across the UK. It is one of the best places to meet like minded investors, find motivated sellers, and build the connections that help you replace income with property. Find your local meeting here and use the voucher code podcast to attend your first event free.

Do I Need a Property Investment Mentor?

You do not need a property investment mentor to begin investing in property, but having one dramatically speeds up your results. The right property mentorship gives you proven strategies, accountability, and support that helps you avoid costly mistakes. If you are serious about financial freedom through property and want to replace income with property as quickly as possible, investing in the right property investing coach or mentor is one of the smartest decisions you can make.

What Are the Best Property Networking Events in the UK?

Property Investors Network runs the most established property networking events in the UK with over 40 meetings every month. They attract investors at all levels, from beginners just getting started in property investing to experienced landlords with large portfolios. Property networking UK events are also a great place to meet motivated sellers, joint venture partners, and potential mentors. Find your nearest meeting here.

Final Thoughts: How to Start Investing in Property in 2026

Getting started in property investing in 2026 has never been more accessible. The resources, the communities, and the proven systems available today mean you do not have to spend years working it out on your own the way Simon did in 1995.

Follow the four steps:

• Educate yourself with the right content and books
• Attend property networking events and surround yourself with like minded investors
• Develop the property investor mindset that will carry you through the tough moments
• Find the right property investment mentor or coach to guide you through a proven system

Replacing income with property is not a dream. Thousands of people across the UK have already achieved financial freedom through property by following exactly this process. If they can do it, so can you.

At Property Magic, we believe the best investment you can make is in yourself and your knowledge. Start today. Take the first step. And commit to your success.

Listen to the full discussion on the Property Magic Podcast. Subscribe to the channel and hit the bell icon so you never miss a new episode. And do not forget to book your local Property Investors Network meeting using the voucher code podcast to attend your first event completely free. Or book your free strategy call here to find out how we can help you get started in property investing today.