Marion Neggers and Leon Watzema

Marion Neggers

I bought my first UK property in 2015. It was a single buy to let, and I managed it from overseas. It was a good way to make an extra income, but I found the legals were different from the Netherlands. So, I felt I had to take some training. I did bits and pieces but my attention and energy were on my Dutch coaching and training business.

I’m a business owner and coach and train a lot of entrepreneurs in the Netherlands. That takes a lot of my time. I would like to spend more time with family and property is a way to realize that.

My goal is to replace my income with UK property and use my coaching and training skills to help Dutch investors grow and become well-educated Landlords.

In 2020 Covid hit, and we had to make tough decisions in the company. That's when I realized that it was time to get back into property. In the Netherlands, the investing climate was not as good as in the UK, so I decided to invest in the UK. First, I started with education and building and refreshing my network.

Then I started to go to pin (property investors network) Meetings and realized that this was something we need in the Netherlands. There are a lot of Dutch investors who want to invest in the UK but haven’t got the knowledge or the network. With the change of tax regulations for Dutch investors, this is a great moment to get started.

I’m very pleased that pin is now in the Netherlands and will give all Dutch investors the opportunity to invest with knowledge and skill.

Leon Watzema

My name is Leon Watzema and I’d love to see you at the Eindhoven pin meeting.

I live and work as a data engineer in Utrecht, The Netherlands. In my spare time I spent quite a lot of energy building a so-called ‘trade Bot’ that would automatically trade on the stock exchange. Making money while you’re playing golf was the idea. Of course, things like these are never simple or easy and after a few years I decided to quit. Nice try but no cigar.

However, the main goal, the illusive passive income, was still on my radar. Having worked in ICT since 2000 I managed to save a fair sum, which was put in a savings account and part of it invested in stocks and ETFs.

In 2021 I realised that inflation and negative interest rates were affecting my savings badly. I looked at all kinds of investments, i.e. Forex-trading, crypto, options, etc. and decided that real estate would be the best way forward. However, the property market in the Netherlands wasn’t favourable due to high property prices, tax increases and worsening regulations. I therefore attended several property trainings about the German, Spanish and UK property market of which the UK seemed my best bet.

My first property was purchased using my savings and a home equity withdrawal. It was stripped back-to-brick and refurbished into a high-end 6-bed HMO with a bike shed, a large garden and several parking spaces.

Then I tried my hands on a pub conversion. Yes, a project everybody in property tells you to avoid. Sadly, my plan for 11 apartments turned into planning for just 7 flats. The numbers no longer stacked.

Next up was a former funeral home in Wales. After many struggles I finally managed to obtain planning for 5 specialised supported housing flats with a communal space, off road parking and a private garden. Certainly, this has been quite a bumpy ride!

This project is the very reason for me to become a pin host. To educate others so they don’t have run into the same issues as I did.

I’d love to meet you and help you with your property journey!

Whether you are just beginning your property journey or are an experienced investor the answer to any of your questions is in this room. We also run many educational courses which can help you begin your property journey. We welcome all newcomers and familiar faces.