What was your reason and motivation to start Maytree Property Group Ltd?
After years of focusing on stock market investments, I realized I wanted to take a more hands-on approach with my investments. I had been interested in property for years but traditional Buy-to-Lets didn’t offer the returns I needed. I was drawn to property because it allows for more control and more tangible results. I wanted to move beyond the passive nature of stocks and have a more active role in the growth of my investments, which is why I transitioned into property.
What is special about Maytree Property Group and how does that set it apart from its competition?
Maytree Property Group operates within a micro niche of the property market that delivers stronger profitability and more favourable risk metrics compared to the broader industry. We focus on investing in and developing high-quality HMOs in the North East, catering to young professionals and transient workers. Our high interest rate coverage and reduced vacancy risk enables us to stay profitable in even the most challenging market conditions. Giving us the ability to capitalize on opportunities when most property investors are not in a strong financial position and actively disposing of stock.
How do you see the business evolving from here?
Looking ahead, Maytree Property Group will continue to grow its portfolio and explore new development opportunities. While we will stay focused on high-quality HMOs, we also plan to do more commercial-to-residential conversions and consider other niche markets.
Ultimately, my long-term vision is for Maytree Property Group to become an integral part of a larger HoldCo. This holding company will focus on allocating capital between Maytree Property Group, starting and buying private companies, and internal investments in owned companies. Leveraging my expertise in investments, risk management and capital allocation.
What business advice would you give to your younger self with the benefit of hindsight (you might consider yourself too young to do this one!).
One of the key lessons I’ve learnt is the importance of focusing on what I’m good at and delegating everything else. My most common mistake is having a great vision and strategy for something and then failing to execute it remotely well. I have had to accept that my brain isn’t wired for execution and instead put all my energy into vision and strategy. If only I’d accepted this sooner.
What has been the biggest challenge in the last 3 years?
Operating in a high-interest-rate and high-inflation environment has certainly posed challenges. The rising cost of financing has put pressure on margins, while inflation has created uncertainty around development costs. However, we’ve adapted by focusing on operational efficiency, being flexible in our approach, and maintaining a long-term perspective. Navigating these conditions requires creativity, resilience, and a willingness to adjust strategies to ensure continued growth despite external pressures.
What has been your greatest achievement within the business to date?
One of my proudest achievements has been stepping back and delegating the day-to-day operations of Maytree Property Group. By doing so, I’ve reduced my time commitment to just 1-2 hours a week, which has been a game-changer for both my work-life balance and the business’s overall efficiency. More importantly, by leveraging the expertise of others, we’ve actually increased our return on capital employed, despite increased costs. It’s a testament to the power of delegation and the impact of trusting the right people to help scale a business effectively.
What interests do you have outside of work
On weekends, you can usually find me watching Formula 1. I’m a big fan of the sport and enjoy following the races, I try to go to 2 a year, always Silverstone and one abroad.
I’d call myself a generalist, I love reading about random disciplines completely unrelated to what I’m focusing on and applying the logic to something else. For instance, I attribute most of my expertise in analysing competitive strategy to reading about genetics and anthropology.