My name is Vicki and I am often called The Property Mermaid because of my dual passions of scuba diving and buying the stinky houses that provide the cash flow to give me the lifestyle I love. I don’t have to work – I do because I love it – I enjoy everyday. Over the last two years I have have written two book; one about Using Other People’s Money and my new book called Make More Money from Property, from investor thinking to a business mindset.

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You can buy a copy of Make More Money from Property here or come to the book launch on March 15th in Paddington, when I will having a party. To hear more about the launch please click here or just buy your ticket now !!!   What do you want in life? we only have one life – just a dash between birth and the grave! Are you living your dream? Are you achieving your potential? 

Fortunately I didn’t watch to the whole programme. While there are definitely cases where people are conned and preyed upon by unscrupulous traders that we need to be aware off. There is also the fact that we need to take responsibility for the decisions we make.

The piece that annoyed me in the programme came towards the end when someone was talking about mortgage rates and the early redemption penalties that banks charge if you come out of a mortgage early.

As a professional investor I deal with this all the time – and I understand that I might realise things that other people just buying their one personal home do not. I assume that they would have used a mortgage broker and that professional should have explained the conditions of a loan.

When commissions are paid on top of a salary for the completion of a sale then I believe that the intentions of the sales person are loaded towards their own gain and not the needs of the buyer. This can be anything from a car, a training programme, a house or financial advice.

If you are buying something and the sales person is going to earn commission then you need to consider exactly who they are working for, you and giving you impartial advice or themselves as they want to earn more money.

Early redemption penalties – just to explain – are charged by banks if you shorten the term of the loan agreement. This is because in most cases the bank will have “Borrowed” the money they are lending you on the money markets and they will have an agreement and a fee to pay. If alter the term of you agreement they will have money that they are no longer earning interest on (from you) but are paying interest on (to their lender). Hence they charge you a fee to cover that cost.

I believe the house price boom was caused by estate agents earning commission based on sale price – so they elevated it. People were sold policies they did not want or need because financial advisors earned commission on the sales. People attend private training courses on getting rich because the sales people often earn commission or affiliate rates for the promotion.

Think about the advice you are getting, who stands to benefit, and get a second opinion, let’s stop moaning and take responsibility.

To our mutual success, wealth and happiness
Vicki – The Property Mermaid

1. Ways to Wealth – Make Money from Property – http://www.waystowealth.co.uk/wtw-events/

2. Reading and resources – http://bit.ly/uUrpUT

3. Where you can find me next    http://thepropertymermaid.com/blog/events

I spent last weekend with Johnnie Cass, Daniel Wagner and Rob Moore at a new event run by Unlimited Success, which brings personal development skills together with “technical” business skills to make sure that people have the mindset and the skillset to achieve wealth. Anyway, enough about that, the point was that I was attending the event to focus on my business to grow it to the next level and I really believe that when we decide something that the universe and our unconscious conspires to help. Read the rest of this entry

Do you ever wonder what drives some people? What is their motivation? I am pretty clear that my incredible life in property investment really gives me all the incentive I could ever want. It drives me and it satisfies me. An ideal combination. However, I like to think that I rule it, it does not rule me – that’s the difference between a balanced life and a job with no boss! Read the rest of this entry

Isn’t it interesting how people react to the way you present yourself to them? Consider how a great actor can be a very pleasant, positive character in one film and yet ooze menace and hostility in another. In other words, we take people as they present themselves to us. It’s quite natural really… Read the rest of this entry

I always feel a build-up of excitement at the prospect of flying somewhere for a break. I make my living in property investment and I really feel that it is in my blood, but, even I need a break from time to time! As the holiday approaches, anticipation builds up and, with that, the hope that the flight will be enjoyable. Read the rest of this entry

Sometimes, the most mundane occurrences can set you off on a learning curve. Even though I am primarily a property investor, I have learned that sound yet flexible business systems are vital to cope with changing circumstances. Systems must be adaptable, if they are not, then an unforeseen problem may completely defeat you, and we all know opportunities spring from the creative thinking that a challenge can initiate. Read the rest of this entry

You know how it is when you get to any big event. You arrive and find yourself stuck in a human equivalent of a herd of sheep – maybe a shoal of fish would be a better analogy in the circumstances, being directed from one queue to another when you suddenly realise that you can’t remain immune from one basic human need. If you’re feeling lost and wondering what on earth I am wittering on about, it boils down to the most fundamental human need of all – to go to the loo! Read the rest of this entry

After 10 days of hard labour (and I don’t mean just planting pansies or weeding – I mean hard labour shifting 12 tonne of soil, railway sleepers, bricks, pots, and rubble by hand and with a “digger”) I know two things; Read the rest of this entry

What a bizarre experience last week. I went to visit my daughter Charlie at university which then included the inevitable request to play taxi – so off we headed to the local supermarket to buy all the heavy things that were such a chore to bring home on public transport.

I was still on crutches as I couldn’t walk Read the rest of this entry