Property matters: Millionaire guru Samuel Leeds brings one-day investors course to London

Earning enough money to buy multiple properties – including a castle – and help poverty-stricken families in Africa would hardly have been any teacher’s prediction for struggling schoolboy Samuel Leeds.

In fact the now highly successful businessman clearly remembers the feeling that he wasn’t really understood at school although he managed to scrape a few exam passes before leaving education as soon as he could.

But in the years since he made his escape from “the system” life has become much more interesting for Samuel who set out to pursue property investment at the age of just 17.

Despite scepticism from some, Samuel’s tenacity and natural flair for business – combined with family support – carried him through. By the age of 21, he had defied the doubters and built up an extensive property portfolio. By the age of 25, he was a millionaire.

Working-class

It was all a dramatic change of fortunes for a young man born into a West Midlands working-class family whose dad was a gardener and whose mum topped up their income through mobile hairdressing.

After his parents split up while he was still at primary school, Samuel’s dad became a magician and took on a market stall to sell his wares, much to his admiration. Samuel thought it was fun and sometimes joined him at work where he gradually got a feel for the entertainment business.

With a degree of entrepreneurial flair, the youngster was often found selling magic tricks to his classmates for a profit. He also topped up his pocket money by washing cars and doing a string of paper rounds while still trying to get to grips with formal education.

Plastering business

After his mum remarried and Samuel left school, he was persuaded by his stepfather Tim to train as a plasterer because the money was good. Although working partly as a magician, he did just that and eventually set up his own firm. But he knew there must be more to life and was determined to pursue other options.

A turning point came when Tim started making modest investments in property after becoming mortgage-free – a milestone invariably greeted with a sigh of relief by home-owners everywhere.

Samuel learned how mortgages worked and was eager to discover more. He was 16 when his stepfather introduced him to a property trainer and, for the first time, felt that his education was heading in an exciting new direction.

Enrolling at night school

Convinced that property investment was the way forward, he took the difficult decision to stop working for his dad and enrolled on a business course at night school where he gained an NVQ.

He also devoured books on the subject and was both impressed and inspired by various experts in the field.

Perhaps not surprisingly, there were frequent twists and turns along the way for the would-be investor. Sometimes his age went against him, especially when it came to borrowing, but at other times, for example as a landlord, it didn’t seem to matter.

Family support

Samuel is understandably proud that he took no money from family members to establish his business but says they supported him hugely in other ways, not least by having faith in his plans and abilities.

Now in his 30s, he runs a Property Investors Training Academy to help other people succeed in the business. He also makes regular trips to countries in Africa to finance vital projects ranging from providing clean water for villagers to upgrading crumbling schools in urgent need of repair.

He is also very keen to see financial education added to the school curriculum – something that now happens in parts of Africa with the help of his intervention.

Special events in South Kensington

His chief message to people at home is that anyone can make positive changes. “I want people to realise that if they're not good in school or if they don't like their job, there is another way. For me that was property and it has transformed my life,” he says.

To find out if property dealing might make a difference to you, you can attend Samuel’s crash course when he visits South Kensington for two events on Friday and Saturday, November 17 and 18.

The one-day course will focus on the rent-to-rent strategy which involves renting a property from a landlord and letting it for a profit, typically on a room by room basis.

Book a £1 ticket online

They events take place at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, 4-18 Harrington Gardens, SW7 4LH. Tickets cost just £1 (although late cancellation/no show fees apply) and can be booked online where you’ll also find more information.

This article is paid for, sponsored content and does not reflect the views of HemelToday or National World. People should always seek independent advice in matters of finance and investments.