Creative Property Deals: Toby Spanier on Strategy, Risk and Growth

What if property investment was not about competing for the best deal? What if everyone involved could benefit? For Toby Spanier, successful property investing is about understanding people, creative deals and finding a strategy that suits you.

In the latest episode of Behind the Awards, host Nellie McQuinn speaks with Toby Spanier, the 2024 Property Investor of the Year, to explore his approach to property investment and the lessons he has learned throughout his journey.

From completing a multi-unit property deal with a £1 deposit and a 10-year completion runway to acquiring mixed-use properties through vendor finance, Toby shares how creative deal structures can open up opportunities without requiring large amounts of capital upfront.

The conversation also explores why he believes property should not be an adversarial game, how understanding a vendor’s priorities can create better deals for everyone, and why investors should look beyond their property strategy to understand the skills and experience they already bring from their previous careers.

Toby also reflects on his early experience of buying nine properties in six months, why he eventually moved away from HMOs towards larger blocks and buy-to-lets, and how learning to manage risk has changed the way he approaches bigger deals.

Watch the podcast

Whether you are new to property investment or exploring new strategies, this episode offers useful insights. Toby shares lessons from his own experience and explains why finding the right strategy can make a big difference.

Watch the full episode on Behind the Awards. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss future episodes.

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The Property Investors Awards 2026 takes place on 14 November 2026 at the London Hilton on Park Lane.

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