In this episode of This Week In Property, we sit down with sister-brother team Michelle de Almeida and Paul Laurie; two dynamic property investors whose journey from hospitality burnout to a booming multi-million-pound property business is anything but ordinary.

Michelle spent two decades in the high-pressure world of hospitality before pivoting into business consultancy and eventually property investment. Paul racked up 30 years in the same industry before joining forces with his sister. Together, they’ve built a thriving property business that now boasts a GDV pipeline in excess of £10 million.

Their journey is rooted in grit, realism, and a lot of legwork. Paul is methodical. He views up to 40 properties just to land one viable deal, sticking firmly to numbers that work. Michelle, meanwhile, brings a strategic mindset, treating property as a business from day one and managing investor relations, finance, and branding with precision. They’ve funded their deals through their own resources, private investors and by reinvesting every penny back into their business.

Their approach is refreshingly honest: no fluff, just hard work, strategic growth, and ethical decision-making. Whether it’s helping a struggling vendor move on or investing £40,000 in top-end furniture for their serviced accommodation brand Luxe Escapes, Michelle and Paul aim to raise the standard—not just meet it.

They’re not chasing volume for the sake of it either. The goal? 200 property “keys” and a flexible 10-year runway. They’ve already expanded into high-end SA, are negotiating on hotel projects, and even eyeing the English market for planning advantages. Oh, and Michelle just signed her first international speaking gig in Dubai!

This is a candid, motivating conversation about ambition, setbacks, tough decisions, and what it really takes to turn property into a scalable, ethical, and profitable business. If you’re looking to move beyond theory and hear how real investors are making it work on the ground - this episode is well worth your time.

In this episode of This Week in Property, Richard sits down with Brandon Rickman, a seasoned real estate investor from Atlanta, Georgia, whose journey spans 25 years, over 500 flips, 100 new builds, and a sprawling 115,000-square-foot self-storage facility.

But this isn’t just a tale of transactions.  It’s one of service, strategy, and substance.

Brandon’s roots in real estate run deep. Growing up on job sites with his developer father, he learned how to build houses before he learned to drive.

That hands-on experience gave him the skills, and confidence, to start flipping homes with his wife, a former maths teacher.

What began as a way to earn extra income quickly evolved into a full-scale business doing over a hundred houses a year.

But Brandon’s approach is far from transactional. Over time, he and his team transformed their operation into a real estate services company, focused on solving people’s problems; not just making a profit.

Whether it’s direct-to-seller deals through direct mail and cold calling, structuring flexible offers, or guiding families through emotionally charged probate sales, Brandon’s ethos is clear: help first, deal second.

The conversation covers some hard-earned lessons too, like the 2008 crash that saw his bank financing pulled overnight, teaching him the value of private money and investor trust. He breaks down the three types of funding he relies on,, explaining why personal relationships trump paperwork every time.

Richard and Brandon also explore the differences between UK and US property systems, particularly in planning and permitting, and why Brandon sees self-storage as a smarter play for long-term wealth.

His current facility has 865 units, with only two bathrooms and minimal headaches, proving that passive income can be practical too.

This episode is packed with insights for investors at all levels.  Whether you’re sourcing off-market deals, considering private finance, or thinking long-term about generational wealth.

Brandon’s story is about more than property; it’s about building something that lasts, with integrity, purpose, and a human touch.

🎧 Listen in to hear how Brandon Rickman has built a business that’s as much about people as it is about property, and why that might just be the key to lasting success.