Expat Property Portfolio

Hosted by Callum Williamson

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Episodes

317

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-GB

About the show

The Expat Property Podcast is a show for globally-minded expats who want to share stories, ideas, and strategies for building a life and wealth while living abroad. Hosted by UK property investor Callum Williamson, each episode features candid conversations with fellow expats and industry experts from first-time buyers to seasoned investors. Whether it’s UK property, international real estate, or alternative investments, the focus is on practical insights and personal journeys. But this podcast is about more than just money. We dive into the real experiences of life overseas: the culture shocks, tough decisions, unexpected wins, and the challenges of starting fresh in a new country. You’ll hear honest stories of transition, resilience, and the realities of expat life. Whether you're actively investing or just curious to hear from others navigating life abroad, this podcast offers connection, perspective, and a sense of community from people who’ve been there. From navigating overseas mortgages and tax rules to understanding market trends and building long-term security, it’s not just about property, it’s about creating a lifestyle and legacy on your own terms. Subscribe now to join the conversation and hear what it really takes to thrive as an expat financially, personally, and everywhere in between.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 19, 202612 min

The Property Framework I've Used for 11 Years

The Property Framework I've Used for 11 Years Most goal setting fails because the goals are too vague and there's no system behind them. Callum shares the four F framework he's refined over 11 years, covering finance, fitness, friends and family, and focus. Includes a practical breakdown of how to set a specific property goal for the year and work backwards month by month, week by week, until buying a property becomes a daily habit rather than a distant target. 📘 BUILDING A UK PROPERTY PORTFOLIO FROM OVERSEAS? Most expats overcomplicate it, overpay, or never start. My book breaks down exactly how to build and scale a UK portfolio while living abroad, the strategies, the structures, and the mistakes to avoid. 👉 Grab your copy here: https://www.calwilliamson.com/

August 12, 202612 min

70% of Family Wealth Is Gone by Generation Two. Here's How to Stop It.

The Vanderbilts built a $200 billion fortune and lost it within two generations. It wasn't bad investments or tax, it was a lack of structure and communication. Callum breaks down why generational wealth fails, what the Hartford family did differently, and how expat property investors can build wealth that actually lasts. Covering UK limited companies, discretionary trusts, cross-border structuring, and a practical three-layer portfolio framework. 📘 BUILDING A UK PROPERTY PORTFOLIO FROM OVERSEAS? Most expats overcomplicate it, overpay, or never start. My book breaks down exactly how to build and scale a UK portfolio while living abroad, the strategies, the structures, and the mistakes to avoid. 👉 Grab your copy here: https://www.calwilliamson.com/

July 22, 202617 min

The Boring Foundation

The Boring Foundation A personal one. I own property in Phuket, and this episode is about sitting with that exposure honestly as Thailand's nominee company crackdown escalates. He explains what a nominee structure is, walks through the enforcement timeline, the IBAS detection system, the shift from forced sale to state forfeiture. Then he uses his own portfolio as the example for his three layer framework, boring stable base, higher growth middle, higher risk lifestyle plays like Phuket. Thailand isn't broken. How you hold the asset matters more than the market itself.

July 15, 202613 min

Every Market Has Its MIRAS Moment

Every Market Has Its MIRAS Moment Negative gearing is dead, the headlines said. It isn't. This episode breaks down Australia's May 2026 tax reforms, what actually changed versus what got misreported, and why the grandfathering rules matter more than the headline. Then it zooms out. The UK's MIRAS abolition, Dubai's correction, Thailand's nominee crackdown- same pattern, four markets. The lesson isn't about any one policy; it's about building a portfolio that can absorb rule changes instead of being wrecked by them. More on the UK Section 24 changes - https://open.spotify.com/episode/36r2PsKsGzmhu2pSNN88Rq?si=6b93acc346d44cd1 Sign up to the newsletter for the full three-layer portfolio framework - https://www.calwilliamson.com/newsletters

July 1, 202615 min

The Messy Middle

Every goal has a beginning, a middle, and an end. The beginning is easy. The end is in sight. It's the middle that breaks most people. In this episode, I talk about the messy middle, the part of building a property portfolio that nobody warns you about. Years two, three, four, when the excitement has worn off, the finish line isn't visible yet, and it's easy to quietly drift away from something you know is working. Three stories to bring it to life: an Ironman triathlon, an 80km run along the Sydney coastline, and Ernest Shackleton's 18-month ordeal in Antarctica. All different. All the same lesson. 📩 Free passive income blueprint — five emails, the book, and a one-page framework for building a UK property portfolio that buys back your time: https://cal-williamson.kit.com/thepassiveincomeblueprint 📘 BUILDING A UK PROPERTY PORTFOLIO FROM OVERSEAS? Most expats overcomplicate it, overpay, or never start. My book breaks down exactly how to build and scale a UK portfolio while living abroad, the strategies, the structures, and the mistakes to avoid. 👉 Grab your copy here: https://www.calwilliamson.com/

June 24, 202613 min

The Fisherman Was Already There

Something a little different this week. No market data, no interest rates, just a concept that might be the most expensive thing most of us do without realising it. Deferred happiness syndrome. The idea that your real life hasn't started yet, that you're in a prelude to something better. A client conversation and a story about a Mexican fisherman brought it into sharp focus, and I think it connects directly to why most people build a property portfolio in the first place. 📩 Free passive income blueprint — five emails, the book, and a one-page framework for building a UK property portfolio that buys back your time: https://cal-williamson.kit.com/thepassiveincomeblueprint 📰 Previous newsletters and signup: https://www.calwilliamson.com/newsletters & cal-williamson.kit.com/newsletter 📘 BUILDING A UK PROPERTY PORTFOLIO FROM OVERSEAS? Most expats overcomplicate it, overpay, or never start. My book breaks down exactly how to build and scale a UK portfolio while living abroad, the strategies, the structures, and the mistakes to avoid. 👉 Grab your copy here: https://www.calwilliamson.com/

June 4, 202611 min

Are stock markets about to crash… (and what to do about it)

The stock market is showing a warning sign that's only appeared twice before in the last 155 years. In this episode, I break down the CAPE (Shiller) Ratio, what it could mean for investors, and why many people are looking at ways to protect and diversify their gains. We also compare stock market returns with property and explore how leverage can change the equation. This is not financial advice, just my interpretation of the data and the trends. 📘 BUILDING A UK PROPERTY PORTFOLIO FROM OVERSEAS? Most expats overcomplicate it, overpay, or never start. My book breaks down exactly how to build and scale a UK portfolio while living abroad, the strategies, the structures, and the mistakes to avoid. 👉 Grab your copy here: https://www.calwilliamson.com/

May 27, 202612 min

UK landlords: the cost of waiting for rate cuts

Should expat property investors wait for UK interest rate cuts, or buy now? In this episode, I run the numbers across four interest rate scenarios on a £200,000 buy to let at 75% LTV, then compare that to Savills' five year house price forecasts and the rent you would miss out on by waiting. The gap between best and worst case on rates is around £16,000 over five years, but the opportunity cost of sitting on the sidelines is far bigger once capital growth and rental income are factored in. If the deal stacks up today with headroom for rates moving against you, the numbers point one way. 📊 If you want the spreadsheet or any of the research I mentioned in this episode? Drop me an email at c@calwilliamson.com , and I'll send it over. 📘 BUILDING A UK PROPERTY PORTFOLIO FROM OVERSEAS? Most expats overcomplicate it, overpay, or never start. My book breaks down exactly how to build and scale a UK portfolio while living abroad, the strategies, the structures, and the mistakes to avoid. 👉 Grab your copy here: https://www.calwilliamson.com/

May 20, 20269 min

Why You Should Never Buy Property With Cash (Or Sell It)

Why You Should Never Buy Property With Cash (Or Sell It) Buying a property with cash feels safe. But when you run the numbers, it's one of the most expensive decisions you can make. In this episode I compare a cash purchase to a mortgage on the same property, show what leverage actually does to your real returns, and make the case for never selling, remortgaging instead, to access tax-free cash while keeping the asset. 📊 Want the spreadsheet I use in this video? Grab a free copy here: Property Investment Spreadsheet 📘 BUILDING A UK PROPERTY PORTFOLIO FROM OVERSEAS? Most expats overcomplicate it, overpay for it, or never start at all. My book breaks down exactly how to build and scale a UK portfolio while living abroad. The strategies, the structures, and the mistakes to avoid. Grab your copy here: 👉 https://www.calwilliamson.com/

May 13, 20268 min

Should expats buy UK property now or wait until they return?

Buying a UK property while living abroad? I break down the real cost differences between buying as an expat versus a UK resident, deposits, stamp duty, and mortgage rates, and show why waiting could save you over £36,000 and unlock far more buying power. 📘 BUILDING A UK PROPERTY PORTFOLIO FROM OVERSEAS? Most expats overcomplicate it, overpay for it, or never start at all. My book breaks down exactly how to build and scale a UK portfolio while living abroad. The strategies, the structures, and the mistakes to avoid. Grab your copy here: 👉 https://www.calwilliamson.com/ 📊 SOURCES REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE Why Limited Companies Are Taking Over UK Property Residential Stamp Duty Calculator