I’m a full-time property investor with over a decade of hands-on experience in South Africa’s affordable housing market. I focus on high-yield, low-income properties — mainly blocks of flats and mixed-use buildings — and I’ve built a portfolio that delivers strong monthly cashflow and long-term value.
In 2024, I closed deals worth over R24 million, with projected annual revenue of R6 million. I don’t just teach property — I do it every day.
I’m also a published author, entrepreneur, and speaker, with a coaching platform and educational content that’s helped thousands of aspiring investors take their first steps. In 2024, I was proud to receive the Most Growth Investor of the Year award — proof that the strategy works if you work the strategy.
This isn’t about hype or theory. It’s about doing the real work, making smart decisions, and building wealth through property.
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Real profits. Real lessons.
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the deals I’ve closed — from rundown to cashflow. See the numbers, understand the risks, and learn how these buildings were transformed into income-generating assets.
MIXED USE
Location: Alberton, Johannesburg East
Type: Mixed-Use
Purchase Price: R2.3M (from an asking price of R4M)
Monthly Rental Income: R70k
Gross Yield: 31%
Units: 10 x Residential Flats, 4 x Retail Shops
This building was one of those unicorns — a proper mix of residential and retail, in a good node, with no red flags on the tenant side. It was initially listed at R4M, but I knew that was negotiable the moment I saw how long it had sat unsold.
The key attraction here was the diversity of income. Half the property is residential (fully let with 0 arrears), and the other half is retail, with four stable shop tenants who’ve been there for years. That makes it resilient — if one side struggles, the other can carry the load. And in markets like this, that kind of balance is gold.
I negotiated hard and secured it at R2.3M — a 42.5% discount. The numbers were already great, with R70k/month coming in and minimal capex needed. The real kicker? The tenants were low-maintenance, and the building had zero arrears from day one. A true plug-and-play asset that generates strong, consistent cashflow without the stress.
Want to find and close deals like this?
BLOCK OF FLATS
Location: Turffontein, JHB
Type: Residential
Purchase Price: R2M (from an asking price of R2.9M)
Monthly Rental Income: R45k
Gross Yield: 27%
Units: 9 x 2-Bedroom Residential Flats
Eloff Court was what I call a “sleeping giant.” It had great bones — solid structure, decent layout, and a prime location for rentals — but it was stuck with bad management. The seller had it listed at R2.9M, but tenants weren’t paying on time and maintenance was being neglected. Other buyers walked away. I leaned in.
After viewing the units and chatting to a few tenants, I realised the problem wasn’t the building — it was the way it was run. I made an offer of R2M, which the seller accepted with a bit of back-and-forth. We got it transferred, did light renovations (paint, plumbing, common areas), and replaced two problematic tenants with qualified ones.
Within 3 months, the block was running smoothly and generating R45k/month in rent. All units are on prepaid electricity, and we implemented strict screening, which helped stabilize cashflow. The return is solid, and the turnaround was quick. It’s the kind of deal that reminds me — the money is made in the buy, but the returns come from how well you operate it.
Want to find and close deals like this?
BLOCK OF FLATS
Kenilworth, Johannesburg South
Type: Residential
Purchase Price: R2M (from an asking price of R2.8M)
Monthly Rental Income: R35k
Gross Yield: 21%
Units: 6 x 3-Bedroom Residential Flats
Great Court was one of those classic undervalued blocks — unrenovated, under-rented, but in a great area. The seller wanted R2.8M, but the property had been on the market for months with very little action. I suspected there was an opportunity if the seller was motivated. Spoiler: they were.
After a site visit, I found 6 tidy 3-bedroom units, all occupied with decent-paying tenants. The issue? No rent increases for years, and no utility recovery. The block was running under capacity.
I made an offer of R2M — a 28.5% discount — and we structured a quick transfer. After taking ownership, I did minor work on the common areas, added prepaid water and electricity, and updated leases with market-related increases.
Rental income now sits at R35k/month, and the building runs efficiently. It’s not flashy, but it’s dependable — a great “buy and hold” asset with low hassle and a predictable return. Sometimes, boring is beautiful.
Want to find and close deals like this?
20 x Residential Units
Location: Windsor East, Johannesburg
Type: Residential
Purchase Price: R4M
Monthly Rental Income: R120k
Gross Yield: 36%
Units: 20 x Residential Flats
This 20-unit block in Windsor East came up at auction and I knew immediately it had potential. The seller was motivated, the numbers worked, and the price was too good to ignore — I secured it for R4M, and the bank later valued it at nearly R7M, unlocking close to R2 million in equity from day one.
I didn’t get a chance to view the property before bidding, but I trusted my team on the ground. With the right people in place, we turned it around fast and brought structure back to a previously mismanaged block.
This wasn’t an easy one — the block came with baggage:
We stepped in, handled the chaos, and put systems in place — from meter upgrades and security improvements to strict rental enforcement.Today, the building is fully occupied with minimal arrears, all meters are functioning, and the damp and security problems have been resolved. The building generates steady cashflow and we are in the process of refinancing to free up capital and scale further.
Want to find and close deals like this?
6 x Residential Units
Location: Forest Hill, Johannesburg
Type: Residential
Purchase Price: R1.7M
Monthly Rental Income: R36k
Gross Yield: 25%
Units: 6 x Residential Flats
This 6-unit block of 3-bedroom flats in Forest Hill was listed by a motivated seller who had tried to exit for years without success. The building had potential, but one bad tenant made it difficult to manage — and that scared off other buyers. I saw the opportunity and negotiated a 45% discount off the asking price, securing it for just R1.7M.
The location was a huge plus — it’s a solid brick-face block, directly opposite a school, and in a high-demand rental area. The structure was sound, and I knew that once we dealt with the problem tenant, it would become a strong, hands-off performer.
This wasn’t an easy one — the block came with baggage. Two bad tenants were causing trouble, there were no electricity meters, no real security, and the council bills were a complete mess. But we stepped in, handled the evictions, installed prepaid meters, tightened up the budget, and upgraded the building’s security. We’re also actively working with the municipality to resolve the overbilling issues.
The deal was structured with 70% bank finance and the rest funded privately, allowing us to move quickly and secure a high-yielding asset.
Want to find and close deals like this?
Commercial, Retail and Residential
Location: Alberton, Johannesburg East
Type: Mixed-Use
Purchase Price: R7M
Monthly Rental Income: R200k
Gross Yield: 34%
Units: 35 x Offices, 5 x Retail and 2 x Residential
This deal caught my attention because of its unique layout — a mix of retail, commercial offices, and residential units — and its location in a high-demand node. I also wanted some diversification beyond just residential properties. The numbers made immediate sense, with strong rental income and the potential for massive value uplift.
The biggest challenge? The seller wasn’t motivated, and the property was tied up in a deceased estate. It took nearly two years of back-and-forth negotiations to get the deal over the line. But once the price was locked in, the discount was substantial, and occupancy has remained strong since taking over.
Closing this deal required serious patience and problem-solving.
Despite the hurdles, the deal made strategic sense — and the execution paid off. The property is now over 90% occupied and cashflowing well. By purchasing the shares of the existing company, I avoided transfer fees — a major saving. Post-purchase, the bank valued the building at R11 million, unlocking R4 million in equity. The plan is to hold and refinance once further stabilised, freeing up capital for the next big move.
Want to find and close deals like this?
Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to scale, these books are designed to give you practical, step-by-step guidance on every part of the property journey — from building wealth to structuring deals and accessing finance.
Some are low-cost ebooks to get you going. Others, like my bestseller Financial Freedom Through Property, are comprehensive guides packed with the exact tools, checklists, and strategies I’ve used to build my portfolio.
Laurens Boel is a seasoned residential and commercial property investor with over a decade of experience in the affordable housing market in South Africa.
Copyright Laurens Boel © 2025 All Rights Reserved
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