Gross yield is one of the most commonly used terms in property investing. It is extremely popular among real estate agents. It's prominently displayed in property listings. But is it telling you the entire story?

In this episode of the Genius Academy Podcast, Waqas Ali explains what gross rental yield is, how to calculate it, and why it's such an effective starting point for deal analysis. More importantly, he explains where gross yield falls short—and how to avoid being duped by headline figures.

You’ll learn:

• The basic formula for gross yield and when to apply it.
• Why a high gross yield does not always result in a high profit.
• A true story about an investor who nearly lost their money.
• What to do after calculating gross yield to obtain a complete picture.

This is the episode that every new property investor should hear before making their first deal.

Not all returns are created equal — and choosing the wrong profitability metric could make or break your next deal.

In this episode of the Genius Academy Podcast, Waqas Ali breaks down the most common methods investors use to assess profitability — from gross yield to net yield on cost — and explains when to use each one. Whether you're buying your first single-let or scaling into HMOs and conversions, this episode will help you make smarter, more informed decisions.

In this episode:

• Why gross yield is often misleading
• The difference between yield on price vs. yield on total cost
• When to use ROI instead — especially with leverage
• How one investor nearly walked into a money pit because of the wrong calculation

Learn how to spot real returns, avoid common pitfalls, and sharpen your investment strategy with clear, practical tools.

In this episode of the Genius Academy Podcast, we go beyond headlines about the housing crisis and dig into what really drives demand in the UK property market.

From population growth and employment hubs to regeneration zones and transport upgrades — demand is never static. Knowing where it’s growing (and why) is one of the most powerful skills a property investor can develop.

Waqas Ali shares a real-world example of how spotting early demand trends helped one investor outperform the rest of their portfolio — plus a clear action step you can take right now to assess demand in your target area.

🎧 In this episode:

• 7 key demand drivers shaping the market today
• Real-life example: pivoting to a regeneration hotspot
• How jobs, transport, and demographics fuel rental value
• A smarter way to research the areas you're considering
• Why curiosity is your best investment habit