Proving that a solid business model can weather any storm
If you were to take a glance at Ryan Lee of Homelee Investments’ credentials, you would be easily impressed – setting up his own business at just 24, successfully navigating it for over five years and recently receiving an Off Market Property Investment Specialist Award of Excellence. What these accolades do not show, however, are the external challenges he has had to face: from fighting through a pandemic to staffing crises and battling the ‘joker broker’ stereotype, Ryan has proved time and again that his business model is better than just impressive – it’s resilient.
A foundation of “three Fs”
Ryan Lee founded Homelee Investments 5.5 years ago, building on 15 years of experience in residential estate agency covering lettings, sales, management, and valuations. A qualified member of the National Association of Estate Agents, when COVID-19 hit, he used the downtime to build his website, create branding, and network with investors online – a move that paid off, allowing the business to not just survive but grow through one of the toughest economic periods for property.
This year, Ryan was recognised as Off Market Property Investment Specialist 2025, cementing his reputation as a leader in his field. His mission is to help as many people as possible take their first or next step into property investment
Homelee Investments’ approach is built around what Ryan calls the “Three Fs”:
Find: sourcing properties at up to 30% below market value. To do this, they cover a broad range of areas: Below Market Value, pre-auction properties, Houses in Multiple Occupation, land (with and without planning), subject to planning, permitted development, commercials with uppers, office blocks, care homes, portfolios, short leases, high end stock, and more.
Facilitate: arranging finance within a 28-day window through its sister company, FinanceLee.
Fill: securing guaranteed rent tenants through council contracts across the M25.
Together with his father, who runs the finance arm, and his mother, who manages rentals, Ryan is building a family business group that includes RentalLee, AuctionLee and AssistantLee, with plans to launch an auction house and virtual assistant company.
The early bird catches the worm
Leaving school at 16, Ryan quickly rose through the ranks of estate agency before deciding to strike out on his own:
“I’d done lettings, sales, valuations, even run an agency with my father – and I felt like I’d maxed out at a young age. So, I thought, if I’m going to do it, I might as well do it my way.”
Running Homelee Investments has not been without its challenges. Earlier this year, staffing issues left Ryan running the business single-handedly and even forced a temporary closure while he was abroad:
“It was painful having to shut the business down for two weeks, but I came back with a fresh head and rebuilt the team. I now have two fantastic senior negotiators on board, which has allowed me to focus on business expansion again.”
Ryan’s resilience shows in his ability to turn setbacks into fuel for growth – from rebuilding his team to expanding his service offering for first-time investors.
A new home for Homelee
Ryan and his father originally operated out of a Regus office but moved to Churchill Square Business Centre in Kings Hill when they discovered it offered competitive pricing, free parking, and larger office spaces.
“For a little more than what we were paying before, we got two separate offices in the same building, on the same floor – it made total sense. Six months ago, we moved into a space three times the size of our previous office, with room for five desks. It’s the perfect base to grow.”
Ryan praises the on-site team for their support and flexibility, which has helped him scale the business quickly and efficiently.
Ryan aims to get the public into property investment
With ambitious plans to grow Homelee Investments into one of the UK’s leading property investment companies, Ryan is passionate about helping first-time investors build wealth through property. A verified member of the Property Educators Accreditation Scheme, his upcoming webinar series is designed for busy entrepreneurs who want to create additional income streams but lack the time to research, finance, and manage investments themselves.
“We want to be known as the painkillers of property – taking the headache away and helping normal people build wealth, not just the rich, by providing a full start-to-finish service, plus ongoing support to help people grow their portfolios.”
Top business tips for those in the property sector
Ryan believes that credibility and industry knowledge are key to long-term success:
“Understand the corporate basics first. There are a lot of people that come into this industry, and they don’t have any property experience. They go to a three-day property training course and think that is enough to take on the industry, but it’s not as easy as that. You have to start from the bottom and work your way up, so you understand every aspect of the industry.”
He outlines the importance of professional integrity in building trust with clients and potential investors.
“The alternative is dangerous to the rest of us in the industry: they can be unregulated, or they don’t really know what they’re doing, and they proliferate the ‘joker broker’ image. So, just don’t be a joker broker – professionalism is what gets recognised and keeps the industry strong.”
He also recommends focusing on resilience and adaptability: build strong systems, invest in experienced team members when you’re ready to scale, and make yourself accountable for outcomes.
Homelee Investments’ story is a reminder that with the right foundations – knowledge, systems, and a solid support network – even the toughest storms can be weathered.
