Pre-credit crunch many portfolios were built by taking out further advances or re-mortgaging the ever increasing value of properties already owned.

Investors had to do little more than sit and wait for a few months before a lender/broker came knocking on the door asking if the investor wanted some more money.

Canny investors were even able to buy BMV (below market value) and instantly re-mortgage at the 'true' OMV (open market value) releasing all their cash if not more cash than the property had actually cost.

Post credit crunch, while an investor can't simply sit and wait a few months for the value of their property to rise as a result of market forces, an investor can 'force up' the value of their property by buying the right property to start with. The result is still the opportunity to re-mortgage releasing all their cash if not more cash than the property cost although this scenario is more difficult with mortgages currently maxing at 75% LTV.