It's not often you meet an investor who has the cash to buy property, but instead puts it to one side in order to start with nothing.

However, that's exactly what Steve Mason did. Why? In his words, he never planned to use 'blood money' to buy investment property, and he never has. So I am curious to know how he has built himself a portfolio of HMO properties and other property related businesses.

Steve says he has always been a 'grafter' and prides himself on his work ethic. Whilst at school he worked on market stalls and did a local paper round as a means of earning cash. At the age of 17 Steve entered the workplace and went from job to job. His jobs ranged from working in factories to working with cars as a mechanic and engineer. By his own admission Steve is a perfectionist and he likes things to be right. As an entrepreneur this has served him well, but as an employee it led to frustrations and a variety of jobs. There is a common theme to his early roles though, as was his subsequent promotion into management. At an early age Steve enjoyed the promotion and was forced to learn how to manage a team; it's a skill that has served him well. It all came to an abrupt end though when he found a career path he really wanted to follow. In his words he got himself "fired on purpose" when working in a tyre selling company. Why? Because he wanted to start a college course in order to become a plumber. That was the vocation Steve had decided upon, and one thing that seems rather clear is that when a decision is made he very rarely deviates from it.

Up until now I can see the personable side to Steve and his rather laid back attitude to life and the path he has carved out for himself. However, through no fault of his own, Steve's life was about to change at the age of 21 with consequences that he still lives with today.
It's clearly difficult for him to talk about to the point I feel I am encroaching for simply asking the question. However, this is the pivotal moment in Steve's life where everything changed forever.