GetGround, the all-in-one digital property investment platform, has completed a strategic acquisition of Manchester property investment distribution and media group BuyAssociation, for an undisclosed sum.
In the past 20 years BuyAssociation has become one of the most active and successful providers of property investment opportunities in the UK.
Combining its long standing relationships with some of the country’s most reputable and in-demand developers with a deep pool of domestic and overseas investment clients, BuyAssociation facilitates hundreds of off-plan investments in high demand regions every year.
The company also operates a highly ranked news and information service for the UK property investment community.
Launched in 2020, London-based GetGround’s fintech platform serves a subscriber base of 30,000 active UK property investors with all-in-one property investment software, and provides additional sourcing, funding and insurance services to a wider pool of 200,000 property investors and landlords globally.
Joining forces with BuyAssociation’s expert team and distribution network supports GetGround’s strategy to strengthen its position at the heart of the UK property investment industry.
Together, the group becomes one of the most connected and influential forces across UK property investment, combining industry distribution, investor reach, news and insight, and ownership infrastructure, they say.
The deal comes at an important time as the UK new-build investment market undergoes structural change.
On average, 190,000 to 210,000 new-build homes have been completed per year over the past five years and investors account for 15-25% of units sold in major urban schemes.
Investor demand for new-build stock remains steady, however, developers are increasingly showing preference for distributors that can provide certainty of sales and access to qualified buyer bases.
GetGround and BuyAssociation’s combined offering to the market provides developers with a reliable route to market and investors with better curated, better vetted stock at scale.
Moubin Faizullah-Khan
Moubin Faizullah-Khan, CEO of GetGround, said: “We have worked with the BuyAssociation team for many years, supporting the same clients to source, fund and manage their investment properties. This deal is a natural extension of that partnership and sets us up well to hit our growth goals.
“Combining BuyAssociation’s reach with our technology platform helps us all to deliver market-leading stock, service and long term outcomes for both developers and investors. We’re paving the way to create the UK industry’s most integrated, high capacity property investment platform and we can’t wait to see the results.”
GetGround says this is a growth-led acquisition with no structural reductions planned. BuyAssociation’s team will continue to operate under the BuyAssociation brand, and senior members of its team, including Sam Hadfield (group MD), Katie Walker (group commercial director) and Henry Shaw (sales director) will join GetGround’s senior management team.
Caroline Marshall-Roberts, founder and current CEO of BuyAssociation, will step out of daily management after leading the organisation for more than two decades. In a consultancy role, Caroline will offer support to the expanded group as a senior advisor.
Sam Hadfield said: “Joining forces with GetGround is a completely natural next step in BuyAssociation’s journey.
“We’ve spent years building deep relationships with developers and a distribution model that consistently delivers results.
“Demand for high quality UK investments has never been greater, but making and maintaining those investments is a complex process. We’re excited to introduce our investor network to GetGround’s capabilities and resources to relieve that complexity.”
He added: “This creates better experiences for BuyAssociation customers and helps us to achieve our goal to serve them through their entire ownership lifecycle.”
Caroline Marshall-Roberts said: “It has been an honour to build and lead the BuyAssociation team over the last two decades, and handing over the reins now to Moubin and Sam fills me with immense pride.
“This deal brings together two established businesses with hugely complementary strengths, setting the scene to drive higher quality, transparency and efficiency across the UK property investment landscape. I am looking forward to supporting the group and building on our established media partnerships and news channel.”
Under the terms of the acquisition the two brands will continue to operate independently.
The BuyAssociation brand will continue to exist, delivering its master-agent B2B distribution business as well as its established property news outlet.