Graham Bates started investing in residential property in Leeds in 1991, at the time of the last property crash.

Today he has about 120 residential properties, and adding another two-three properties every month to his portfolio.

Speaking at a City Lofts sponsored property seminar on Tuesday at the Mercure St Paul's Hotel, Bates shared what investors should be looking for in today's market.

Click on the green play icon to hear Bates' talk online, or Download it as podcast

"There's no doubt that we have a difficult market that we are in now but in that also lies many opportunities," said Bates.

He said that although most property investors prefer to buy properties in their own town, he has now opened he eyes for Sheffield.

"I find everything that is happening in Sheffield very exciting.

"I'm excited about what's happening here, because it reminds me actually of Leeds many years ago. And the people who were the early investors in the Leeds market, myself included, were certainly the people who benefited most, and I certainly see that happening here.

"What I would say is that I think much of what is going on here is of a quality and a standard that's actually way beyond the neighboring cities, including Leeds and Manchester."



Also speaking at Tuesday's property seminar was Assistant Director for Regeneration Creative Sheffield, Peter Thompson, who gave people a tour of the new Sheffield. Hear Thompson's talk.