Adriatic Property Trading & Auctions Retreat

Dubrovnik, Croatia · 25 April – 1 May 2026

A carefully curated retreat for serious property operators who want clarity, confidence, and momentum in trading and auctions.

Seven days away from noise, theory, and online hype. Time to think properly, stress-test your strategy, and spend real time with people who actively trade and operate in the auctions world.

Who it is for:

For experienced investors, traders, and operators who want fewer strategies, better execution, and access to the right room.

Apply to attend

Most people don’t need more information. They need fewer voices.

Property is noisy.

There are endless strategies, opinions, courses, and content. Everyone has a view. Everyone has a system. And after a while, even experienced operators find themselves second-guessing decisions they used to make with confidence.

You might already know what to do.

What’s missing is clarity on what to focus on now.

This retreat exists to create distance from the noise. To slow thinking down enough to properly examine your strategy, your risk profile, and the way you are actually operating in the real world, not the version you talk about online.

This is where things get simplified.

A glimpse into the environment and pace of our most recent trading retreat held in Portugal:

For many people, the problem is not lack of knowledge. It’s fragmentation.

Too many strategies
Too many inputs
Not enough space to think

What actually happens during the retreat

This is not a conference

There is no stage, no scripts, and no rushing from session to session.

The retreat is structured, but deliberately spacious. Enough structure to create momentum. Enough space for the conversations that matter to actually happen.

  • Long-form discussions rather than short talks

  • Real deal breakdowns, including what went wrong

  • Time to pressure-test your own strategy with people who understand the reality of trading

  • Access to experienced operators throughout the week, not just during sessions

  • Evenings where the most valuable conversations often happen naturally

What changes for people after the retreat

Everyone arrives with different backgrounds, levels of experience, and goals. What they leave with is surprisingly consistent.

Not a new strategy.
A clearer relationship with the one they already have.

People stop guessing.

Many participants came in with multiple ideas, half-built strategies, or a sense that they were “busy but not aligned”. By the end of the week, most had simplified their approach and committed to a clearer lane that actually fit their circumstances, capital, and temperament.

Several described feeling calmer and more decisive, not because they learned something new, but because the noise dropped away.

Clarity and recalibration

“I finally feel confident focusing on one direction instead of constantly questioning myself.”

Perspective changes everything.

Spending time around other serious operators had a levelling effect. Less experienced participants stopped feeling behind. More experienced ones realised they were closer to where they wanted to be than they thought.

Seeing how others think, decide, and handle uncertainty gave people a more accurate sense of where they stand and what is realistic next.

Confidence through context

“It made me realise I’m actually in a much stronger position than I’d been telling myself.”

The room matters.

Almost everyone commented on the quality of the group. Different stages, different backgrounds, but a shared seriousness and openness.

Because people were accepted by application, conversations went deeper quickly. Trust formed fast. There was no need to perform, impress, or sell.

For many, this became the most valuable part of the retreat.

The group and the bonds

“The conversations alone were worth the week. You can’t replicate that online.”

People leave with movement, not motivation.

Participants consistently left with:

  • Clear next actions

  • Better questions to ask

  • Fewer distractions

  • A stronger sense of direction

Several went on to execute deals, restructure their approach, or change how they allocate time and capital in the months that followed.

Not because they were pushed.
Because things finally made sense.

Momentum and next steps

“I left knowing exactly what I needed to do next, and why.”

This is not about transformation for a week.
It is about changing how you operate when you return to real life.

In their own words

Why this is different

Most property events focus on scale, energy, and information.


This retreat is designed around depth, trust, and clarity.

That difference changes everything.

The distinctions

  • There is no stage hierarchy. Everyone is accessible throughout the week.
  • There are no sales presentations, upsells, or hidden agendas.
  • Time is not compressed into short talks. Conversations are allowed to run where they need to.
  • The group is curated by application, not volume.
  • Real experience is valued more than polished theory.

The people in the room

The retreat is led and supported by people who actively operate, trade, and make decisions in the real world.

They are not “on stage” for an hour and gone. They are present throughout the retreat, involved in discussions, deal breakdowns, and informal conversations.

Ross Harper

Property Trader, Owner of Auction House Scotland, Serial Enterpreneur

Ross Harper

Property Trader

From council house to castle and from Deadpool to Dubai a story of one property trader's unique vision

Jay Howard

Property Trader & Auction Expert

Jay Howard

Property Trader & Auction Expert

A leading UK property trader and auctions expert with 20+ years of experience and nearly 5,000 transactions, Jay Howard was instrumental in Auction House London's success and co-authored an Amazon #1 bestseller on auctions.

Saif Derzi

Property Investor & Trader

Saif Derzi

Property Investor & Trader

Saif Derzi, 2022 property trader of the year has been in business for over a decade with a background in Pharmaceuticals and property. He scaled and portfolio to 100 properties then became a property trader, trading over 700 houses in the last 5 years

Scott Marshall

Founder, Roma Finance

Scott Marshall

Founder, Roma Finance

2016 Financial Services Entrepreneur of the Year, founded Roma Finance, a specialist bridging lender supporting property traders and investors. Roma provides fast, flexible funding solutions.

Piotr Rusinek

Trader & Co-Founder of Hammered

Piotr Rusinek

Trader & Co-Founder of Hammered

A prominent property deal-maker and co-founder of Hammered and Auction Buyers Club, is renowned for his strategic expertise. He’s a sought-after mentor and speaker in the UK property market.

Matt Siddell

Advisor, Investor & Entrepreneur

Matt Siddell

Advisor, Investor & Entrepreneur

Seasoned entrepreneur who has founded and led multiple ventures in real estate and professional networking. He is respected by his peers and his clients, having built an extensive network spanning the UK, USA, UAE and the wider Middle East.

In addition to the core team, further contributors may be involved depending on the final group and focus of the retreat.

Rather than fixing a long speaker list in advance, the retreat is designed to remain responsive to the people in the room. Additional perspectives are brought in where they add genuine value, not to fill slots.

Just as importantly, participants themselves are carefully selected. The quality of interaction within the group is as valuable as access to any individual speaker, and the dynamic of the room is treated as a core part of the experience.

The retreat is designed around the room as a whole, not a fixed line-up.

Why Dubrovnik. Why Now.

A City Built on Trade.

For centuries, Dubrovnik was one of Europe’s great merchant republics. Ships left its harbour trading across the Mediterranean. Deals were negotiated in stone palaces overlooking the sea. Commerce built this city.

This retreat takes place in that same spirit. Not theory. Execution.

The Programme

25 Apr – 1 May 2026 · Dubrovnik, Croatia

Saturday 25 April — Arrival

Arrive at the private Adriatic villa. Welcome dinner. Meet the group. Set the tone for the week.

Sunday 26 April — Foundation

Property market overview: where opportunity sits in 2026. Deal structuring masterclass. Open discussion.

Monday 27 April — Auction Strategy

Full day on auction mechanics — bidding, reserves, distressed assets, off-market acquisition. Live deal case studies.

Tuesday 28 April — Finance & Capital

Creative financing structures. Private lending, joint ventures, moving faster than the market. Guest session from a specialist broker.

Wednesday 29 April — Dubrovnik Day

Excursion into Dubrovnik Old City. Informal morning. Afternoon networking. The conversations here are often the most valuable of the week.

Thursday 30 April — Deal Rooms

Each attendee presents their live deal or challenge. The group works through it together. Real problems. Real solutions.

Friday 1 May — Close & Commit

Morning review: what you are taking home and actioning. Commitments made to the group. Farewell lunch on the Adriatic.

The Venue

Where You'll Stay

The retreat is based at a private villa on the Adriatic coast, outside Dubrovnik. Secured exclusively for the group. Not a hotel. Not a conference centre.

A private property where you wake up to open water, eat together, and work in a setting that removes every distraction.

The Villa

Private Adriatic villa, sleeps the full group. Outdoor terraces and pool directly on the coast. Fully staffed — catering, housekeeping, logistics handled. All meals included throughout the week.

The Hotel Option

For those who prefer a hotel, the Dubrovnik President Hotel is the recommended option. Five-star, directly on the water, ten minutes from the Old City. Private transfers arranged for all group sessions.

Both options are within the same area. The group eats and works together regardless of where you sleep.

Logistics

Nearest airport: Dubrovnik Airport (DBV). Direct flights from major UK cities. Private transfers from airport to venue arranged on arrival day.