The Property Couch

You probably like to think your financial decisions are rational. But behavioural economics tells us that emotion, instinct and old rules of thumb can influence our decisions far more than we realise. In this week’s Throwback Tuesday, Ben and Bryce revisit their conversation with Phil Slade on the “ape brain”, reacting versus responding, and why the rules that once kept us safe can sometimes work...

Could millions of Australian property investors be leaving things too late? In this week's FUNdamental Friday, Ben Kingsley sits down with Greg Sugars from Preston Rowe Paterson to discuss the practical challenges surrounding the government's upcoming capital gains tax valuation requirements. With approximately 3.5 million investment properties across Australia and only around 6,000 valu...

With cooling market conditions, tax changes and another rate rise expected this year, uncomfortable decisions are starting to surface for many investors.   In this jam-packed Q&A Day, Ben is joined by Couch Crew, Ben Thompson (QPIA) and Shane Pope (Buyers Agent) , to tackle four real scenarios facing property investors right now.  Should you sell a good property when cash flow gets tight?   Ha...

How much money is enough? It sounds like a simple question, but most of us have never actually defined the answer. In this week’s Throwback Tuesday, Ben and Bryce revisit a powerful idea from The Psychology of Money and explore why the comparison game is one you can never win... and how to start working out your own “enough” number . Because if you don’t know what enough looks like, how will you e...

Do you need to clean your home before a bank valuation? In this week's FUNdamental Friday, Ben Kingsley is joined by Neal Ellis from Preston Rowe Paterson to lift the curtain on how bank valuations actually work. Many property owners assume valuers are looking for spotless homes, premium finishes and perfect presentation. The reality is very different. Neal explains what banks really want fro...

 Most investors think they’re buying a property. What they don’t realise is they’re also taking on a small rental business.   That business generates income, incurs expenses, carries risk and creates ongoing tax, compliance and record-keeping responsibilities. While a great property manager can handle much of the day-to-day work, there are some jobs only the owner can oversee.  In this practical e...

Remember when broccoli cost $11 a kilo? 🥦 When everyday essentials are already getting more expensive,  raising interest rates can feel completely backwards . In this Throwback Tuesday snippet, Ben and Bryce explain why the RBA does it anyway... and how cooling demand can help stop inflation from becoming an even bigger problem.  For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 404 | What do Infla...

Do off-market properties really offer the best value? In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Shane Pope and Ben Thompson challenge one of the most common assumptions in property buying. Many buyers believe the best opportunities are hidden away off-market. But in today's market, the guys argue some of the strongest buying opportunities are actually being found on-market, particularly after fail...

Brisbane may already be turning. Interstate investors may be splitting cities into two-tier markets. And 200+ valuers across Australia and New Zealand are the first to know it.   Ben is joined by Preston Rowe Paterson's Neal Ellis and Greg Sugars, who draw on that ground-level valuer network to unpack what's really happening in residential property, including the warning signs that headl...

You’re doing all the right things: steady income, paying down the mortgage, building up the offset. So… why take on more risk? In this Throwback Tuesday snippet, Ben and Bryce unpack why doing well today doesn’t automatically mean you’re set for the future, and why the right investment strategy starts with knowing what you actually want your money to do.  For the original episode, tune in here: Ep...

How much can you really borrow? In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Ben Kingsley sits down with mortgage broker Luke Oxenham to unpack one of the most common questions property buyers ask: "How much can I borrow?" The answer isn't always straightforward. Luke explains how lenders assess income, expenses, HELP debt, credit cards, business income, car loans and more, plus why differe...

Australia’s property market has turned, but how far could prices fall? 📉  In one of our most anticipated episodes of the year, Bryce Holdaway is BACK on the couch with Ben for our 2026 Mid-Year Property Market Outlook!   Together, they unpack what’s changed since February, where the data is pointing now and what could happen next.  🏠 Which markets are holding up — and which are starting to crack...

Introducing Tuesday Toolkit 🧰: a new series designed to help you make sense of what’s happening in property right now. From the latest data and market trends to the frameworks and key indicators we use to understand what’s really driving the market, each episode will give you practical knowledge to cut through the noise, see the bigger picture and make more informed property decisions. Think of i...

Could the next two years be one of the best times to buy property? In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Ben Kingsley is joined by Stuart Wemyss to unpack what's really driving property prices and why the current market could present opportunities for buyers willing to think differently. While many Australians are waiting for greater certainty, Stuart explains why lending volumes, not headline...

What if the “safe” property decision you make today is the one you regret in 20 years? 🤔  With the rules around property investing changing, these are the decisions investors are being forced to rethink.  Joining Ben Kingsley and Luke Oxenham is Stuart Wemyss , founder of ProSolution Private Clients, host of the Investopoly podcast and author of Wealth by Design .   Together, they challenge some...

The RBA has held the cash rate at 4.35% — but that doesn’t mean the rate story is over. In this August Economic & RBA Update, Ben Kingsley and economist Evan Lucas unpack the decision, why inflation is still proving stubborn, and why another rate rise hasn’t been ruled out.  💡 Thinking about refinancing or adjusting your loan strategy? Let the Empower Wealth Mortgage Broking team help you com...

How do you know when you've bought enough property? In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Polly Chu is joined by mortgage broker Luke Oxenham to tackle a question from listener Andrew: "How do you know you're ready to land the plane?" For many investors, the accumulation phase becomes second nature. The focus is always on the next property, the next equity release, and the next...

Regional markets have boomed. Melbourne's established units are back in the spotlight. And after the government's latest tax changes, many investors are asking the same question: Has the property playbook changed?   In this week's Q&A, Ben Kingsley is joined by Polly Chu and Ben Thompson to answer five listener questions from every stage of the property journey.  In this episode...

Every week there’s another headline about artificial intelligence, how quickly work is changing , and which jobs might disappear next. But in this Throwback Tuesday snippet, social researcher Mark McCrindle joins Bryce and Ben to unpack a slightly different question: what kind of work can’t AI take away? For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 185 | The Future of Australia’s Population, Re...

Welcome back to Friday Fundamentals on The Property Couch . In this episode, Shane Pope is joined by Jacob Caine , President of the Real Estate Institute of Australia and Victoria, to unpack a property shift that many homeowners and investors may not be thinking about yet: Home energy ratings. Jacob explains why energy efficiency could become a much bigger factor in how properties are valued, rent...

Recorded just days after Victoria welcomed a new Premier, this conversation couldn't have come at a more pivotal time.  Ben and Shane sit down with Jacob (Jake) Caine, President of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) and the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA), to unpack one question that's shaping the future of Australia's property market:  Are governments solving th...

“Pay yourself first” is one of the most popular rules in personal finance. And to be fair, it’s popular for a reason: it’s simple, memorable, and it works. But what if saving 10% isn’t enough ? In this Throwback Tuesday snippet, Bryce and Ben unpack why the classic “pay yourself first” rule might still leave room for lifestyle creep… and how trapping more of your surplus can help you put your mone...

In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Luke Oxenham and Polly Chu unpack a common property investing myth: Waiting for the perfect time before you start. From interest rates and market cycles to cost of living, family plans and global uncertainty, there always seems to be a reason to hold off. But as Luke and Polly explain, waiting for perfect certainty can sometimes leave people sitting on the side...

Two months on from the Budget's negative gearing and CGT changes, the data is telling a clear story. In our latest episode, Ben sits down with couch crew Luke Oxenham, investment-savvy mortgage broker, and Polly Chu, Qualified Property Investment Advisor, both fielding real client conversations daily.  Together, they're unpacking what's actually happening on the ground: auction clea...

(Webinar) New vs Established Property: What Should You Buy in Today’s Market? - Tuesday, 28 July @ 7:30PM 👉 www.thepropertycouch.com.au/registernow With the government’s new tax settings encouraging investors towards new property, one big question is starting to dominate the conversation: Does a better tax benefit automatically make a new property the better investment? In this special Tuesday ep...