Suburb Data with Damien & Jeremy

Episode 30 challenges the old property investing rule of “location, location, location” and argues that timing matters far more. Using decades of historical growth data across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, Jeremy and Damien show how leadership repeatedly changes between markets, with some cities booming while others stagnate or even decline over the same period. Over the long term, growth...

In episode 61, Damien and Jeremy examine whether interest rate cuts really drive property prices higher, or whether that idea is being overstated. Looking at decades of historical data, they compare the RBA cash rate with national capital growth and find that while lower rates can support borrowing capacity, confidence and buyer demand, the relationship with property growth is relatively weak and...

Shared Links Capital Cities: House Markets https://research.suburbdata.com.au/shared/E4EEB4E408BF72BD027E81281F4D7072 House Markets: 3-Month Change https://research.suburbdata.com.au/shared/18368BEBF2DE0D7CEFC933E898A51F39 Capital Cities: Units https://research.suburbdata.com.au/shared/8AD3311D6D2720C2B508158070359F9E Capital City Units: 3-Month Change https://research.suburbdata.com.au/shared/4EC...

Episode 29 challenges the way property experts apply Warren Buffett’s famous advice to “be greedy when others are fearful.” Using more than a decade of online search data and decades of historical price movements, we test whether buying into fearful property markets actually produces stronger future growth. The results show the opposite pattern, with markets displaying stronger buyer demand and po...

Episode 28 challenges the idea that a property market can become too hot to invest in. We explain why strong buyer competition, fast sales and prices moving above previous benchmarks are not warning signs in themselves, but symptoms of demand exceeding supply. The episode also looks at why some professionals may avoid hot markets, including the difficulty of securing property and the failure of ba...

In Episode 59, Damien and Jeremy revisit how property investors should analyse markets in 2026 and whether anything has fundamentally changed over the past few years. They cover the role of supply and demand, how DSR 3 is used to assess investment potential, why relying on a single metric can be dangerous, and how factors such as population growth, yield, recent data and statistical reliability sh...

Episode 27 challenges the idea that certain suburbs or properties are inherently investment grade. We test the claim against long term data and show that affluent areas, premium streets and expensive properties do not consistently outperform cheaper markets over time. The episode also examines risk and yield, finding that so called investment grade markets can be more volatile, offer lower rental...

In Episode 58, Damien and Jeremy break down the latest July market data across Australia and examine where conditions are strengthening, slowing or beginning to shift. They compare houses and units across the capital cities using DSR, market cycle timing, stock on market, days on market, yields and recent price movements, with Darwin continuing to stand out while Perth remains strong but further t...

Episode 26 exposes how demographic data can be misinterpreted when investors confuse supply with demand. We explain why a suburb containing mostly houses does not automatically mean houses are the most sought after property type, and why the same mistake is often made with family demographics. The episode shows how vacancy rates and stock on market provide a more useful and current view of where d...

Episode 25 challenges the belief that investors should prioritise high yield and cash flow positive property. We explain why capital growth has a much greater impact on long term wealth, how stronger growth can also lift rents over time, and why targeting unusually high yields can eliminate most of the property market from consideration. The episode also explores when yield should matter more, inc...

Episode 24 challenges the claim that rent money is dead money. We compare owning a home with rentvesting and show why renting where you want to live while investing in a stronger growth market can produce a better financial result. The episode explores tax deductions, mortgage interest, hidden ownership costs and the opportunity cost of buying in a location that suits your lifestyle but may delive...

Episode 23 challenges the common advice to simply save for a property deposit. Instead, we argue that while disciplined saving matters, leaving money in the bank can slow progress and delay entry into the market. The episode explores a more active path by building capital through share investing first, then using that time to learn how property works, how leverage changes outcomes, and how to spot...

In episode 57, We break down the latest June 2026 market data across the Australian property landscape, focusing on what is actually changing and what still looks largely the same. We walk through the capital cities for both houses and units, covering shifts in values, DSR, market cycle timing, stock on market, days on market, vacancy rates and rental growth. The episode highlights the continued s...

In episode 56, Damien and Jeremy answer listener questions on some of the most common issues facing property investors right now, including affordability, capital growth, market cycle timing, yield trends and when it may or may not make sense to sell. They cover how to think about cheap versus expensive markets, explain why a low market cycle timing score does not automatically mean sell, and show...

Episode 22 examines the claim that investors need to adapt their strategy every time the market changes. We show that while market conditions can affect timing and decision making, they do not change the core principles of successful investing. Using long term capital city data, the episode highlights that there is almost always a market booming somewhere in Australia, even when others are flat or...

In Episode 55, Damien and Jeremy unpack what the latest Suburb Data figures are showing across the Australian property market. They walk through the capital cities for both houses and units, covering changes in values, DSR scores, market cycle timing, stock on market, days on market, vacancy rates and rental growth. The discussion highlights the strongest markets, the ones beginning to improve, an...

Episode 21 challenges the idea that bigger land automatically means better capital growth. We explain why block size on its own can be misleading and show that what really matters is the land to asset ratio, which measures how much of a property’s value sits in the land rather than the building. Using clear examples, the episode shows why older properties and select boutique stock can outperform n...

Episode 20 tests the advice to buy at the bottom of the market. We show how hard it is to identify a true bottom in real time, and why flat periods can drag on for years or produce false signs of recovery. Using historical data across hundreds of markets, we compare buying after a decline with buying into a boom and find that the stronger results usually come from markets already showing clear upw...

Episode 19 challenges the idea that desirable areas are always in high demand. We explain the difference between appeal and true market demand, showing that prices rise when buyers have both the desire and the capacity to compete, not simply because an area has attractive features. Using historical examples and broader market data, we show that affluent, highly desirable locations can underperform...

Episode 18 challenges the advice to buy under the suburb median. We explain why the median has nothing to do with what an individual property is worth, and why real value is determined by recent sales of similar properties nearby, not a suburb wide price marker. The episode shows how this strategy can mislead investors, cause them to ignore half the market, and waste valuable time in rising condit...

Episode 17 tests the claim that public housing hurts capital growth. Using census data from 2006 to 2021, we compare suburbs with low and high levels of public housing and find no meaningful difference in long term price growth. We also examine changes in public housing over time and show they do not provide a reliable signal for future growth either. The episode goes further by looking at yield a...

In this episode, we break down the 2026 Federal Budget and what the proposed tax changes could mean for property investors, renters and first home buyers. We examine the planned changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, explain how grandfathering works, and discuss the likely flow on effects for borrowing power, serviceability and long term portfolio growth. Our conversation also explores...

Episode 16 tests the claim that cheap property markets are the riskiest in tough times. Looking at five national market corrections across the past 45 years, we group markets by price and compare how they performed when growth stalled or turned negative. In every case, the cheaper markets held up better than the expensive ones, directly contradicting the common advice that lower priced areas fall...

In this episode we challenge the idea that a 2 or 3 percent vacancy rate is the sign of a balanced rental market. Using national data, city level comparisons and long term vacancy and rent growth trends, we show that today’s market is far tighter, with balance looking closer to 1 percent in many cases. The episode also explains how vacancy is measured, why the relationship between vacancy and rent...

Episode 14 examines the belief that infrastructure projects drive capital growth. Using long run ABS data, project level case studies and a review of more than 120 individual projects, we show that most infrastructure has little to no reliable link to stronger price growth. In many cases, the relationship appears to run the other way, with rising property values helping fund new projects rather th...