The Elephant In The Room Property Podcast | Inside Australian Real Estate

Are you grappling with decisions about your investment property? In this episode, we dive into a range of listener questions to provide the insights you need. We’ll explore the impact of land tax variations across different states and discuss the pros and cons of buying in A-grade versus B-grade suburbs. Our discussion also touches on the reasons behind the surge in properties for sale in lifestyl...

Are you curious about how demographic changes will shape the property market in the coming decade?  In this episode, we chat with Simon Kuestenmacher from The Demographic Group to dive into the evolving trends in wealth transfer and their impact on housing. Simon gives us some great insights into the demographic factors affecting today’s wealth transfer, exploring how predictable these shifts are...

Have you ever wondered if there’s a need for vendor advocates or if it’s just another money grab by some players in the real estate industry? Vendor advocacy is a term you may not have heard before, but it’s a service that’s gaining popularity. A vendor’s advocate is an advisor engaged by a person selling their property to help them choose a selling agent to make the selling process easier. Think...

How can integrity be restored in an industry often criticised for its ethical shortcomings? In this episode, we sit down with John Minns, the NSW Strata and Property Services Commissioner, to delve into the measures being taken by the Office of Fair Trading to regulate and improve the real estate sector’s reputation. With an industry plagued by issues ranging from underquoting by sales agents to p...

Ever found yourself torn between relying on hard data or trusting local insights for your property investments? It’s a tough call many investors struggle with, wondering if the numbers can tell the full story or if boots-on-the-ground knowledge is more reliable. In the Suburb Trends Report for the month of June 2024, we dive into the age-old debate of whether numbers or on-the-ground knowledge hol...

Choosing the wrong broker can lead to higher costs and missed opportunities. It’s crucial to find someone who doesn’t just process loans but also offers solid advice and guidance. With so many options, it’s tough to figure out who’s genuinely good and who’s just looking to close a deal. So in this episode, we break down how to find the perfect mortgage broker for you. We kick off by explaining the...

Wondering how the 2024 property forecasts are stacking up so far? Tune in to our mid-year review as we dive into the real estate predictions that nailed it and the ones that missed the mark. In this episode, we dissect the key trends, market shifts, and unexpected twists that have shaped the housing landscape in the first half of the year. Today, we have Louis Christopher with us again to share hi...

How can you distinguish the trustworthy buyer’s agents from the rest in a market flooded with options? With so many buyer’s agents vying for your attention, it's easy to fall prey to misleading promises and hidden agendas. In this episode, we delve deep into the world of buyer’s agents, uncovering the essential red flags every prospective property buyer should be aware of before making that crucia...

Are you curious about what Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) is and how it actually works? Do you wonder if it's necessary and worth considering when purchasing a property, or do you think it's just an additional cost you can avoid? In this episode, we sit down with Strachan Taylor from Helia, Australia’s leading provider of LMI, to delve into the details. We aim to clarify how often claims are mad...

Are you curious about the hidden forces driving Brisbane’s property boom? What impact is the upcoming Olympics having on the property market, and is the construction for the games draining resources from other sectors? Beyond these questions, what else could be behind this sustained period of rapidly rising property prices, and is there any sign of a slowdown on the horizon? Today, we delve into t...

Could increasing housing supply alone effectively address our current affordability challenges, or is the housing crisis more accurately characterised as just a recurring issue with a new label? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Cameron Murray, Chief Economist at Fresh Economic Thinking who specialises in property and urban development. We dive into the question of whether the term "crisis" ac...

In this month's Suburb Trends report for May 2024, we're diving deep into the world of property investment, exploring a critical issue that every investor should be aware of: false positives in property data. With the property market experiencing upward pressure on prices due to low supply, investors risk being misled by appearances, just like the allure of a dimly lit nightclub before the lights...

As Australia grapples with the ambitious challenge of constructing 1.2 million new dwellings in the next five years, we aim to answer the pressing question: Is this target attainable? We talk about the implications of this challenge, including the need to address housing pressure and determine suitable locations for new developments. Moreover, we discuss the potential impacts of immigration polici...

With property values stagnant amidst a backdrop of soaring prices in other cities, we explore the factors contributing to Melbourne's unique market behaviour. Could the city's prolonged lockdowns have played a significant role in shaping its property landscape? What does the future hold for buyers and sellers? Meanwhile, rising rents beg the question: how does this affect the apartment market? Tod...

Ever wondered why economists seem to favour land tax? What happens if we get rid of stamp duty on houses? And why do some people say negative gearing and capital gains tax discounts are bad? We're here to unpack these questions and more. Join us in this episode as we explore the often-debated topics of negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount with Chief Economist Michael Blythe, whose r...

What is driving the relentless rise in Australia's property prices, and how are homeowners managing as the fixed mortgage rates from the COVID era expire? These are important questions as we deal with rising inflation and increasing living costs, so in this episode, we tackle these issues to see how they're affecting both the housing market and potential buyers. Joining us to break down these comp...

Ever wondered why people end up spending more than they planned at auctions? What about the missed opportunities for vendors due to ineffective auctioning practices? These common pitfalls not only impact individual transactions but also shape the broader dynamics of the auction process. In this episode, we're joined by award-winning auctioneer Andy Reid to understand why these problems happen at a...

Depending on a potentially biased strata report could lead to problems later on, like unexpected costs or hidden issues with the property.  Without clarity on what might be omitted or misrepresented in these reports, buyers risk making decisions based on incomplete or biased information, therefore jeopardising their investment. Today, we are joined by Michael Ferrier, the founder and MD of EYEON P...

With Queensland’s housing market facing an unprecedented crunch, many are left wondering: What can be done to ease the strain? The consequences of this housing crisis are far-reaching, affecting individuals, families, and communities across the state because it's not just about finding a roof over your head anymore. With housing prices soaring and options dwindling, the dream of owning a home is s...

Negative gearing and its companion, the capital gains tax discount, have reemerged as hot topics in economic and political circles. But why does it matter? Well, it affects investors, homeowners, and the economy as a whole. There's a lot of confusion about what it all means and what might happen next. In this episode, we explain what negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount are all abou...

The real estate landscape is constantly evolving, and recent data has unveiled surprising trends in Australian cities' property markets. Brisbane's boom, Hobart's unexpected decline, and Perth's resurgence raise intriguing questions and we're unsure if the numbers we're seeing are telling us the whole truth. Are these trends indicative of long-term changes, or are there underlying factors that cou...

Are rental pressures set to continue in 2024, or is there hope for easing in certain areas? Securing a rental property is becoming increasingly challenging in 2024, posing difficulties for landlords and tenants alike. For property investors, it’s about facing the task of strategically investing their funds. Meanwhile, tenants are faced with the uncertainty of rising rental rates and limited housin...

Do first home buyer incentives actually help make housing more affordable, or do they unintentionally worsen affordability issues? As the debate surrounding first home buyer incentives continues, we seek to understand their true effect on property prices and overall housing affordability. Governmental interventions, such as lending to first home buyers, raise questions about the source of funding...

Are we adequately prepared for the consequences of the rapid surge in apartment construction and the subsequent increase in strata dwellings? As we witness a significant increase in the number of new dwellings within strata schemes, it's essential to assess whether our current strata management practices are sufficient to handle the associated challenges. From potential conflicts among residents t...

The YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) movement proposes increasing urban density while maintaining the quality of life. This raises questions about the potential impact on developer profits, the power struggle between YIMBYs and NIMBYs, and the broader implications for city planning and community dynamics. Join us as we talk with Melissa Neighbour, an urban planner, community builder, and the co-founder...