The Property Academy Podcast

How clean is “clean enough” when a tenant moves out? In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down exactly what the law requires, what “reasonably clean and tidy” actually means in practice, and why so many tenants and landlords disagree at the end of a tenancy. You’ll learn: What “reasonably clean and tidy” means under the Residential Tenancies Act What tenants often miss ... even when they've cl...

What happens to the property market when cars drive themselves, talk to each other, and drop you at the office before parking alone? In this episode, Ed and Andrew explore how self-driving cars could reshape where Kiwis live, how cities grow, and what rentals might look like in 2045. You’ll learn: How autonomous vehicles could change where people choose to live What NZ rentals could look like once...

Should you buy an apartment in 2026? For some investors, it could be the perfect move. For others, it's a trap waiting to happen. In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down the three biggest reasons NOT to buy an apartment, expose two common myths that trip up buyers, and reveal the three scenarios where apartments actually make sense. You'll also hear about the "Apartment Ambush"...

Today’s Case Study Sunday guest is joining from the other side of the world ... literally. In this episode, Ed and Andrew chat with Dr Tiffany Cone, a Kiwi living in Doha, who bought an investment property in Christchurch while living 15,000km away. You’ll learn: How Tiffany bought a New Zealand investment property from overseas How she rewired her “pay down debt” mindset to get over the fear How...

Most Kiwis assume the cheapest suburbs are all tiny towns at the bottom of the South Island, but that’s no longer true. In this episode, Ed and Andrew reveal the 10 cheapest suburbs in New Zealand, and compare them to the most expensive suburbs in the country. You’ll learn: The cheapest suburbs in NZ revealed (including the new No.1) Where house prices are rising and falling the fastest The suburb...

Many Kiwis now use AI tools like ChatGPT to check their numbers before investing, but what happens when the numbers are wrong? In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down a real case where an investor used AI to model their property returns … and ended up with completely different results from Opes+. You’ll learn: What went wrong when this investor used AI to decide what to do with their money Where...

What will really happen to NZ property in 2026? In this special predictions episode, Ed and Andrew look ahead to the next 12 months and map out what might happen across house prices, interest rates, investors, banks, developers, tenants, and the economy. You’ll learn: The top 12 property predictions for 2026 What could happen each month How confident are Ed and Andrew that these predictions will a...

You don’t always need a building consent to increase your property’s value, but most Kiwis have no idea what they can legally do. In this episode, Ed and Andrew unpack the real rules around consent-free renovations and the document every DIY investor must read before lifting a hammer. You’ll learn: Renovations you can do without consent The document tells you exactly what’s allowed The 3 steps to...

What happens when your property manager goes broke, disappears with the bond, and leaves you to clean up the mess? In this episode, Ed and Andrew unpack a real-life horror story from a first-time investor … and explain what rights landlords actually have when things go wrong. You’ll learn: Why some parts of property management feel like the “Wild West” How one investor ended up with $13,000 in dam...

The “best places to buy” lists are everywhere ... but which areas actually have the numbers to back it up in 2026? In this episode, Ed and Andrew reveal the 6 best places to invest in New Zealand this year, using a nationwide scoring system to rank every city from -6 to +6 for investment potential. You’ll learn: The 6 best areas to invest in 2026 Our score for every city in New Zealand for investm...

What does it take to build an 8-property portfolio while raising twins, renovating houses, and self-managing six sets of tenants? In this Case Study Sunday, Ed and Andrew sit down with Cameron and Sam to unpack how they went from DIY renos to new-build investing. You’ll learn: How Cameron and Sam built an 8-property portfolio across new builds, older homes, and a section Why did they move from han...

Buying your first home can feel overwhelming – but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down the exact 8-step blueprint to help first-home buyers go from browsing listings to getting the keys. You’ll learn: The 8 steps to buying a house you’re going to live in How to set crystal-clear buying criteria and map your real budget The 3 mistakes first-home buyers make that can cos...

What do you do when your investment properties suddenly make more money than you need? In this episode, Ed and Andrew unpack a real listener’s dilemma... and answer the question most investors dream of: What should we do with this extra cash? You’ll learn: What to do when your properties turn cashflow positive How an $800/week surplus can trigger a $14k tax bill How many properties could you buy i...

What if, 20 years from now, your house couldn’t get insurance at all? In this episode, Ed and Andrew unpack the government’s new National Adaptation Framework – the long-term plan that shifts climate risk from the government to homeowners directly. You’ll learn: Why some properties may become uninsurable within the next two decades How government reforms will end large-scale buyouts after storms a...

Most Kiwis assume they’ll retire at 65 – but what if you could stop working years earlier? In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down the 8 signs that reveal whether you’re ready to retire sooner than you think (including the one obvious sign everyone forgets). You’ll learn: The 8 early-retirement signals Why some Kiwis can’t keep working until 65 ... even if they want to How part-time work can sla...

When you’re selling your house, should you stick with one real estate agent – or use multiple to “create competition”? In this episode, Ed and Andrew dig into the data behind sole vs multi-agency listings to reveal whether more agents actually lead to more buyers, faster sales, or higher prices. You’ll learn: Whether using multiple agents helps you sell faster or slows you down If multi-agency lis...

Everyone wants to know the best places to buy ... but what about the worst? In this episode, Ed and Andrew reveal the 6 worst areas to invest in 2026, using brand-new national data to show which towns are overvalued, under-growing, and most likely to trap investors. You’ll learn: The top 6 worst places to buy property in 2026 What makes a property market truly “bad” How even high-growth towns can...

What happens when two divorced parents meet, blend families, renovate their way through Auckland – and accidentally become property flippers? In this Case Study Sunday, Ed and Andrew sit down with Ryan and Candice to unpack how they turned life upheaval, multiple moves, and a talent for renovations into mini-retirements, capital gains, and a whole new career direction. You’ll learn: How they becam...

Most Kiwis buy property for capital growth, but what if your goal is cashflow right now? In this episode, Ed and Andrew walk you through the exact 8-step process to find, analyse, and buy an investment property that puts money in your pocket each week. You’ll learn: How to identify true cashflow properties (and the signs to look for) The eight steps to find, compare, and test high-yield deals How...

Do property investors really make housing unaffordable for first home buyers ... or is that just an easy story people tell? In this episode, Ed and Andrew dig into 20 years of buyer data, Treasury research, and international studies to reveal what actually drives house prices … and whether investors are really to blame. You’ll learn: Whether investors genuinely push up house prices If investors cr...

Happy New Year! Most of us think we’ve got decades to sort out our retirement … but what if you measured your future in paydays instead of years? In this episode, Ed and Andrew reveal why your remaining paychecks might be far fewer than you realise – and what that means for your financial freedom. You’ll learn: How many paydays do you actually have left before retirement The simple formula to calc...

Most people think that getting a mortgage approved takes a week or so – but the actual timeline is quite different. In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down how long mortgage approvals actually take, why banks quote 5–10 days, and what really happens behind the scenes before the money lands in your account. You’ll learn: ​The true timeframe to get a mortgage approved ​The exact steps banks and ad...

Most Kiwis have a table mortgage, but few truly understand how they work. In this episode, Ed and Andrew break down the numbers behind New Zealand’s most common mortgage type, including why your repayments barely seem to make a dent in the early years. You’ll learn: How much interest do you really pay over the life of your loan How table mortgage repayments are calculated What happens when rates c...

How much money does a $600k investment property actually make – after growth, cashflow, and the real costs? In this episode, Ed and Andrew crunch the numbers on a recently sold-out new build and reveal what investors can realistically expect over the next 15 years. You’ll learn: The four ways property investors really make money How much this $620k Christchurch property could make The one number t...

How does a DIY builder go from late-night renos to becoming a lifestyle investor with a cash-flowing minor dwelling? In this Case Study Sunday, Ed and Andrew sit down with Lawrence from Auckland to unpack his journey – from gutting a smelly two-bedroom “dump” to building a family home, navigating bridging finance, and eventually adding a two-bedroom unit in his own backyard. You’ll learn: How Lawr...