The Property Couch

In our latest Bonus Episode for 2023, (also the 5th episode from the Talking Property Tax with Julia series), Ben is deep diving into the latest tax updates from across Australia!   To help him, we’ve got Julia Hartman, Empower Wealth Chief Technical Advisor and Bantacs’ Founder 🧾👔📅 . Together they'll be unpacking... Important Changes to HECS/HELP Debt – changes you MUST ACT on quickly Sup...

Join us in our latest episode of MythBusters as we debunk the widespread misconceptions surrounding taxes and financial planning. Prepare to be enlightened as we unravel the complexities of last-minute tax preparation and unveil the secrets of meticulous documentation.     Brace yourself for the rollercoaster ride through the ever-changing landscape of tax laws and their impact on depreciation cla...

In this week’s episode, we sat down with NRL superstar Chad Townsend. And let us assure you folks, this one is NOT JUST for sports lovers… It truly has something for EVERYONE. It is absolutely packed with inspiration and wisdom.  Chad's incredible journey from 17, when he made a huge decision to purchase his first property, to his current state is an inspiring testament to perseverance. His s...

Investing can be a daunting task, as it requires making definitive decisions in an uncertain and ever-changing market.     Many people fall prey to the sirens that lure them toward investment traps, but today’s guest Michael Kemp, the author of the Ulysses Contract, has spent 35 years mastering the art of investing and avoiding these traps.     He emphasizes the importance of staying focused on yo...

The temperatures are dropping, the end of the financial year is looming and the Reserve Bank of Australia have just released their cash rate folks!   The RBA’s May update is packed with global news, from Banking Woes in the US to the train wreck that is the UK economy, I also cover the Property Market Inflection Point and deep dive into a Rental Yield Analysis.  Tune in now to hear Ben’s evaluatio...

We all have those family and friends with impressive portfolios and beautiful renovations that leave us wondering... “How the heck did they do it?!” Like...is the answer simply earning a higher income?? Or did they hit the golden number of properties to achieve their dream lifestyle? And ultimately, is it possible for you to achieve the same results?!? Well, you’ve arrived at the perfect episode t...

In today’s episode, we’re covering exactly how to reposition and recover when interest rates have nearly wiped out your entire buffer! From making your reduced "rainy day” money last to Ben’s Golden Buffer Ratio (plus a behind-the-scenes look at how our experienced team of planners do it), we’re sharing how to bunker down and hold for the long-term as the market bottoms out (which we reckon i...

There are many myths about buying property, but... it is important to avoid the hype of the headlines folks!  In this week’s episode, we tackle some of the biggest property-buying myths going around – and bust them right open with facts and real-life examples from our team on the ground.   This is Part 2 of our series on myths and misconceptions and today we unpack some of the big ones;  🔎 Are pr...

When it comes to property investment, data is a very valuable tool for making informed decisions.  However, looking at single data measures can be dangerous, especially when it comes to something as complex as the housing market. To truly understand affordability and sustainability, we need to consider a range of factors and look at the bigger picture.   Take median house prices, for example. This...

Welcome back to Ben’s RBA and Economic Update where this month's announcement could mark a “turning point” for Australia...  Will the Reserve Bank of Australia finally end the country’s 11-month rate hike or is the inflation genie still out of the bottle?!   Ben unpacks this momentous decision and what it means for Australia’s future (can we expect more rate rises?!). Plus, we’re diving into...

Last week we sat down with one of our Mortgage Brokers and well, they shared a client’s story which completely shattered our hearts and became the driver behind today’s show…. You see, this client had fallen for a common but sadly misguided lending myth which resulted in her losing THOUSANDS of dollars…😮🙁    That’s why, in this episode, we’ve switched things up to become Ben and Bryce, your Mort...

In our first Bonus Episode for 2023, (that’s also the fourth episode from the Talking Property Tax with Julia series), Ben is deep diving into the latest tax updates from across Australia!   To help him, we’ve got Julia Hartman, Empower Wealth Chief Technical Advisor and Bantacs’ Founder 🧾👔📅 . Together they'll be unpacking... Changes to working from home Expense claims  CGT affects most of...

Given today’s unique and nail-biting economic environment, it’s no surprise that so many people are asking, “What is the next best move for me?!”  And the sad truth is...there is no ‘one size fits all’!  What we can give you contact~first.name, however, is the next best thing... Our insider's knowledge, skills, tips and tactics that we (and our advisors) use for our clients that helps them to...

The ONE tax question we get asked all the time is... What name should I put my tax structure in?!? And, as Ben says, “It is a minefield.”  To help you avoid getting into any tricky situations we’re unpacking everything you need to know about tax structures in 2023. Did we mention...We’ve got help from one of the best! Re-joining us in the studio (For the FIRST time in 2023 – which we’re BEYOND pum...

Humans are not rational creatures - especially when it comes to our finances. So how can we identify and navigate our natural human biases and emotions around investing and risk?! Folks, in Episode 433 we’re exploring all of this and more as we dive into the fascinating topic of behavioural finances with the help of returning podcast guest and ultimate money mindset guru, Evan Lucas! Author of the...

Welcome back to another monthly RBA update and yet another cash rate hike. (No surprises here folks!). Tune in now to find out whether we’ve crept up another 25 basis points bringing the rate to 3.60%, or if the Reserve Bank of Australia has decided to jawbone consumers this month to curb spending. Overarching all this is the goliath question... If the economy is slowing (tick), unemployment is ri...

It’s sad but true, we’re back covering yet ANOTHER tax grab that’s set to take 62.5% of your earnings...The Windfall Gains Tax. 🤯 Welcome back to our first Q&A session for 2023 where we’re tackling this shocking tax grab, along with a line-up of fantastic questions like… 👉 Should I renovate and rent now or rent then renovate later?! 👉 Why buy Established over new housing?! (How much do you...

A mortgage is one the biggest loans most people will ever take out in their life. It’s a scary thought. Now here’s the only thing scarier than that... Being stuck in Mortgage Jail and not realising it. This sad truth is unfortunately what too many folks are facing, especially with rising rates.  That’s why in Episode 431, we’re shining a light on why EVERYONE needs an investment-savvy broker to he...

Folks, we’re super excited to be welcoming a return guest to the couch that’s one of the greatest minds in the industry! Re-welcoming... Damian Collins, Founder and Managing Director of Momentum Wealth!   He’s also the Chairman of Westbridge Funds Management , has been on the Council of the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia ( REIWA ) since 2011 and served as President of the Institute fro...

Folks, it’s about that time of year again...  We’re dusting off our crystal ball, crunching the numbers from the last Quarter and using our hard-earned experience from past market cycles to give you... Your ultimate Property Market Outlook for 2023!   From the suburbs that are set to soar to when we can finally expect this record rate hike to end, we’re covering everything you can expect this year...

Welcome back to a new year and Ben’s first RBA report for 2023! After a month’s hiatus, Australia’s economic landscape has changed rapidly. Will the board decide to mirror December’s 0.25 rate rise or is a larger rate hike in order? Tune in to find out, plus Ben covers the highs and lows of the domestic market from the ASX’s surprise positive results to falling unemployment and business sentiment....

Why do folks struggle with good money management?    It’s a huge question. Now here’s an even bigger one... How can they overcome it?!    Yep. We're kicking off February with some pretty big and bold content! With many new year’s resolutions fading into the background of life as January comes to an end, we’re aiming to give you an extra boost of motivation by diving into the 3 biggest causes...

Folks, we're finishing our 2022/23 Summer Series with an unbelievably great episode... Meet Steph.    Her first renovation was done on a shoestring budget.   With her husband in between jobs, and Steph herself fresh out of university, there wasn’t much money to play with.  Then, they received some advice....and made the life-changing decision to sell 🙁.  But this isn’t the end of this couple...

Today’s special Summer Series guest didn’t have a typical childhood. Growing up with a scarcity mindset, Maryanne and her siblings lived in an environment where food was scarce and at a young age, were placed into foster care. Then, at just 14 years old, she started making her own way in the world.  If you can’t tell already folks, today's Summer Series story is an incredible tale of breakthr...

Growing up on a rice and cattle farm that would later sell due to Bankruptcy ...    The circumstances that Dale, today’s special Summer Series guest, grew up in are drastically different to the financial outlook he has today.     With 6 investment properties under his belt (with more to potentially come) and an early retirement on the cards, how did he make this complete 360, mind-blowing transfor...