The Property Couch

The 2026 Federal Budget just changed the property landscape... and not in the ways most people expected. Recorded the day after the announcement, this special emergency episode brings Bryce back to the couch with Ben for an unfiltered, fast-thinking breakdown of what actually happened and what it means for property investors. Negative gearing has changed. CGT treatment has shifted. Regional market...

TPC Gold has a new name… say hello to Throwback Tuesdays 👋 Same timeless property investing insights from the archives, just with a fresh new label.  In this one, former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss explains why silence creates uncertainty … and uncertainty creates anxiety. Bryce, Ben and Chris unpack how regular communication builds trust, why even “there’s no update yet” can be reassuring,...

Welcome back to The Hill I’ll Die On , our Friday mini-series where we unpack big questions from the community. This week, Shane and Luke tackle a topic that sparks plenty of debate: Is it actually harder for young people to buy property today — and is it someone else’s responsibility to fix it? They explore the gap between income and property prices, the impact of changing economic conditions, an...

What if the biggest property mistake isn’t what you buy… but what you do next? In our latest Q&A episode, Ben K is joined by Couch Crew Polly & Ben T (Fellow QPIAs) to unpack three real investor dilemmas that don’t have easy answers: 🏡 A regional property surges 60%… do you cash out or stay in? 💰 Sell an investment to eliminate your home loan… or keep building wealth? 👯 Combine forces t...

The RBA just hiked again ... and this time it wasn't even close. Eight members voted to raise the cash rate to 4.35%. Only one dissented.  Ben Kingsley and economist Evan Lucas break down what the 8-1 vote really signals, why the RBA's own forecasts should worry you, and what Ben means when he says "winter is coming for the Australian economy."  💡 Thinking about refinancing or...

What if one simple move could put an extra $662 back in your pocket every month… and potentially boost your borrowing power by up to $100,000 ? In this Friday Fundamentals episode of The Property Couch, Ben Kingsley sits down with tax specialist Danish Ahmed to unpack a time-sensitive HECS/HELP strategy that many Australians don’t even realise exists. With indexation approaching on June 1, this ep...

A $700 inspection could save you $70,000. In Part 2 of our How to Buy a Home series, Ben is joined by leading building inspectors Paul Baker and Miles Clark to unpack one of the most overlooked and financially risky parts of buying property: building and pest inspections. You’ll learn: ✔️ What a good inspection should (and shouldn’t) cover ✔️ How to interpret “major defects” without panicking ✔️ T...

🔥 THE HILL I’LL DIE ON 🔥  Welcome back to The Hill I’ll Die On , our Friday mini-series where industry experts share the one belief they stand firmly behind. This week, Ben is joined by Nerida Conisbee, Chief Economist at Ray White, to unpack a key issue in today’s housing debate: Investors provide rental housing. Nerida explains why this often-overlooked reality plays a critical role in the pro...

Property management has changed… but not in the way most investors realise. In Episode 594, we put the spotlight on one of the most overlooked (and misunderstood) parts of real estate: property management. Joined by experts in the property management field, we’ve got Phil Tarrant, CEO of Managed and host of the Smart Property Investment Show, and Corinne Bohan,  Director of Image Property. Togethe...

📌 Sign the Petition (URGENT – closes next week on 1 May): Victorian Parliament Petition (VIC residents only): https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/petitions/improve-the-efficiency-and-fairness-of-the-residential-tenancies-list/ Change.org Petition (open to all): https://c.org/CjQx88vrbT This is not a typical Property Couch episode. In this urgent and important conversation, Ben steps in...

Welcome back to The Hill I’ll Die On , our Friday mini-series where members of the Property Couch crew share bold property and money opinions they’re willing to stand behind. This week, economist Evan Lucas joins Ben Kingsley to tackle a big topic: Personal income tax. Evan argues that Australia’s current tax system places too much pressure on income earners and may be discouraging aspiration and...

What if the best time to buy your first home… is when everyone else is hesitating? With rising interest rates, higher living costs and shifting market sentiment, many would assume it’s the worst time to enter the property market. But here’s the twist: It might actually be one of the most important times to get your strategy right. Welcome to Part 1 of our 3-part mini-series on how to buy a home ,...

A listener asked a question many property investors quietly worry about: “We’ve bought a lemon… should we sell and move on, or hold? ”   It’s a tough spot to be in.  In this bonus snippet, Bryce and Ben unpack how to determine whether a property is truly a “lemon” — and more importantly whether to cut your losses or stay the course.  For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 253 | Top Tips f...

Welcome back to The Hill I’ll Die On , our Friday mini-series where members of the Property Couch crew share bold property and money opinions they’re willing to stand behind.  This week, tax expert Danish joins Ben Kingsley with a clear message:  Don’t DIY your tax return.  Especially when it comes to capital gains tax.  Dinesh explains how many property investors miss key deductions, overlook imp...

What happens when you pay a property deposit in cash… then reimburse yourself from borrowed funds later? 💸 Are buyer’s agent fees tax-deductible? 🧾 Can you still claim deductions on a holiday home if you use it during peak season? 🏡 And just how far can you trust AI when it comes to tax advice? 🤖 In this week’s jam-packed episode, Ben is joined by Julia Hartman , an old friend of the couch and...

If you’ve ever built a budget, felt good about it… and then completely ignored it a week later — you’re not alone .   The truth is that most budgets don’t fail because the numbers are wrong. They fail because they rely on perfect behaviour in imperfect moments.   For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 337 | The 4 Pillars of Money Health .  LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >> MOO...

Welcome back to The Hill I’ll Die On , our Friday mini-series where members of the Property Couch crew share bold property and money opinions they’re willing to stand behind.  This week, tax expert Julia Hartman joins Ben Kingsley to tackle a controversial topic:  Blaming landlords for the housing crisis.  Julia argues that increasing taxes, regulations, and costs for investors may actually reduce...

🏡 What happens when you’re pre-approved… but still not ready to buy? In Episode 591, Ben is joined by Kirsty, and Couch Crew member, Kirsty “KD” Dunphey, who shares her incredibly honest first-home buyer journey. Her story is one many buyers will recognise: Four years pre-approved before purchasing Endless inspections and auction losses Information overload from friends and advisors Navigating bu...

“Would I be crazy to buy a freestanding home in a street full of units and townhouses?”    In this throwback episode, Bryce & Ben answer this question from a first home buyer and explore why the answer isn't a simple yes or no. For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 305 | Chalk & Cheese: The Difference Between The Art & Science of Investing . LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISOD...

Welcome back to The Hill I’ll Die On, our Friday mini-series inside The Property Couch where members of the Couch Crew share bold money and property opinions they’re willing to stand behind. In this episode, buyer’s advocate Shane Pope joins Ben Kingsley to unpack a powerful truth most sellers and buyers overlook: 👉 The real estate agent is the most important part of your property transaction. It...

The property market is facing a perfect storm… Global conflict is driving supply shocks. Inflation is creeping back in. Interest rates are rising again. And now… tax reform is back on the table. In this groundbreaking episode, Ben is joined by Ray White Chief Economist Nerida Conisbee and Behavioural Economist Evan Lucas to unpack how these forces are colliding and exactly what it could mean for p...

When Bryce and Ben first teamed up, they realised that successful property investing isn’t a one-time event... it’s a repeatable process. In this bonus episode, they revisit the five-step framework they created to help investors build sustainable portfolios. They also unpack one of the biggest traps in property investing  and explain why headlines and hype often lead to “Frankenstein Portfolios.”...

Welcome to Episode 2 of “The Money Stuff We Don’t Talk About” , our Friday mini-series inside The Property Couch.  Each week, one member of the Couch Crew shares a bold money stance and unpacks the financial truths most investors don’t talk about.  This week, Polly Chu shares the hill she’ll die on:  💵 Cash is king.   Having experienced the GFC early in her career, navigated investment banking du...

What if property prices keep rising… even if wages don’t? 🤔 That’s the uncomfortable question we’re unpacking in this Q&A episode, and it’s one every buyer and investor needs to understand. It’s also a big moment for the show… We’re welcoming Polly Chu and Ben Thompson to the Couch Crew for the very first time... and we’re throwing them straight into the deep end. Here’s what we unpack: 📈 Wh...

The RBA has lifted the cash rate again , raising it by 25 basis points to 4.10% in a knife-edge decision. Ben Kingsley and economist Evan Lucas unpack what’s driving the move, what the data is telling us, and what to watch next in 2026.   💡 Thinking about refinancing or adjusting your loan strategy? Let our team help you review your options .   LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >> MOORR...