The Property Couch

Welcome back to The Hill I’ll Die On , our Friday mini-series inside The Property Couch .  Each week, a member of the Couch Crew steps up to share a bold money or property opinion they’re willing to stand behind — and unpack the behind-the-scenes truths most people think… but rarely say out loud.  This week’s guest is Luke Oxenham , one of Australia’s leading mortgage brokers.  Luke’s hill?  Don’t...

📍 Melbourne’s property market has been the worst performer in the country for years… so is it finally time for a comeback? In this episode, Ben is joined by property valuation expert Greville Pabst and new Couch Crew member Shane Pope , a Melbourne-based buyer’s advocate who works closely with owner-occupiers at the coalface of the market. Together, they unpack what’s really happening across Melb...

Auctions can be intense… and it’s not just the bidding that drives the pressure. In this bonus episode, Bryce chats with behavioural economist and psychologist Phil Slade about why auctions trigger powerful emotions, how time pressure and competition can cloud judgement, and what you can do to avoid falling into the bidding war trap. For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 338 | Going Ape...

Welcome to the first episode of our brand-new Friday mini-series: The Hill I’ll Die On . Each week, one member of the Property Couch crew steps up to share a bold money or property stance they’re willing to stand behind and unpack the behind-the-scenes truths most people think… but rarely say out loud. First up: Ben Thompson . As a QPIA and auctioneer with over 1,000 auctions under his belt, Ben m...

Rates are back in the spotlight… and with them comes the big question:  👉 Should you fix your loan?  In this episode, Ben sits down with mortgage experts Luke Oxenham and Kirsty “KD” Dunphey to unpack what rising interest rates actually mean for:  Borrowing power  Mortgage jail  Fixed vs variable decisions  Investor strategy in a rising-rate cycle  Because just because the bank says you can borro...

With the May 2026 federal budget approaching, rumors of negative gearing changes are reaching a fever pitch. At The Property Couch, we’ve always said you only need 2 to 3 properties to change your life, but how would a formal cap impact your long-term plan? Watch the full video on YouTube here > Before we get there… Stop the presses! Let’s acknowledge that for the second time in less than a wee...

Is the government about to pull the rug out from under the rental market? 🚨 With housing affordability dominating the headlines, Federal Labor and the Treasury are officially modeling potential changes to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Negative Gearing.  Note: This deep-dive presentation was originally produced by Ben Kingsley for the Property Investors Council of Australia (PICA). Given the gravity...

Folks, this could be shaping up to be the biggest risk of 2026...   Yep. We’re back with one of our MOST popular episodes of the year, our 2026 Property Market Outlook!   The economy has run hotter than the RBA expected, but higher rates and rising living costs are starting to bite. At the same time, tight supply, strong population growth and government incentives (like the 5% deposit scheme) are...

Is our off-the-plan bias fair? You be the judge. In this bonus episode, Bryce & Ben respond to a listener challenge and explain why their data-backed bias against off-the-plan properties exists... and the rare exceptions where it might still make sense. For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 88 | Investing in Newly Developed Areas, Getting into the Property Market, and Career as a Buy...

Folks, this is it… Welcome to the very first episode of The Property Couch’s next chapter. 🎉  We’re kicking things off with one of the most important yet misunderstood drivers of financial success, personal growth, and long-term wealth:  Goal setting and more importantly, consistency. 🎯    Joining us on the couch is Brett “Birdman” Burton : Adelaide Crows legend, now a Leadership & Wellbeing...

There is no perfect property plan. Only the one that fits your life.  In the final chapter of How to Retire on $3,000 a Week , Bryce and Ben walk through real-life case studies that show how different Australians apply the same framework in very different ways. Young families. Singles. Rentvesters. Empty nesters. Career-focused couples. Each starting from a different place, but all work toward the...

Building wealth is only half the job. Keeping it is what really counts. In Chapter 13 of How to Retire on $3,000 a Week , Bryce and Ben explain the critical shift from getting wealthy to staying wealthy and walk through the three main ways investors land the plane in retirement.  This chapter is not about chasing more. It is about protecting what you have built, creating sustainable income, and se...

Tax is not the reason to invest in property. But it can shape the outcome more than most people realise.  In Chapter 12 of How to Retire on $3,000 a Week , Bryce and Ben unpack the tax side of property investing in a clear, balanced way.  We're talking about ownership structures, negative gearing, stamp duty, land tax, capital gains tax, and the role tax plays in building long-term financial...

Property investing is not a level playing field. In Chapter 11 of How to Retire on $3,000 a Week , Bryce and Ben lift the veil on the property industry and explain who gets paid, who they work for, and how everyday investors can unknowingly end up on the wrong side of the deal. You’ll learn the difference between free advice and fee-for-service advice, how conflicts of interest show up in disguise...

Do you want a second job… or a strategy that quietly works in the background? In Chapter 10 of How to Retire on $3,000 a Week , Bryce and Ben unpack the real difference between active and passive investing and explain why passive strategies suit most Australians looking to build wealth without sacrificing their lifestyle.  This chapter cuts through hype and gives you clarity, permission, and confi...

You don’t build wealth just to lose it. In Chapter 9 of the How to Retire on $3,000 a Week audiobook, Bryce and Ben unpack the most overlooked pillar of investing: defence. Protecting your lifestyle, your income, and your assets so that one unexpected event doesn’t undo decades of effort. This is not about fear. It’s about resilience, responsibility, and peace of mind.   🎁 FREE for a limited time...

Cash flow is where most property plans succeed or fail. In Chapter 8 of the How to Retire on $3,000 a Week audiobook, Bryce and Ben break down why cash flow management is the hardest pillar to master and why it matters more than any single property decision. This chapter shows how to move beyond basic budgets, trap surplus with confidence, and put your money to work in a way that supports both you...

Property investing isn’t just about what you buy; it’s about how you fund it. In Chapter 7 of How to Retire on $3,000 a Week, Bryce and Ben unpack borrowing power, loan structure, and why productive debt, used well, can accelerate your investing journey, while poor structure can quietly stop it in its tracks. If you want to keep building without hitting a glass ceiling, this chapter is essential....

Not all properties are created equal: some properties create momentum while others create frustration. In Chapter 6 of the audiobook edition of How to Retire on $3,000 a Week , Bryce and Ben unpack what separates investment-grade property from investment stock, and why asset selection can make or break your long-term results. This is where property investing becomes a system, not a gamble. 🎁 FREE...

Compounding doesn’t reward speed. It rewards patience. In Chapter 5 of the audiobook edition of How to Retire on $3,000 a Week , Bryce and Ben explain why time, not talent, is the real driver of long-term wealth. If you’ve ever felt impatient, wobbly, or distracted by short-term noise, this chapter will reset your perspective. 🎁 FREE for a limited time only as Bryce’s farewell gift. Two chapters...

Why does property keep showing up in Australian wealth stories? In Chapter 4 of the audiobook edition of How to Retire on $3,000 a Week , Bryce and Ben break down why property works in Australia from human behaviour and owner-occupier demand to tax advantages, stability, and leverage. 🎁 FREE for a limited time only as Bryce’s farewell gift. Two chapters daily from 6–12 February. Listen now! To se...

You can look rich and still run out of money. You can be wealthy and never have to work again. In Chapter 3 of the audiobook edition of How to Retire on $3,000 a Week , Bryce and Ben unpack what wealth actually means, and why time, health, and people matter just as much as money.  This chapter changes how you think about wealth, for good. 🎁 This audiobook is FREE for a limited time only as Bryce’...

If you don’t know where you’re starting from, how can you expect to get where you want to go? In Chapter 2 of the audiobook edition of How to Retire on $3,000 a Week , Bryce and Ben introduce the Seven Grades of Financial Wellbeing: a simple but powerful way to assess where you’re at today and what it’ll actually take to reach financial peace. This chapter connects the dots between money and lifes...

What if real wealth isn’t about how much you have… but how you live? In Chapter 1 of the audiobook edition of the best-selling How to Retire on $3,000 a Week , Bryce and Ben challenge the obsession with “more” and ask a better question: how much is enough for you?  This is the chapter that reframes property investing as a tool, not the prize, and introduces the idea of financial peace, personal so...

After more than a decade on The Property Couch, this may be the most important episode we’ve ever recorded...    That’s because this special episode marks the moment before Bryce steps back from the podcast to begin a sabbatical.  But before he does, Ben and the very first Stig, Ivise, pause to reflect on the journey so far. This episode is a celebration of:  🌱 11+ years of education, storytellin...