The WA Property Q&A

How do you stand out in real estate without scripts, fake personas, or flashy gimmicks? In this episode of the WA Property Q&A Podcast, I sit down with Justin Merendino from Ray White, one of Perth’s fastest-rising agents, to break down how authenticity, consistency, and old-school work ethic are driving his success. Justin shares how a simple iPhone video turned into a powerful personal brand...

In this episode, I sit down with Tim Connoley, Partner at Urbis, to talk about the big-picture forces shaping Perth’s growth, housing supply, and the future structure of our city. Tim works with large-scale developers and government on major urban development projects, so he brings a unique perspective on how cities actually grow, not just where houses are built, but how infrastructure, migration,...

In this episode, I sit down with Michael McGowan to unpack the role government policy plays in shaping the WA property market. From planning reform to housing supply and affordability, we explore how decisions made at a policy level flow directly through to property prices, development feasibility, and investor outcomes. Michael shares his perspective on the challenges facing Western Australia—fro...

Episode Summary: In this episode, I sit down with Karlie Wolfe, Senior Director of Residential Development & Advisory at Opteon, to unpack how professional valuers assess development feasibility and what really determines whether a project stacks up. Karlie brings over two decades of experience valuing residential development projects across Western Australia—from small triplex sites to large-...

In this episode, I sit down with Cameron Leckey — owner of Rise Urban and WA President of the Planning Institute — to unpack one of the biggest questions facing Western Australia: how do we actually build more housing without destroying the character of our suburbs? Cameron brings a rare inside perspective on how planning really works — from 10-year greenfield developments to infill density around...

In this episode, I’m joined by Robert Mandanici, Vice President of REIWA and Director of Paddington Realty, to unpack one of the most debated topics in Australian real estate right now: transparency in property sales and the growing role of government intervention. We start by examining proposed changes coming out of Victoria around compulsory disclosure of auction reserve prices—and why those ref...

Strata property can be a smart investment—but it can also turn into a financial nightmare if you don’t understand the risks. In this episode, I sit down with my business partner at Rezzi Strata, Nikki D’Agostino, to share real stories from the front line of strata management. We talk about one shocking case where a $12K insurance policy skyrocketed to over $300K, why certain tenancy types are cons...

In Episode 45, Peter Fletcher sits down with industry veterans Nikki D’Agostino and Davide Palermo to take the pulse of WA’s real estate industry—and it’s clear that fatigue is setting in across all fronts. Whether it’s burnout from relentless compliance reform, buyer exhaustion, or mental health strain among agents, this episode explores the human cost of a market under pressure. From the effects...

In this powerful solo episode, Peter Fletcher takes the mic to sound the alarm on a growing crisis in the Australian property sector: the rise of unlicensed buyer’s agents operating in the shadows of the industry. With the proliferation of social media-driven services and vague “investment advisor” labels, too many consumers are unknowingly placing their trust—and money—in the hands of unqualified...

This week on the WA Property Q&A, Peter Fletcher welcomes back Ches Rafferty to discuss the significant changes brought about by AML-CTF (Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing) regulations impacting Western Australian real estate agents and conveyancers.  Ches clarifies the complexities of these new rules, effective July 1st, 2026, emphasizing the importance of customer due dil...

In this episode of WA Property Q&A, we welcome back Nikki D’Agostino, co-owner of Rezzi Strata. With decades of experience in the industry, Nikki shares insights into the complexities of strata management, from handling large-scale developments to guiding residential property owners. She also discussed the importance of proper governance, industry regulations, and the evolving role of strata m...

In this episode of WA Property Q&A, I sat down with Michelle Rigg, General Manager of Rentwest Property Solutions, to discuss the complexities of property management software. We covered Rentwest's journey from using VaultRE, Colmeo, to PropertyMe, and the challenges faced along the way. Michelle shares valuable insights into the decision-making process, implementation hurdles, and the importa...

In this episode of WA Property Q&A Podcast, Nikki D’Agostino joins us once again, this time, not only as a guest, but also business partner and discuss the intricacies of strata management in Western Australia.  Key points: Learn about the current lack of regulations for strata managers,  the importance of transparency in commissions,  the potential for reform within the industry.  Discover ho...

In this episode of the WA Property Q&A, join host Peter Fletcher as he delves into the innovative world of PropTech with guest Peter Schravemade. Explore the REACH program's pivotal role in advancing new property technologies and learn about significant players like DocuSign, Box Brownie, and Tappi. Discover how groundbreaking fashion and smartphone technologies are transforming traditional pr...

In this episode of the WA Property Q&A podcast, host Peter Fletcher interviews Michelle Rigg, the General Manager of RentWest, a property management company in Western Australia. They discuss various aspects of ·      property management, including the history and growth of RentWest, ·      the unique company culture that prioritizes customer experience over traditional KPIs, ·      and how th...

In this episode of the WA Property Q&A podcast, host Peter Fletcher interviews Michael Keil, an experienced real estate agent in Western Australia. Michael shares his journey from starting out in the industry at the age of 18 to becoming a successful real estate professional. He discusses his experiences working in various locales like South Perth, Belmont, and Kalgoorlie, and details his vent...

Dreams and adventures often take a back seat for many business owners. It’s that elusive work-life balance that always seem to be the challenge for most entrepreneurs, but not for Christina Mandanici.   In this episode of the WA Property Q&A podcast, we are joined by Christina Mandinici, co-founder of Paddington Realty, discussing her experience in the WA real estate market and personal journe...

In this episode of the WA Property Q&A podcast, we welcome back real estate expert David Palermo to discuss ·     the importance of choosing the right mentorship in the real estate industry, ·     insights into the evolving dynamics of the property market in Western Australia. ·     The common challenges faced by new agents, ·     the role of social media, ·     and the significance of buildin...

This week, we are joined by Amplified Lending’s finance broker, Ryan Rawlins. Ryan has over 18 years of experience in finance broking and today, we’ll learn some important insights on investment strategies, the importance of understanding lending, and advice for first-time homebuyers buyers looking to maximize their returns in the Western Australia property market.    Listen to the full episode fo...

In this episode of the WA Property Q&A Podcast, we welcome long-time real estate colleague Davide Palermo from 'The Agency.’ In this 40+ minutes we deep dived into various topics including: • the intricacies of buying property in Western Australia. • the dynamics of the current property market, • and the challenges faced by both sellers and buyers. Our conversation also took us into the impact...

In this episode of the WA Property Q&A podcast, we are joined by Paddington Realty Director and REIWA council member, Robert Mandanici. We’re going to talk about the recent changes to the Residential Tenancy Act and the role of REIWA in advocating for property managers and sales reps. We also discussed about the impact of these legislative changes on landlords and tenants so be sure to tune in...

In this episode of the WA Property Q&A podcast, host Peter Fletcher brings on Peter Brewer to discuss various aspects of the real estate industry in Australia. They touch on topics like the evolution of real estate branding, the importance of changing internal culture, the future of real estate offices, and the challenges of training and embracing AI. They also explore the role of Real Estate...

In this episode of the WA Property Q&A podcast, I am reunited with my first real estate mentor and employer, David James. David interviewed me in my first real estate job some 40 years ago and it’s great to see us both still thriving in the real estate industry. Although James has already retired from being a real estate agent, he now deservingly uses his experience and wisdom from many years...

Investing in a property is no walk in the park. There are different legal facets that you need to be aware of to avoid future headaches. In today’s episode of the WA Property Q&A podcast, we’ll deep dive into some legal aspects of property buying with the help of legal expert Les Buchbinder, co-founder of BBV Legal, to discuss the intricacies of buying property in Western Australia. In this ep...

In this episode of the WA Property Q&A podcast, Peter explores the complex world of property buying in Western Australia, focusing on assistance available to first home buyers. Joined by Franca Jankowski, a leading senior conveyancer, and Andy Lo, a top-tier finance broker, the discussion covers various grants, including the first home owner grant, government guarantee scheme, and stamp duty c...