The Property Couch

In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Luke Oxenham and Polly Chu unpack a common property investing myth:Waiting for the perfect time before you start.From interest rates and market cycles to cost of living, family plans and global uncertainty, there always seems to be a reason to hold off.But as Luke and Polly explain, waiting for perfect certainty can sometimes leave people sitting on the sidelines for years.This episode explores how to plan for uncertainty before buying property, including stress testing your repayments, modelling higher interest rates...

Two months on from the Budget's negative gearing and CGT changes, the data is telling a clear story. In our latest episode, Ben sits down with couch crew Luke Oxenham, investment-savvy mortgage broker, and Polly Chu, Qualified Property Investment Advisor, both fielding real client conversations daily. Together, they're unpacking what's actually happening on the ground: auction clearance rates stuck below 50% for weeks (the worst run since 2018), open home attendance down 43% year-on-year, and the lending data driving it all. How lenders scrambled to rewrite borrowing power calculators within days of Budget night — some borrowers lost up to $160K in...

(Webinar) New vs Established Property: What Should You Buy in Today’s Market? - Tuesday, 28 July @ 7:30PM 👉 www.thepropertycouch.com.au/registernowWith the government’s new tax settings encouraging investors towards new property, one big question is starting to dominate the conversation:Does a better tax benefit automatically make a new property the better investment?In this special Tuesday episode, Ben breaks down the equation every property investor should consider before choosing between a new build and an established property.Because while tax savings can make an inve...

In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Shane Pope and Luke Oxenham share what they wish more clients knew before buying property.Shane starts with the negotiation side, unpacking how agents can create pressure and urgency during a deal — and why buyers often have more space than they realise to make a calm, quality decision.Luke then explains the finance side, including why settlement length is often less important than the finance clause, cooling-off period, and the time needed to secure unconditional approval.Together, they cover the parts of buying property that can feel stressful, co...

(Upcoming webinar - 7:30pm AEST, Tues, 28th July) New vs Established Property: What should you buy in today’s market? Register here: https://thepropertycouch.com.au/registernowDo owner-occupier suburbs have better capital growth?New Cotality research suggests the answer is often yes — particularly when it comes to units.Between 2010 and 2026, units in owner-occupier-heavy areas grew by 99%, compared with 65% in investor-heavy suburbs. Applied to the national median unit value at the beginning of that period, that represents an estimated $148,000 difference in capital gains.  But does that...

When someone leaves a two-star review calling you "property spruikers," you've got two choices: ignore it, or read it out loud and respond properly!In this Throwback Tuesday snippet, Bryce & Ben unpack a listener's concerns about high debt, over-leveraging and vested interests... and why a healthy dose of scepticism is no bad thing.For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 437 | The Biggest Danger People Face When Looking at Property Data.LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >> MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP: 👉 Apple: https://app...

Welcome back to Friday Fundamentals on The Property Couch.In this episode, Shane and Luke tackle a question that’s suddenly everywhere:Would you still buy an established property today if the negative gearing benefit is deferred?Their answer? Yes — but it depends on your goals, your timeline, and the quality of the asset.This conversation unpacks why negative gearing is only a moment in time, why growth still does the heavy lifting over the long term, and why chasing a tax outcome can be a da...

"I don't think it can get much worse for people trying to get their first property.”  That’s Glen James, best-selling author, financial educator, host of the award-winning Money Money Money podcast and today’s special guest. From Glen's journey as a self-confessed "recovering spender" to why your first home doesn't need to be your forever home, this conversation explores the money habits, finance strategies and changing tax landscape shaping the next generation of property owners and investors. You'll learn: ✔️ The outdated first-home advice you can ignore ✔️ Whether rentvesting still s...

When you’re renovating, it’s easy to look at three quotes and feel your eyes drift straight to the cheapest one. Because surely cheaper means smarter... right?! But as Three Birds Renovations share in this Throwback Tuesday snippet, the cheapest quote can sometimes end up costing you the most. For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 181 | Tips from Three Birds Renovations on How to Create the Perfect Renovation, Survive It, and See a Return on Investment!LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >> MOOR...

In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Ben is joined by Glen James to explore one of the most overlooked ideas in wealth creation:The best investment is often in yourself.From pay rises and career growth to business income and automated investing, this conversation unpacks why the biggest returns early on often come from increasing your earning power — not from chasing speculative returns in a small portfolio.Glen explains how human capital becomes real capital, why personal contributions matter so much in the early wealth-building years, and why improving your income can be...

Is fear quietly influencing your investment decisions? With today's market creating uncertainty, it's easy to second-guess yourself. Headlines, market sentiment and endless opinions can make even experienced investors hesitate. In this episode, Ben is joined by high-performance coach Brett Burton and KD, Couch Crew, to unpack the psychology behind successful investing—and why your biggest challenge isn't always the market... it's often your mindset. You'll discover: Why uncertainty causes even experienced investors to hesitate The mindset loop that drives every financial decision How to separate facts from fear during changing markets Why patience...

When starting your property investment journey, it’s easy to get pulled in every direction.  One person says Brisbane is the place to buy. Someone else suggests Melbourne. And before long, the question becomes: Which market should I pick?  But as Bryce and Ben unpack in this Throwback Tuesday episode... that might not be the best place to start. The real question is: What do you need this property to do for you?  For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 272 | The Unspoken Truth About Growth Corridors & Picki...

Welcome back to Friday Fundamentals on The Property Couch.In this episode, Shane and Ben tackle a question that’s suddenly everywhere:Are investors about to make emotional decisions they’ll regret?From panic-selling regional properties to suddenly chasing yield, off-the-plan deals, or “safer” tax-driven strategies, there’s a lot of emotion in the market right now.Shane and Ben unpack why fear-driven decisions can be dangerous, why “doing something” is not always the same as doing the right thing, and what investors should actually be looking at before maki...

What separates people who successfully build wealth through property from those who stay stuck? After thousands of coaching sessions, buyer enquiries, property purchases and podcast interviews, John Pidgeon has seen the patterns firsthand. John is the Director of Envisage Property, co-host of the property podcasts This Is Property and a regular contributor on Money Money Money, as well as the bestselling author of Sort Your Property Out & Build Your Future. Over the years, he's helped thousands of Australians navigate their property journey through coaching, buyer's advocacy, lending strategy and education. He’s joined by Be...

You’re not just the actor in your story. You’re the person who can rewrite the script.In this Throwback Tuesday episode, Bryce and Jaemin Frazer unpack how the beliefs we carry about ourselves can shape our confidence, identity and future... and why real change starts when we stop being a passenger in our own lives.For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 270 | How to Recover When You’ve Lost Everything. LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >> MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:...

In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Shane and Evan Lucas unpack a much bigger issue than the usual property or tax headline:has the social contract around work, education and getting ahead been broken?Evan argues that the current debate around intergenerational inequality is focusing too heavily on the margins while missing the core problem.For many Australians, the traditional path of studying hard, working hard, and moving forward financially does not feel as reliable as it once did. Education costs more, HELP debts are larger, taxes bite earlier, and the reward...

With EOFY fast approaching, Ben is joined by BanTacs tax expert Julia Hartman and Couch Crew and Senior Empower Wealth Tax Advisor, Danish Ahmed to unpack the latest tax developments impacting property investors... This episode covers: ✅ The ATO's newly-finalised holiday home rules✅ What qualifies as a "new build" (and where the loopholes and unanswered questions still exist)✅ How unused super contribution caps can create valuable tax planning opportunities before 30 June ✅ Why negative gearing hasn't disappeared — it's simply become a deferred tax benefit ✅ The biggest misconception investors have about property values, and why residential real...

The RBA just hit pause... holding the cash rate at 4.35% after three hikes in a row this year. And the vote was unanimous, with all nine Board members backing the hold.Ben Kingsley and economist Evan Lucas break down what the unanimous decision really signals, why the RBA's own inflation forecasts still have them cautious, and whether this is genuinely the peak... or just the calm before more pain.💡 Thinking about refinancing or adjusting your loan strategy? Let the Empower Wealth Mortgage Broking team help you compare your options.<br...

In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Shane Pope and Luke Oxenham tackle a very practical question:If you already own property, what’s the smartest next move?With the tax landscape changing and investors reassessing their options, this conversation explores why growth still matters most — and why your principal place of residence may be more important than ever in shaping your next step.Shane and Luke unpack the idea of improving your home, releasing equity, and getting positioned to act while others are still sitting on the sidelines.They also disc...

The rules may be changing, but the fundamentals haven’t.As proposed negative gearing reforms dominate headlines, many investors are asking the same question:Should I rethink my strategy?To help answer that, Ben Kingsley welcomes Lachlan Delahunty, Founder of Follio and a property professional who has been involved in more than $2 billion worth of property acquisitions.Together, they explore what really drives long-term property performance and why some investors risk being distracted by tax outcomes rather than investment fundamentals.In this episode, you’ll lear...