About this episode

The episode discusses the cooling property market, the surge in listings, and the implications for various buyer segments amidst economic pressures.

In this episode of Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack a property market that is cooling, but not in a simple, one-speed way. Home values fell again in July, Sydney and Melbourne stayed at the front of the downturn, and listings jumped sharply, especially across key parts of Sydney. The bigger question is who actually benefits from this shift. Pete and Chris explain why first-home buyers may not be getting the relief many expected, why the lower end of the market has held up better than the top end, and why upgraders could be looking at one of the more interesting windows of this cycle. They also dig into rising rents, worsening rental affordability, and how changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax are starting to reshape investor behaviour. The conversation then widens to the broader economy, from slower lending and weaker housing activity to pressure on construction, consumer spending and state budgets. They also tackle listener questions on CGT transition rules, valuations, development sites and the growing need for proper tax advice in a more complex market. If you want a grounded read on where fear is building, where leverage may be…

People in this episode

Hosts: Pete Wargent, Chris Bates

Topics covered

• housing market
• property values
• first-home buyers
• rental affordability
• investor behaviour
• economic impact

Keywords

• housing chill
• property market
• Sydney
• Melbourne
• upgraders
• rising rents
• negative gearing
• capital gains tax
• consumer spending

Sponsors

Pearler, Stripe

More episodes of Australian Property Podcast

• Will another RBA hike freeze the property market this spring? · September 5, 2026 · 55 min
• Do you need a buyer's agent in a buyer's market? · September 1, 2026 · 48 min
• Spring buyers' market or false dawn? Rents, listings and 40-year mortgages · August 29, 2026 · 51 min
• Property reset or buying window? Sydney, spring listings and the six-year rule · August 22, 2026 · 45 min
• Deposit bonds explained: how to buy property without an upfront cash deposit · August 18, 2026 · 34 min
• Is now a smart time to buy? RBA on hold, Melbourne and the next move · August 15, 2026 · 47 min

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