Property Investment Podcast Network

Negative gearing was never part of the plan for Iconic Investing's Aneesh Thomas and John George. They buy for cash flow, land and below-valuation prices, and say price corrections are now opening up even more opportunities. On this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, host Liam Garman speaks with Aneesh Thomas and John George of Iconic Investing, two Brisbane nurses-turned-buyer's agents, to ask: if your strategy never depended on tax breaks, what is there to fear from tax changes? So, how have they stayed the course through the federal budget and shifting interest rate expectations? They target affordable markets between $400,000 and $600,000, tight rental conditions, land of more than 600 square metres and yields of at least 4 per cent. They also reveal what they avoid, from house-and-land packages to markets that have already run hard, and share the mistakes they see most often: emotion tops the list, followed by chasing tax outcomes, "backyard" investing and hotspotting. Thomas tells the story of a friend who bought a $1 million Brisbane property renting for $700 a week and is now working overtime to cover the repayments. Along the way, the pair discuss where they still see value in regional Victoria and NSW, why high rates can mean less competition, and why they believe the best time to buy is whenever you're ready. George also opens up about the commercial property lessons he learned the hard way, including an office that sat vacant for 10 months, and why he says it isn't for everyone. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email [email protected] for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.

NSW collected 23 per cent less residential stamp duty in September than a year earlier, and Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman say it's only the start. But when the conversation turns to mortgage brokers, the hosts stop agreeing. On this live episode of Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman dig into the numbers behind a sharp fall in NSW residential stamp duty: $663.7 million collected in September, down from $864.3 million a year earlier. Extrapolated across the country, they put the potential loss at $7.36 billion, a figure that sits inside the $6 billion to $8 billion range they've been predicting for months. The pair also unpack the NSW Labor pledge to let investors restructure trusts hit by the new discretionary trust tax without triggering stamp duty, and Victoria's promise to return its property tax threshold to $50,000. Then there's the data. Brisbane listings are up 40 per cent on last year with a clearance rate of just 20 per cent, unemployment has ticked up to 4.7 per cent, and part-time jobs have dropped by 74,000. Tarrant shares what buyer's agents and brokers are telling him on the street, from tactical finance to banks loosening up, and explains why he says now is the time to have a good broker in your corner. And then it gets heated. Tarrant takes aim at a looming levy hike on brokers while Garman plays devil's advocate – arguing consumer protection is a fair reason for scrutiny. Who wins the argument? You'll have to listen.

From warehouses to medical centres and service stations, not every commercial asset is as safe as it looks. Victor Kumar says three simple tests can separate a smart buy from a costly mistake. A long lease looks like security, but when the tenant walks out, you may be struggling to find a replacement. In Part 2 of the Post-Budget Guide to Commercial Property Investing, Phil Tarrant sits down with Victor Kumar, founder and director of Right Property Group, to unpack the hidden risks in "safe" commercial assets, and how to compare very different commercial asset classes. Victor says every asset should pass three tests: how easily it can be re-leased if the tenant leaves, whether the building will still do its job in 15 years, and who pays when major repairs hit. He explains why industrial assets such as warehouses tend to score well on the first test, while specialised assets like childcare centres and fast-food sites can take longer to re-let. From there, the pair break down office, industrial and retail, including why the rent on paper isn't always the same as rent in practice and rate re-leasability risk across sectors, from storage to service stations and childcare. Finally, Victor outlines the sectors he believes face structural pressure post-budget, including CBD offices, childcare and NDIS-related buildings, and why he says residential is "all about sentiment" while commercial is "all about mathematics".

Investors may be wasting time and money on property tactics that no longer stack up, as rising costs and changing market conditions force a rethink of how to build wealth. Here is what they need to know to stay ahead. On The Smart Property Investment Show, Liam Garman is joined by Jason Titus, director of Buyers Edge Property, to explore the difference between long-term investment strategy and the tactics needed to achieve it. Drawing on more than 900 property transactions, Titus explains how rising construction costs, longer build times, and lending constraints have changed the numbers behind granny flats, duplexes, and small subdivisions. The pair explore alternative portfolio strategies, including established Melbourne units with stronger rental yields and the importance of assessing each asset against broader financial goals rather than focusing on property type or portfolio size. Titus also discusses Australia's varied market conditions, the risks of conflicting advice and the need to reassess investment plans as income, borrowing capacity, and lifestyle priorities change. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email [email protected] for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.

Building a property portfolio takes more than capital growth, with one investor keeping out-of-pocket holding costs to just $11,000 over five years while building a four-property portfolio. On The Pure Property Podcast, Phil Tarrant and Aaron Findlay, senior buyer's agent at Pure Property Investment, speak with Jamie Kerr, a Central Coast wedding photographer who began investing just before the pandemic after receiving a property investment book for Christmas. The couple bought properties across Perth and Brisbane, including one for $320,000 that later sold for $815,000, with proceeds from two Perth sales helping fund their $1.58 million family home on the Central Coast. Kerr says the four properties cost around $11,000 out of pocket to hold over five years, with rising rents helping offset expenses as values increased, with Findlay breaking down the figures, including rental yields, acquisition costs, capital growth, and equity. Now at their borrowing limit, the couple is considering selling another investment to reduce their home loan before potentially using equity to buy again. The discussion explores how investors can balance portfolio growth, debt reduction, and family priorities while keeping their long-term financial goals in sight.

Sentiment is low, loan commitments are slipping, and investors are waiting for the dust to settle. But with billions in investor capital on the sidelines waiting to enter the property market, one expert says this could be one of the best buying windows in years. On this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, host Liam Garman sits down with Sam Gordon of Australian Property Scout to unpack his theory that capital doesn't vanish when confidence falls; it simply waits. Gordon says that when confidence returns, an estimated $100 billion will flood back into real estate, and buyers who move while sentiment is low will get the best deals. The pair also dig into Gordon's recent interview with shadow treasurer Tim Wilson, including what he says the Coalition would do about negative gearing, capital gains tax and SMSF lending. Gordon explains why he thinks limited recourse borrowing arrangements could be the first policy to return, and why he expects the "biggest rental boom Australia has ever seen" as vacancy rates tighten across the capitals. Gordon then turns to where he sees opportunity, from Darwin, the only capital city that hasn't fallen month on month, to the 18.6-year property cycle debate. He reveals why he's been buying more aggressively since the budget than at any point in his 17 years of investing, including shopping centres, industrial and medical assets, and what he'd tell his 19-year-old self if he were starting again. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email [email protected] for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.

Shadow housing minister Andrew Bragg says the budget has delivered fewer homes, higher rents, and fewer first home buyers, and tells Phil Tarrant what the Coalition would do if it wins office. On this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, Phil Tarrant is joined by Senator Andrew Bragg, the Liberal Party's shadow minister for housing, to examine what has changed for investors, renters, and first home buyers since the federal budget. Bragg argues the government's new tax measures have made conditions worse, pointing to what he says is a fall in home loans, rising rents, and a decline in annual housing supply over its time in office. The pair also discuss the pressures on builders, from migration-driven demand to construction costs, red tape in the National Construction Code and industry insolvencies. Bragg then outlines the Coalition's plan, including repealing the new taxes, cutting the building code, and making it easier to build granny flats, while acknowledging that getting repeals through the Senate would be a challenge. The pair also grapple with using super as a mortgage offset, the growth of "retired renters", and a Coalition policy of aligning migration with housing availability, with the next federal election less than two years away. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email [email protected] for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.

Bigger assets, higher yields, better exchange rates, and a growing commercial property market are putting New Zealand on the radar for Australian investors. On How I Met My Broker, Hung Chuy is joined by commercial buyer's agent Steve Palise to explore why he has expanded into New Zealand and what Australian investors need to know before buying across the Tasman. Palise said that Australians buying in New Zealand can access commercial assets with net yields of 6 to 7.5 per cent, while the exchange rate and absence of stamp duty can stretch their purchasing power by 20 to 30 per cent. The pair also examine commercial lending, including lease doc loans, higher loan-to-value ratio (LVR) options and what different budgets can buy, from sub-$1.5 million warehouses and retail properties to larger multi-tenant assets. Palise also explains why he moved away from residential property and how his team approaches commercial due diligence, while warning that the current yield opportunity may not last as more investors enter the New Zealand market.

Starting a portfolio in today's market takes more than buying the right property, with strategy, cash flow, and borrowing power shaping how far investors can go. On The Smart Property Investment Show, deputy editor Emilie Lauer is joined by Josh Crealy, founder of LEVR, to discuss how investors can start building a property portfolio from scratch in a tougher market. Crealy explains why investors need to look beyond Australia's headline market and understand the different cycles playing out across capital cities, particularly when working with a limited borrowing capacity. The pair discuss why lower-priced properties remain resilient, with affordability pressures pushing demand into cheaper parts of the market and creating opportunities for investors who understand where that demand is heading. Crealy shares why he still sees opportunity in Melbourne, pointing to population growth, falling dwelling supply, and rising rents, while established units are also gaining appeal as investors place greater emphasis on cash flow and borrowing capacity. The conversation also explores the importance of having the right team, structuring investments correctly and using equity and refinancing strategically, while Crealy warns against taking on high-risk developments too early in a portfolio-building journey. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email [email protected] for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.

Rate rises, housing shortages, and shifting investor strategies are putting Australia's property market under pressure and raising bigger questions about homeownership. On Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant is joined by Momentum Media director Alex Whitlock to examine the forces reshaping Australia's property market, from interest rates and housing supply to changing investor strategies. The pair discuss expectations for further rate rises and why borrowers should be reviewing their mortgage costs, with Whitlock sharing how a conversation with his lender secured a significant rate reduction. The housing shortage also comes under the microscope, with the collapse of Western Sydney builder Bathla Group highlighting the pressures facing construction and development, while community resistance to higher density continues to complicate efforts to increase supply. Looking further ahead, Tarrant and Whitlock examine the 2026 Intergenerational Report and its implications for homeownership, wealth transfers and Australians who may rent for life, before turning to the growing appeal of high-yield inner-city Melbourne apartments for investors.

As tax changes reshape residential investing, investors are looking harder at commercial property, with industrial and medical assets standing out for their income potential. On The Smart Property Investment Show, Phil Tarrant is joined by Damian Collins, founder of Momentum Wealth and executive chairman of Westbridge Funds Management, to examine where investors can still find opportunities. The pair explore why changing tax settings are pushing investors to look beyond residential property and towards income-producing commercial assets, where higher yields can offer a different path to returns. Collins explains the appeal of syndicated commercial property investments, particularly across industrial and medical assets, while outlining what investors should look for when assessing a fund manager, their track record, and underlying properties. The conversation also compares the outlook across commercial sectors, with industrial and medical property attracting optimism while offices remain under pressure from elevated vacancies and changing work patterns. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email [email protected] for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.

The budget may be old news, but its impact is still unfolding, with borrowing power, lending rules, and investor strategies all facing further change. On The Property Nerds, Arjun Paliwal and Jack Fouracre revisit their post-budget predictions to see what has changed, what has not, and what could still be coming. The pair examine how lenders have responded to negative gearing changes, with borrowing capacity taking a smaller hit than initially expected as banks recalibrated their calculators. They also look at lenders introducing 40-year loan terms and high-LVR products as competition for investors heats up, while APRA's 3 per cent assessment buffer remains a potential shift to watch. Trusts are also back under the microscope, with the pair challenging claims they are becoming obsolete and looking at the potential tax changes still ahead. The conversation turns to what could happen by May 2028, including the potential return of negative gearing, changes to rental income assessments and how lower interest rates could reshape investor cash flow.

Mortgage demand is falling, borrowing costs remain under pressure, and new lending models are emerging, leaving the property finance sector facing a period of major change. On Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant is joined by Annie Kane and Julian Barnes from Broker Daily to examine the latest developments across mortgages, lending and property finance. The trio looks at the prospect of further rate rises, mortgage affordability and the battle between banks to win a shrinking pool of borrowers, with mortgage demand reportedly down 16 per cent year on year. They also explore bitcoin-backed home loans, with cryptocurrency emerging as a potential source of deposit funding, while volatility and loan-to-value requirements create new risks for borrowers. Private lending comes under the spotlight as the sector expands across development finance, raising questions about the risks building beneath the surface, while mortgage brokers continue to dominate despite banks pushing their proprietary channels. The conversation also examines AI's potential to transform the mortgage process, from applications to decision-making, before turning to the bigger challenge facing property: how to get more housing built.