The Property Couch

If a property reaches its advertised reserve price... doesn't it have to sell? Surprisingly, no. In this week's FUNdamental Friday, Shane Pope is joined by veteran auctioneer Glen Coutinho to unpack Victoria's recent auction rule changes and explain why they may be creating more confusion rather than clarity. They discuss: ✅ What happens when a reserve price is published ✅ Whether a vendor is actually required to sell ✅ Why buyers may be misunderstanding the new rules ✅ How auctions are c...

You get paid. You’re careful. You don’t do anything extravagant. Then a week later, you check your bank account and think… where did it all go?! In this week’s Throwback Tuesday snippet, Ben and Bryce unpack the idea of slippage (the small, everyday spending that quietly adds up...) and explain why the answer isn’t necessarily more willpower. 📖 How to Stop Money Slipping Through Your Fingers 🎧 Listen to the original episode 📗 Get Make Money Simple Again free LISTEN TO THE FIRST ...

Your biggest asset may not be your home or property portfolio. It could be your ability to keep earning an income. But what happens to everything you’ve built if illness, injury or death suddenly takes that income away? In Episode 618 of The Property Couch, Ben is joined by Chemere Brown, Head of Financial Planning at Empower Wealth, and Don Glendinning, Regional Sales Manager at NEOS, to unpack the personal insurance safety net behind your wealth plan. Through real-life claim sto...

Can Australia continue funding the level of concessions, subsidies and benefits we're currently providing? In this week's FUNdamental Friday, Ben Kingsley is joined by Evan Lucas for a thought-provoking discussion about government spending, welfare, pensions and the growing cost of supporting an ageing population. The conversation explores whether Australia's safety net is targeted in the right places, and whether some government benefits should be better aligned with financial need. They dis...

Four rate rises this year. And the RBA may not be finished yet... The Reserve Bank has unanimously raised the cash rate by another 0.25 percentage points, taking it to 4.60% — its highest level in 15 years. With property prices falling and the economy showing signs of slowing, could another rate rise be on the cards in November? Ben Kingsley and economist Evan Lucas unpack today’s decision in this September Economic & RBA Update. 💡 Thinking about refinancing or adj...

With borrowing capacity tightening and negative gearing changes reshaping the numbers, investors are being pushed towards cheaper properties, higher yields and new strategies. But could adapting to the new environment mean compromising the quality of your assets? In this jam-packed Q&A episode, Ben, Polly and Luke unpack the post-budget property traps investors need to avoid, before answering listener questions about grandfathering, offset accounts, upgrading the family home...

Settlement day is finally here. After months of preparation, research, inspections, negotiations and paperwork, ownership of the property is about to transfer into your name. But what actually happens on settlement day? In Episode 10 of PRE-Purchase, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope explain how settlement works, what PEXA is, when you'll receive the keys, and the practical lessons they've learned from years of helping buyers navigate moving day. You'll also learn why settlement times aren't gu...

The auction is over. You're the highest bidder. But the property didn't sell. Now what? In Episode 8 of PRE-Purchase, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope unpack one of the most misunderstood parts of the buying process: negotiating after a property passes in. You'll learn what happens immediately after the auction, why buyers shouldn't rush to increase their offer, the first question to ask the agent, and how experienced buyers use time, information and good questions to negotiate more effective...

Your offer has been accepted. Time to celebrate... but not quite settle in just yet. In Episode 6 of PRE-Purchase, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope explain what happens between having an offer accepted and becoming unconditional. This is the stage where finance approval, building inspections and pest inspections are finalised. While many buyers think the deal is done once their offer is accepted, there are still some important steps to complete before the property officially becomes uncondition...

You've found a property you like. You've completed your research. Now comes one of the most important questions in the entire buying journey: Are you actually ready to commit? In Episode 4 of PRE-PURCHASE, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope walk through the final checks buyers should complete before making an offer or raising their hand at auction. From building and pest inspections to contract reviews, street inspections, neighbour considerations and risk management, this episode focuses on re...

Most buyers don't lose money because they failed to find a property. They lose money because they didn't spend enough time understanding the market. In Episode 2 of PRE-PURCHASE, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope explain how to research property properly, set effective search parameters and build the market knowledge needed to buy with confidence. This episode builds on Episode 1 and explores what happens after you've designed your property brief. You'll learn why inspecting properties is one of ...

Thinking about buying a home but not sure where to start? Welcome to PRE-PURCHASE, a practical step-by-step series designed to help buyers navigate one of life's biggest financial decisions with greater confidence. In this introductory episode, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope explain why they created the series, share their backgrounds in property, and walk through the framework that will guide the next 10 episodes. Whether you're preparing to buy your first home, upgrading, downsizing or simp...

What would happen to your finances if the person who usually manages the money was no longer there? In Episode 615, Ben Kingsley, Kirsty Dunphey and Polly Chu explore women’s financial independence and the risks that can quietly build through career breaks, unpaid caring responsibilities and leaving the bigger financial decisions to a partner. They also share practical ways to protect your future, from understanding your cash flow and investments to super contribution splitting, househo...