Property Investment & Wealth Creation Australia | The Michael Yardney Podcast

House prices are falling across most of our capital cities right now, and the rate of decline is actually picking up speed.

Now, I know what the headlines are going to say about that. They'll call it a crash, a correction, a crisis — and frankly, most of those headlines will be written to scare you, not inform you.

So what's really going on? Is this the beginning of something serious, or is this just a market catching its breath after three extraordinary years of growth?

Today, I cu...

You can be wealthy on paper and still feel poor in retirement. That's the challenge for many property investors: they're asset-rich, but their cash flow doesn't support the lifestyle they want.

That's why many investors think retirement means selling down the portfolio, paying off the debt, and living on what's left. But what if that's not the smartest strategy? What if the better outcome is keeping your best assets and restructuring around them?

That's what I discuss today with Dorian Traill, Wealth Planner at Metropole, who has been involved in property...

Most people think building wealth through property is about being smart enough to pick the right suburb, time the market perfectly, or analyse the data better than everyone else.

What if the most important lessons weren't about property at all?

Albert Einstein never bought a house as an investment. He never negotiated with a bank or agonised over a depreciation schedule. But buried in the things he said across his lifetime are some of the clearest, sharpest principles I've ever come across for thinking like a long-term investor.

Today, we're diving into the wisdom, And perhaps the warnings, Of one of the most iconic voices in personal finance, Robert Kiyosaki.

Now, you've probably heard his famous advice: 'Buy assets, not liabilities,' or his stories about the Rich Dad and the Poor Dad. But here's the thing - hile Kiyosaki's early lessons transformed the way many of us think about money, his more recent tone has taken a darker turn.

But today, Ken Raiss, Director of Metropole World Advisory, and I discuss, what's still relevant, what's changed, and how...

Most investors say they're long-term investors.

But then they check auction clearance rates every weekend, worry about the next interest rate decision, chase the latest hotspot, and get distracted by whatever the media says is working right now.

And that's a problem, because real wealth rarely comes from the investment that looks exciting today.

It comes from owning the right assets for long enough to let compounding do the heavy lifting.

In today's show, I'm going to chat with independent financial adviser Stuart...

Today's podcast is a little different as it is a replay of a discussion I had with Joey D'Agata on the Property Strategy Podcast about the evolution of my investment philosophy and the lessons learned over the five decades I've been involved in property.

We explored my investment philosophy and how my thinking has evolved over time and the lessons I've learned as I progressed from being a beginning investor to a sophisticated investor with a substantial property portfolio.

We discuss the importance of strategic planning in property investment and how...

What if you could sit down with someone who's spent over 50 years investing, building wealth, making mistakes, and getting it right… and ask them what they wish they'd known about money from day one?

Most people think building wealth is about finding the right investment or timing the market perfectly.

But after more than 50 years of investing, I can tell you that's not what really makes the difference.

The biggest financial mistakes I've seen – including some of my own – didn't come from bad markets. They came from misund...

Most people have strong opinions about rich people.

They think the wealthy are lucky. Or greedy. Or born into privilege. Or somehow wired differently.

But here's the problem… if you believe any of that, there's a good chance you'll never build real wealth yourself.

Because those stories aren't just wrong – they're dangerous.

Today, Tom Corley and I discuss the common myths surrounding wealth and the psychology of successful individuals.

We discuss the importance of mindset, the role of luck, and...

If you've been following the headlines, you'd be forgiven for thinking property markets rise and fall on the back of interest rates, government policy, or the latest migration numbers.

But when you step back and look at what really drives long-term property performance, a different story starts to emerge.

In fact, the biggest driver of property values isn't what most commentators focus on at all.

In today's show I speak with leading demographer Simon Kuestenmacher about the real drivers of property markets.

We...

The property market has just taken an interesting turn.

After a strong run, we're now seeing signs that higher interest rates, affordability pressures and buyer uncertainty are starting to bite.

But as always, the headline numbers don't tell the full story.

Some markets are slowing, some are still showing resilience, and underneath it all we still have the same big issue: Australia simply isn't building enough homes for the people who need them.

So today, Dr Andrew Wilson and I unpack what's really...

It doesn't matter whether you own an investment property, whether you're renting, or whether you're desperately trying to buy your first home. This Federal Budget has just made your situation harder.

If you're a tenant, rents are already punishing. Vacancy rates are near record lows, and there simply aren't enough rentals to go around. The tax changes will lightly push rents even higher.

If you're trying to buy your first home, you're already fighting a market that has taken the average deposit savings time out to over 11 years. The budget does nothing to...

There's a strange thing that happens to many property investors.

They'll spend hours worrying about tax, negative gearing, capital gains tax, trusts, land tax, and what the next government might change - yet they'll give far less thought to the quality of the asset they're buying, the level of debt they're taking on, or whether their portfolio is actually going to deliver the long-term returns they need.

And that's dangerous, because saving tax on a poor investment is still a poor investment.

In today's show I chat...

For decades we've celebrated rising house prices in Australia. If your home was worth more this year than last, life felt a bit easier.

Politicians were happy, banks were happy, homeowners were happy.

But after 50 years of almost uninterrupted price growth, we need to ask a harder question: Is it actually good for us if housing just keeps getting more expensive?

The answer, of course, depends on who you are.

Because rising prices have created a lot of winners in Australia: homeowners, investors...

Australia has always promised that if you worked hard, took responsibility, invested wisely and built something for your family, you'd be encouraged - or at least not punished for doing so.

But some of the recent Budget changes raise a very uncomfortable question: are we slowly dismantling that promise?

Because buried behind the headlines, the political spin and the carefully chosen language are proposals that could reshape the way Australians build wealth, invest in property, use trusts, manage tax, fund retirement and pass something meaningful on to the next generation.

Australia's property markets are still rising, but the cracks are starting to show.

Not the type of cracks that suggest a collapse, but the type that tell us the next stage of the cycle will reward careful, strategic investors and punish those chasing yesterday's hot spots.

According to Domain's latest House Price Report, most capital cities reached new highs in the March quarter, but the pace of growth has slowed sharply since late last year.

At the same time, Domain's Rental Report shows vacancy rates have fallen...

Most investors spend their time waiting for the market to do the heavy lifting.

But the more sophisticated investors don't wait. They create their own capital growth.

And in the current stage of the property cycle, that shift in thinking is becoming essential.

If you've been following the property markets lately, you'll know we're in a very different phase of the cycle.

The easy gains of the past are behind us, finance is tighter, and many investors are sitting on the sidelines, unsure...

There's never been more property data available to investors than there is today.

You can jump online and within minutes see median prices, growth rates, suburb rankings, sales histories, heat maps, demand scores and predictive analytics. It all looks impressive. It all looks scientific.

But here's the uncomfortable question…

What if most investors are using that data the wrong way?

What if relying on sales data alone is actually leading people into average suburbs, average properties, and very average long-term results?

If you own property in Australia right now, or you're thinking about buying, what we're going to share with you today could change how you think about where this market is heading.

You see, there's a bit of a disconnect in today's property market, and if you're only following the headlines, it's easy to miss what's really going on.

While prices are still rising and demand is holding up, underneath that, the dynamics are starting to shift.

Growth is slowing. Confidence is becoming more fragile. And the...

Most property investors think finance is just about getting a loan approved.

But in today's environment, that thinking can quietly cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars… or worse, stop you from growing your portfolio altogether.

Because the rules have changed. Lending policies are tighter, serviceability is harder, and one wrong move can lock you out of future opportunities.

So today, Dorian Traill, wealth strategist at Metropole, joins me and we're unpacking how sophisticated investors are navigating finance in this new world.

We ex...

What if the real reason you are not yet where you want to be financially has nothing to do with interest rates, your income, or the market... and everything to do with what my guest today calls your "head trash"?

My guest today is Dr Noah St John. He grew up poor in a wealthy town, surrounded by people who seemed to have cracked the code on money and success while he felt stuck on the outside looking in.

Fast forward to today, and he is the bestselling author of 25 books...

Most property investors think they're saving money by choosing a cheaper property manager.

But what if that decision is quietly costing them tens of thousands of dollars?

Today, we're unpacking why the right property manager isn't a cost at all, but one of the most valuable assets in your wealth-building team.

This conversation is part of my Wealth Retreat Conversations series, where I'm giving you a taste of the quality of thinking, the calibre of speakers, and the depth of conversations you'll experience at Wealth Retreat.

Everyone wants to pay less tax.

But the real question isn't just how to save tax this year. It's about how to structure your wealth so you can grow it, protect it, and eventually pass it on without creating unnecessary tax burdens, risks, or family chaos.

In today's Wealth Retreat Conversations episode, the series we're running to help you get a taste of the type of thinking and insights you'll experience at Wealth Retreat, Ken Raiss Australia's leading property tax strategy answers the common tax questions he gets asked...

Most property investors think success comes down to buying the right property at the right price.

But the truth is… the real difference between successful investors and those who struggle has very little to do with the property itself.

It comes down to strategy.

Because the investors who build long-term wealth don't just buy property - they build a long-term property strategy which includes a financial buffer that allows them to ride out the ups and downs of the market.

In other words, th...

You've probably noticed that some property markets surge ahead while others seem to tread water… even when the broader economic conditions are the same.

It's easy to blame interest rates, government policy, or media sentiment, but those factors only tell part of the story. The real drivers sit underneath all of that, and they're far more predictable if you know where to look.

In today's Wealth Retreat Conversations episode, I want to give you a taste of the type of thinking and insights you'll experience at Wealth Retreat, where leading demographer Si...

Imagine you were able to transform your relationship with time so that you had more balance, were better organized and focused so that you were able to work less and accomplish more.

How would that impact your life?

Well, that's what we are going to talk about today as I speak with Louise Bedford about mastering time for wealth creation.

We explore how effective time management is crucial for achieving success in all life areas.

We discuss the difference between time-for-money and leverage-based...

Australia doesn't just have a housing problem. We have a city problem. And it's about to get a lot worse, according to my guest today, Ross Elliott.

Everyone talks about housing shortages. Almost no one talks about hospitals, schools and services.

So today, we're asking the question policymakers avoid – how much infrastructure do our cities actually need for the people we're adding?

It's all about capacity - not just the number of people our cities can hold, but whether Australia's infrastructure and planning systems can keep up. Ro...

If you're feeling uncertain about what's really going on in the property market right now… you're not alone.

Because the biggest challenge facing our housing markets today isn't interest rates, inflation, or even affordability…

It's uncertainty.

We've got multiple forces all moving at once - some pushing prices higher, others working against them - and for many investors, that's making it harder than ever to form a clear view of what comes next.

And yet… despite all that… property prices are still rising.

...

You've probably noticed your social media feed is full of new "property experts."

Twenty-somethings showing off cars, watches, and "instant success" stories — all promising to help you get rich in record time.

But property doesn't work like that. What they don't tell you is that property isn't a sprint; it's a marathon.

Today I'm joined by Ken Raiss, and together we unpack why real wealth is built slowly, strategically, and patiently.

I know that sounds boring, but stick with us as we discuss the rise of...

What if the biggest reason you'll never build a $50 million property portfolio has nothing to do with money?

What if it's not your income, your borrowing capacity, your suburb selection or even the market cycle that determines how far you go?

And what if the investors who end up with $100 million or $200 million portfolios don't actually do anything dramatically different from everyone else… they just do a few things differently for much longer?

Most property investors never ask those questions.

Instead, they assume th...

Some properties will deliver exceptional growth over the next few years, while others will barely move in value.

And the frustrating part is they could be only a few kilometres apart.

If you're relying on city-wide averages, headlines, or last year's "hotspot," you could be positioning yourself in the slow lane without even realising it.

Today, with Stuart Wemyss I unpack exactly where the momentum is likely to build in 2026… where it probably won't… and most importantly, how to tell the difference before you commit hundreds of thou...

Most property investors don't have a strategy. They think they do.

But buying a property is not a strategy. Renovating is not a strategy.

Chasing a hotspot is definitely not a strategy.

Today, Brett Warren, National Director of Property at Metropole and I explain the difference between buying a property and having a strategic property plan.

We'll also discuss when value-add strategies like renovations and developments actually make sense, and when they're a dangerous distraction.

Takeaways

Is 2026 the year Australia's housing market splits in two?

We've had another interest rate rise. There's talk of tax reform. Global political instability is back on the radar. And yet, in some cities, entry-level property prices are still surging at double-digit rates.

So what's really going on?

Are we heading for a slowdown… or are supply shortages and strong demand about to push prices higher again?

Today I'm joined by Dr Nicola Powell, Chief of Research & Economics for Domain, and while we'll unpack th...

Have you ever noticed that some investors seem to move forward every year, while others stay stuck, despite reading the same books and listening to the same podcasts?

Have you ever wondered why two people can earn similar incomes, buy similar properties, and yet one builds real wealth while the other just stays busy?

And what if the difference isn't the market… but something else?

At the end of today's show you'll understand exactly what it is because today's episode is a special one.

...

What if the next big housing reform doesn't fix housing affordability at all?

What if it doesn't lower property prices, doesn't deliver much extra money to the government for years, but it scares investors out of the market and makes renting even harder?

Because that's exactly what could happen if Australia changes the Capital Gains Tax discount - and it's back on the political agenda again.

Today one of Australia's leading taxation minds, Ken Raiss and I unpack what's really going on.

Supporters...

Every time rents rise, affordability worsens, or housing shortages make headlines, one group is dragged into the spotlight. Property investors.

They're called greedy. Accused of hoarding homes. Blamed for locking younger Australians out of the market.

But is that actually true… or just a convenient narrative?

After more than five decades in property investment, I've noticed a pattern. When housing gets hard, governments deflect. Media simplify. And investors become an easy target.

But here's the real question we need to ask: If property in...

Interest rates are rising again. Inflation isn't backing off. Sydney and Melbourne's property markets are a little wobbly.

And yet…

National house prices are up more than 10% over the past year, and some capitals are still delivering boom-time results.

So what's really going on in Australia's property markets right now?

That's what I discussed today with Australia's leading housing economist, Dr Andrew Wilson, Chief Economist at My Housing Market, to unpack his latest housing market report and there are some fascinating contradictions.

The property rules have changed… again.

What worked five years ago won't work the same way in 2026. The winners won't be the loudest, the fastest, or the most aggressive – they'll be the most strategic.

So today, Brett Warren and I unpack exactly what's changed, what still works, and how smart investors can position themselves to win in the next phase of the property cycle.

We discuss the evolving landscape of property investment, emphasising the need for strategic planning and adaptability in response to changing market conditions.

We expl...

Inflation has eased… except where it hasn't. Interest rates were meant to be heading down… until they weren't. And suddenly everyone's blaming government spending.

But is Canberra really the culprit - or is that just a convenient headline?

Today, Ken Raiss and I unpack what's actually driving Australia's sticky inflation, why the RBA is worried about "capacity constraints", and what policy makers could do that would genuinely take pressure off prices - without smashing households and without sabotaging the property market.

Now you've probably read about inflation and heard about it a hundred time...

What if I told you that one of the most significant demographic shifts shaping our cities, our housing markets, and even our social lives over the next few decades… isn't migration, isn't birth rates, and isn't ageing?

It's something far more personal. In today's show, Simon Kuestenmacher and I are talking about a silent revolution - the rise of the single-person household.

More Australians than ever are living alone, and it's not just retirees or Gen Zs in tiny apartments.

From the newly single at 54 to the so...

What if the biggest obstacle between you and the life you want isn't the market, the economy or your upbringing... but your programming?

What if your money habits, your emotional reactions and even your results as a property investor are simply the byproducts of a mindset you inherited rather than chose?

And what if you could rewrite that programming?

In today's show Tom Corley and I discuss how early life experiences shape our habits and beliefs, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, gratitude, continuous learning, and building relationships.

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