The Elephant In The Room Property Podcast | Inside Australian Real Estate

NSW has moved fast to reform its planning system, promising to unlock housing supply through sweeping state-led controls. But zoning uplift alone doesn’t build homes.

In this episode, we ask the harder question many in property are thinking but few say out loud: is the system genuinely delivering housing, or quietly choking supply through feasibility constraints, delays, and unintended consequences?

Joining us is James Oldknow, Special Counsel at Mills Oakley, who works daily at the sharp end of planning approvals, appeals, and the NSW Land & Environment Court. James breaks down why Transport Oriented Development (TO...

Most Australians assume they’ll deal with retirement living and aged care when the time comes. The problem? By the time it does, the system has already made many of the decisions for you. In this episode, we unpack why delaying retirement and home care planning is one of the most expensive mistakes people make—not just financially, but emotionally and structurally.

Veronica Morgan and Chris Bates are joined by Mitch Hiam, COO of Balance Financial Group, to explain how Australia’s aged care and home care systems really work—and why recent reforms are quietly changing the rule...

Multi-generational living is becoming a more common response to the uncomfortable realities facing ageing parents and their adult children.

With traditional aged-care pathways increasingly expensive, emotionally fraught, and often poorly understood, families are weighing up alternatives — staying at home, moving into residential care, or reshaping the family home through shared living arrangements and granny flats.

In this episode, we look under the hood of multi-generational living to explore what’s actually involved. From legal ownership and estate outcomes to pension eligibility, Centrelink rules, and family dynamics, we unpack the decisions families are making — and the risks...

What if our homes did more than just provide shelter? What if they could actually contribute to the health of the planet and the people living within them? In this episode, we sit down with Caroline Pidcock, a visionary architect and champion of regenerative design, to explore why Australia’s current approach to housing is falling short—and how we can change it.

Caroline shares her deep expertise on the "Circular Economy" and why we must transition from merely being "less bad" to being "positively good" for our environment. We dive into the hidden health risks of poor...

Australia’s housing debate is crowded with loud opinions — but very little demographic reality.

In this episode, we unpack what Australia’s population shifts are actually telling us about housing demand, cities, and economic pressure points, and why many of today’s dominant narratives fall apart when viewed through data.

Demographer Simon Kuestenmacher joins Veronica and Chris to challenge the assumptions shaping housing policy, migration debates, and affordability discussions. From international students and skilled migration to household formation and labour shortages, Simon explains how population forces — not headlines — are driving long-term outcomes across property and the broader...

Property investing has rarely looked more seductive—or more dangerous. In this episode, Veronica and Chris unpack the growing gap between how property portfolios are being sold and how risk is quietly stacking up beneath the surface. As regulators tighten lending rules and banks pull back, the question isn’t whether the rules are changing—it’s whether investors are paying attention.

The conversation dives deep into aggressive lending practices now under scrutiny: trust lending, SMSF borrowing, equity extraction, and the promise of “instant equity” through optimistic bank valuations. Veronica and Chris challenge the idea that buying multiple pro...

Australian property prices are often treated as a national scoreboard—up means success, down means failure.

But what if that assumption is wrong? In this episode, we interrogate one of the most polarising ideas in housing today: that Australia’s obsession with ever-rising property prices is doing more harm than good.

Joining Veronica and Chris is Adam Schwab, founder of Luxury Escapes and a sharp, outspoken commentator on economics, inflation, and corporate behaviour. Coming from outside the property industry, Adam brings a contrarian lens to housing—questioning whether property has become an unproductive asset, how easy c...

As 2025 comes to a close, property headlines are once again filling with bold predictions about what 2026 will bring. But rather than playing the forecasting game, this episode takes a more grounded approach — examining the forces already in motion and how they’re likely to shape buyer, seller, and investor behaviour in the year ahead.

Chris Bates and Veronica Morgan unpack what’s really driving the market right now: persistently high interest rates, fast-rising lower-quartile prices, tight rental conditions, weak construction pipelines, and a supply side that simply isn’t recovering. They explore why listings remain constrained, how first ho...

In this episode, we pull back the curtain on one of the least transparent parts of Australia’s property market: sales campaign behaviour. From hidden campaign histories to shifting price guides and agent tactics designed to manufacture buyer momentum, most buyers are making six- and seven-figure decisions without the information they actually need. Today’s conversation digs into that gap — and the consequences of it.

We’re joined by Henry Pedersen, co-founder and CEO of Homer, a proptech tool built to expose the data buyers never get to see. Henry walks us through what really happens behind the scen...

Australia’s housing market is creaking under pressure — record-low affordability, rising lower-end prices, and policies that keep boosting demand instead of easing it. In this episode, Cotality’s Head of Research Eliza Owen helps us zoom out and make sense of the contradictions shaping today’s market.

We unpack why “years to save a 20% deposit” is the wrong metric, why income — not deposits — is the real barrier, and how the 5% deposit scheme pushes prices up by funnelling demand under strict caps. Eliza also breaks down the mismatch between the homes we build and how Australians actually live, alongside the co...

2026 is shaping up as a year of subtle indicators and big risks, and Louis Christopher breaks down the data points seasoned investors should be paying attention to right now.

In this episode, Louis joins Veronica and Chris just days after releasing the 2026 edition to unpack the findings that matter most: population growth moderating sharply, supply finally catching up in pockets, and why rental pressure may ease before prices do. And, critically, he reveals the assumptions his modelling rests on — and the risks that could topple them.

Louis walks us through the four core scenarios underpinning hi...

In this Q&A episode, Veronica and Chris unpack the real property questions investors are facing right now. From ATO debt rules to cashflow pressure and portfolio structure, this episode gets straight to the point and cuts through the myths.

They break down a $5.3M portfolio spread across Logan, Townsville, Shepparton, regional WA and Melbourne’s fringe, revealing why “affordable” properties often deliver slow long-term growth — and when selling is actually the smarter move.

The conversation also dives into rising insurance costs in flood-prone markets, including Gold Coast premiums hitting up to $20K a year. Veronica...

The Block 2025 auctions were billed as a massive TV spectacle — but what unfolded in Daylesford turned out to be one of the most revealing auction finales the show has aired in years. 

Five nearly identical, fully furnished homes were pushed to market on a single afternoon, each carrying price expectations the local market was never built to support. What followed was a rare moment where real buyer behaviour overpowered reality-TV momentum.

To break down what really went on, we’re joined by buyers and vendors advocate Mark Errichiello, who attended the auctions, tracked buyer behaviour, and h...

Everyone’s talking about AI as the future of property, but what if it’s quietly distorting how we see value?

Veronica and Chris sit down with Luke Metcalfe, founder of Microburbs and DataScape, to reveal why precision in property data is often just an illusion. Luke, one of Australia’s leading data scientists, reveals why many AI-driven tools sound convincing but are often wrong — and how they can even manipulate our confidence in property decisions.

From understanding what AI models are actually trained to do, to exploring why machine learning can’t yet capture local nuan...

Property investment has entered dangerous new territory. What used to be about building long-term wealth has become clouded by hype, shortcuts, and unqualified advice. Investors are being drawn into speculative schemes disguised as strategy. 

In this episode, Veronica and Chris sit down with Ben Kingsley, Founding Managing Director of Empower Wealth and Chair of the Property Investors Council of Australia (PICA), to unpack the alarming resurgence of speculative, misleading, and unlicensed property advice spreading across Australia.

Ben recently authored an open letter to industry associations, warning of “get-rich-quick” operators, social media influencers, and unqualified advisors encou...

There’s a side of the property market most Australians never see — where listings don’t make headlines, and deals happen behind closed doors.

In this episode, we step into that world of discretion and discovery with William Laing, Co-Founder and CEO of Quiet List, to explore how off-market sales are quietly reshaping the real estate landscape.

With nearly one in five Sydney homes now trading off-market, William reveals how private listings are redefining demand and changing how agents, buyers, and sellers connect. From price-testing vendors and privacy-driven sellers to the rise of buyer’s agents a...

Australia’s strata system was once a clever solution to urban living — a way to share land, lift homeownership, and build communities in growing cities. But decades later, that same framework is struggling to keep up with modern life.

What once worked for small, low-rise communities now governs the high-density towers that house millions of Australians. The result? Costs have climbed, decision-making has grown more complex, and owners often find themselves footing bills for problems they didn’t create

In this episode, Prof. Cathy Sherry — Professor at Macquarie Law School and Executive Member of Smart Green Ci...

Australia’s housing shortage isn’t just about planning approvals or red tape — it’s about money. 

In this episode, commercial finance expert Jean-Pierre Gortan, Joint Founder of Simplicity Loans & Advisory, joins Veronica Morgan and Chris Bates to unpack the financial bottlenecks preventing new homes from being built, even in areas crying out for supply.

Jean-Pierre draws on more than two decades of experience structuring complex, multi-lender deals to explain why so many developments are stuck in limbo. From Parramatta to Penrith, he reveals how post-COVID construction cost blowouts, tighter lending standards, and broken feasibility models ha...

Property decisions today hinge on interest rates, inflation, and housing demand — but what if the traditional signals we’ve all relied on no longer give the full picture?

In this episode, we sit down with Alan Oster, former Chief Economist of NAB and one of Australia’s most respected economic voices, to unpack what really matters in a housing market under stress.

Alan explains why GDP, unemployment, and even consumer surveys can mislead investors, and why real-time banking data has changed the game. He shares stories from decades of forecasting — including times when the “headline” numbers poin...

What’s really driving property investors in 2025? The latest PIPA Investor Sentiment Survey lays it bare — and the results matter for every investor, renter, and policymaker in Australia.

In this episode, we’re joined by Lachlan Vidler, Chair of the Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA), to unpack the top findings. The survey shows investors are selling under pressure—with debt reduction, compliance costs, and land tax topping the list of reasons. But here’s the kicker: when those properties are sold, only 42% stay in the rental pool, shrinking rental supply and pushing rents higher.

Policy ris...

Short-term rentals have faced caps, levies, and rising costs. Investors are asking the big question: Does the short-stay model still work?

In this episode, Quirin Schwaighofer, co-founder and co-CEO of MadeComfy, joins us to unpack the state of the short-stay market in 2025. We talk about how regulations like NSW’s 180-day cap and Byron Bay’s 60-day limits are reshaping operations, where demand is shifting post-COVID, and why distribution has moved far beyond Airbnb.

We also dive into when mid-term furnished rentals can outperform, what investors should track weekly to stay ahead, and the pitfalls that...

Property management in Australia has been facing challenges for years — tenants feel ignored, landlords are frustrated, and managers are burning out. The question is: is the entire model broken beyond repair?

In this episode, we sit down with Scott Bateman, strategist, innovator, and founder of property management platform Kolmeo, to unpack what’s gone wrong and what the future could look like. Scott brings unique insights from running Australia’s largest property management business, where outdated systems, legislative overload, and high staff turnover made clear that incremental fixes weren’t enough.

We explore why property manageme...

Australia’s housing market has been facing growing pressures in recent years.

Homeowners often sit on millions in equity but can’t easily access it, while aspiring buyers without the “Bank of Mum and Dad” struggle to get into the market. At the same time, investors chase capital growth but face the costly, stressful reality of being landlords.

In this episode, we sit down with Evan Thornley, CEO of LongView, to explore a smarter alternative: a residential property fund that unlocks equity for homeowners and delivers strong returns for investors. Through products like HomeFlex and Buying B...

Australia’s housing crisis isn’t just a social problem — it’s an economic one.

In this episode, Robert Pradolin, founder of Housing All Australians, argues that secure, affordable housing must be treated as essential infrastructure for the nation’s prosperity. With over 40 years in residential development, Robert brings both insider knowledge and bold solutions to a system that has been failing for decades.

We dig into how the private sector can mobilise unused buildings as “pop-up shelters,” why compassionate capitalism is redefining the role of developers, and how innovative construction methods like lightweight timber can cut costs...

NIMBY vs YIMBY? Is saying “no” to change protecting community character — or blocking the homes our cities desperately need?

In this episode, we sit down with Jonathan O’Brien, lead organizer of YIMBY Melbourne, to unpack what’s at stake when communities resist — or embrace — change.

We dig into whether opposing development is simply selfish or a legitimate defense of lifestyle and character, and whether YIMBY optimism sometimes overlooks practical realities. From heritage streetscapes and leafy suburbs to missing-middle density and downsizer demand, this is a frank look at the trade-offs that come with growth.

Jonathan...

Commercial property isn’t just “resi with higher yields” — it’s a whole different game with its own language, rules, and risks.

In this episode, we sit down with Helen Tarrant, founder of Unikorn Commercial Property, to unpack what investors really need to know before making the leap.

Helen reveals why mindset is the first hurdle when moving from residential to commercial, and why too many investors skip the education that could save them from costly mistakes. We explore the key levers that drive a property’s value — lease term, location, tenant quality, and asset type — and why...

Australia’s strata sector is under pressure — and it's no longer a niche issue.

Following high-profile investigations by Four Corners and 7.30 Report, strata governance failures, building defects, and financial blowouts are now front and centre. With more Australians living in apartments and townhouses than ever before, what happens next in this space will impact millions.

In this episode, Kate McHugh, co-founder of the Strata Futures Stakeholder Engagement and Roundtable, joins us to unpack what’s driving the crisis—and what needs to change. Drawing from her work on the Strata Futures Report, Kate outlines the six key...

With property data becoming increasingly available, investors face a growing challenge: accurately interpreting the numbers. In this episode, Veronica and Chris speak with Matija Djolic, co-founder of HtAG Analytics, to discuss how investors can effectively use property data and avoid common mistakes.

Matija outlines four essential questions investors need to address before making decisions, emphasizing the importance of clearly understanding risk profiles, investment timeframes, and personal objectives. He highlights frequent pitfalls, including chasing short-term gains, misunderstanding suburb-level data, and misinterpreting market "hotspots."

This conversation equips investors with practical insights on responsible data use, clarifying when...

Today, we sit down with Scott Aggett, founder of Hello Haus, a negotiation service shaking up Australia’s property buying landscape. Scott pulls back the curtain on the high-stakes game of real estate negotiation and reveals why most buyers are unknowingly walking into traps laid by experienced selling agents. If you’ve ever felt outmatched or overwhelmed in the home-buying process, this conversation will open your eyes to what’s going on behind the scenes.

Listeners will gain deep insights into the psychological tactics agents use to push buyers into emotional decisions, often costing them tens of thousa...

If you’re navigating retirement planning in Australia, this episode is a must-listen.

Financial adviser James Wrigley joins The Elephant in the Room to unpack the strategies that high-income earners, Gen X professionals, and aspiring retirees can use to build a more secure financial future, without falling into the usual traps.

From maximising tax returns through superannuation to understanding why property may not be the most reliable retirement asset, James breaks down complex concepts into actionable steps. You’ll learn how super could grow from $300K to $2M, when and how to use catch-up contributions, and...

When it comes to property ownership in Australia, few topics are as misunderstood—and as crucial—as insurance. In this episode, Veronica sits down with Kimberley Jonsson, CEO of CHU Insurance, to unpack the growing risks in strata and property insurance and why many owners might be underprepared. From the rising cost of premiums to the unseen dangers lurking in older buildings, Kimberley brings expert insight into the systemic issues shaping Australia’s housing market—and what that means for you.

We dive into how the Insurance Affordability Index reveals a stark difference between houses and strata properti...

What happens when a city goes from being “uninvestable” to a national hotspot almost overnight?

In this episode, Perth-based buyer’s agent Matthew Hughes joins Veronica to unpack what’s driving the WA property surge—and what investors are getting wrong. With boots-on-the-ground insight, he shares why affordability alone is a flawed strategy, how investor FOMO is distorting the market, and why timing and fundamentals still matter.

While many are chasing quick wins, Matthew and Veronica challenge the hype. They dig into the risks of borderless buying, the pitfalls of relying solely on data, and why buying...

In this episode, we’re joined by Tim Riley, founder of Property Collectives, to explore a new way of thinking about housing—one rooted in collaboration, not speculation. Tim breaks down how the group build model works, why it’s gaining traction, and how it empowers people to co-create their homes rather than buy off the plan.

We cover a wide range of topics, including long-term land leases, co-op residency structures, cost-based living models, and how these ideas could offer an alternative to rising rents and traditional home ownership. Tim also talks through the realities of group decisi...

What’s really behind the shift we’re seeing in regional property market trends, especially along the NSW South Coast? In this episode, we sit down with our good friend and local expert Matthew Knight as someone who’s been living and breathing this stuff for years, to give us the real story. We’ve heard all the noise about COVID booms and tree changers flooding coastal towns, but what happens after the rush settles? Are people still moving out of the city, or has the tide gone out?

Matthew walks us through what he’s seeing on the gro...

Is housing really unaffordable because we’re not building enough? Or is that just one part of a much bigger, more complicated story? In this episode, we sit down with Peter Mares, journalist, researcher, and author of No Place Like Home – to break down the real reasons why housing is unaffordable in Australia today.

Peter walks us through how decades of policy decisions, from tax incentives to the withdrawal of public housing investment, have created a system that prioritises wealth-building over stability. We talk about the deeper issues at play; like how negative gearing and capital gains tax...

Is all this property wealth we talk about actually real—or is it just theoretical? That’s what we unpack in this episode with our guest Martin North, founder of Digital Finance Analytics and someone who’s been watching the numbers and the story behind them for years. We ask him: is Australia’s $11 trillion property market built on something solid, or are we clinging to an illusion that’s quietly reshaping the country?

Martin walks us through what he calls a “Python swallowing an elephant” moment; the massive bulge of intergenerational wealth that’s moving slowly through the syst...

The building industry in Australia 2025 is still feeling the ripple effects of COVID, supply chain chaos, and builder collapses, and we wanted to know what it actually looks like to survive all that. So we brought in Brad Duggan, CEO of Metricon, to pull back the curtain on what went wrong, what they got right, and what others need to understand if they’re going to build homes (and stay afloat) in this market.

Brad doesn’t hold back. He talks about the grind; the fixed-price contracts, the cost blowouts, the tough calls they had to make just...

What do zoning shakeups mean for your suburb, your street, and your property’s value? In this Q&A episode, we answer real questions from listeners and unpack the property market trends that are shaping the way people buy, build, and invest right now.

We talk about what makes a home “A-grade” beyond land size and location, how to avoid overcapitalising, and why things like natural light and flexible layouts matter more than fancy finishes. We also break down the reality of rentvesting with a family and whether that under-$600K “positively geared” investment still exists.

Here’s w...

What if everything we’re told about fixing Australia’s housing crisis is just scratching the surface? That’s the starting point for our conversation with Michele Adair, Managing Director of the Housing Trust and a long-time advocate for meaningful housing reform. Michele brings decades of experience and doesn’t hold back when talking about what’s really broken in the system.

Throughout the episode, we cover key issues that are often ignored or oversimplified in the national conversation around Australia’s housing crisis, including:

What really goes on in an auctioneer’s mind, and what do they see that most buyers and sellers don’t? In this episode, we chat with Emma Brown-Garrett, a seasoned auctioneer who’s been in the property world for over 20 years, to talk about everything most people misunderstand about auctions. Emma’s not just there to call numbers. She’s reading the room, guiding negotiations, and sometimes stepping in to rescue a sale when things aren’t going to plan.

We asked her what she notices that tells her a buyer has more money to give, and she was...