Australian Property Podcast

Are Australian property prices nearing a bottom—or is the harder part of the downturn still ahead? In this Australian Property Podcast episode, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates compare what they are seeing on the ground with the latest housing, lending and employment reports. Brisbane and Perth are in focus, but the answer may look different across cities and price brackets.

Pete and Chris start with a spring selling season that has not brought the usual rush of new listings. They discuss softer new-home inquiries, the pressures facing smaller developers and a housing pipeline that may look pl...

Is the spring property market offering buyers a window — or is the real test still ahead? On the Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates look past the headlines to ask what is actually listing, selling and sitting unsold as the year draws towards Christmas.

Chris explains why the next few weeks could matter for sellers who are considering when to list. Pete weighs the buyer’s side of a softer market: more choice and room to negotiate can coexist with uncertainty about borrowing capacity and where prices go next. They discuss why first-home buyers and upgr...

Is a softer Australian property market finally giving buyers the upper hand, or are good homes still hard to find? On the Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack what higher interest rates, weaker prices and a shortage of fresh listings mean for the months ahead.

Pete examines how the downturn differs by city and price bracket, with more expensive homes under pressure while affordable parts of the market have held up better. Chris explains why a cheaper-looking apartment or a well-known suburb is not enough: building quality, strata costs, location and the individual property...

Are higher interest rates finally testing the Australian property market—or creating a window for patient buyers?

In this episode of the Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates discuss what rising mortgage costs and stubborn household expenses mean for buyers, borrowers and investors. Recorded ahead of an RBA decision, their conversation examines the prospect of another rate rise rather than assuming its outcome.

They look at why some households cannot refinance despite holding equity, how tighter borrowing capacity is changing the plans of first-home buyers and upgraders, and why a weaker market does no...

Can young Australians still buy a home, or is property ownership slipping further out of reach? In this Australian Property Podcast livestream, Owen and Milli unpack the challenge of buying property in your 20s and 30s, while still building wealth through shares and super. They cover practical ways to save a deposit, including high-interest savings accounts, investing and the First Home Super Saver Scheme. You’ll learn how FHSS contributions, withdrawals and deemed earnings work, plus the risks of investing money you may need for a home purchase. The discussion also explores how parents and grandparents can help with a...

Are higher global bond yields and the prospect of more RBA rate hikes about to push Australian property prices lower — or create a rare window for buyers ready to upgrade?

In this episode of the Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates examine the most uncertain housing conditions they can remember. They connect surging bond yields, broad-based inflation and expectations for further rate rises with the decisions facing first-home buyers, upgraders, investors and renters.

Pete and Chris unpack Cotality data showing higher-value Sydney and Melbourne homes have already fallen by more than 10%, while cheaper pr...

Buyer demand has gone quiet, auctions are being pulled and another interest rate rise could be coming. Is this a genuine buying window, or are Sydney and Melbourne only halfway through the correction?

In this episode of the Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates examine what they are seeing on the ground as investors step back, buyer enquiry dries up and confidence deteriorates. They discuss why falling turnover is hurting agents and state stamp duty revenue, how another RBA hike could affect borrowing capacity and sentiment, and why weak development economics and private credit stress...

In this Australian Property Podcast episode, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates take stock of a property market that feels busier on the surface but weaker underneath. Open home traffic is picking up, yet buyers are hesitating, listings still look thin for spring, and another RBA hike is back in play after inflation and bond yields pushed higher.

Pete and Chris unpack why sentiment has turned so quickly, from forecasts of a 10% peak-to-trough decline to the risk that higher-for-longer rates squeeze borrowing power, budgets and buyer confidence. They also explore how the current slowdown could hit different markets...

In this Australian Property Podcast episode, Chris Bates and Amy Lunardi unpack a question more buyers are asking in softer conditions: do you still need a buyer's agent when the market feels like it has swung in your favour?

The answer is more nuanced than a simple yes or no. Amy explains why a good buyer's agent is not just there to chase off-market listings or bid at auction. The real value often sits in strategy, due diligence, negotiation and filtering out wasted time, especially when buyers think a softer market means every vendor is suddenly desperate...

In this episode of Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack whether spring will bring genuine opportunity for buyers or just more noise in a fragile market. It is a practical check-in on prices, listings, rents and borrowing conditions heading into the busiest stretch of the year.

They look at why recent headlines about green shoots may be getting ahead of the data, what weak auction depth and softer sentiment are telling us, and why a true rebound may still depend on interest-rate relief rather than wishful thinking. The conversation also covers falling investor participation...

In this Australian Property Podcast episode, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack a market that still looks soft on the surface but may be opening a sharper decision window for buyers, upgraders and long-term investors.

They explore how the post-Budget reset is changing behaviour on the ground, from investors stepping back and refinancers scrambling to lock in older valuations, to the early signs of more urgency ahead of the spring selling season. Pete and Chris discuss why Sydney and Melbourne may now offer some of the best buying conditions seen in years, why quality owner-occupier stock could...

In this Australian Property Podcast episode, Owen Rask sits down with Ryan Dinsdale from Deposit Power to unpack how deposit bonds work and where they can fit into a smarter property strategy. They cover what a deposit bond actually replaces at contract exchange, why some buyers and investors use it instead of locking a large cash deposit in a trust account, and how that flexibility can matter if you are buying off the plan, bidding at auction, upgrading your home, or trying to buy and sell around the same time. The pair also dig into practical use cases, including...

In this Australian Property Podcast episode, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack one of the biggest questions in property right now: is the current slowdown creating a genuine buying window, or are buyers still too early?

They break down the Reserve Bank’s August hold, what the latest press conference signals for rates, and why soft sentiment is colliding with an 11-week high in auction clearance rates. Melbourne is a major focus, with the pair exploring whether better auction results, stronger yields and years of underperformance could finally set the city up for a rebound.

Pe...

In this Australian Property Podcast episode, Amy Lunardi and Chris Bates unpack how to make an offer on a property when the market feels uncertain and every agent seems to run a different process.

They start with what is happening on the ground in Melbourne and Sydney, why softer conditions can create genuine buying opportunities, and why a buyer's market still leaves many people frozen. From there, Amy explains what buyers need to clarify before they submit anything: whether the property is being sold by private sale or before auction, whether the contract is ready, how the...

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...

This episode was originally featured on the Australian Finance Podcast.

In this Australian Property Podcast episode, Owen Rask speaks with Sarah Court, Chair of ASIC, about what the regulator is seeing across the financial system and why everyday Australians need to pay closer attention to how their money is being handled. Sarah explains ASIC’s role in licensing firms, holding financial institutions to account and stepping in when consumers or investors are at risk.

The core of the conversation focuses on mortgage offset accounts after ASIC uncovered failures at banks that meant so...

In this Australian Property Podcast episode, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack one of the biggest questions in property right now: is this actually a good time to buy, or are buyers still stepping into a falling market too early?

They explore why so many sellers, buyers and agents seem frozen at once, why quality assets are behaving differently from the headline market data, and how fear around interest rates, inflation and the Federal Budget is changing behaviour across Sydney, Melbourne and beyond. Pete and Chris also explain why weak confidence today could become a major supply...

In this Australian Property Podcast episode, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack what the post-Budget property reset is starting to look like on the ground, and where patient buyers may finally be getting some leverage again.

They break down quieter winter listings, soft auction clearance rates and the widening gap between A-grade properties and everything else. The big question is not just whether prices are falling, but where the pullback is creating genuine opportunity for upgraders, first-home buyers and investors willing to stay disciplined.

Pete and Chris also cover the pockets seeing the most change...

In this Australian Property Podcast episode, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack what the post-budget property reset may mean for buyers, renters and investors as the market heads deeper into winter.

The conversation starts with the big shift now showing up across the market: fewer active investors, tight rental supply and a growing sense that many buyers are sitting on their hands waiting for clarity. Pete and Chris explain why that matters, not just for house prices, but for rental affordability, construction activity and the number of listings likely to emerge in spring.

They also...

In this episode of Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates analyse the deepening housing market downturn and what it means for buyers, sellers, investors and first-home buyers in 2026. 

The conversation covers the latest CoreLogic data showing capital city values down 1.3% in the June quarter, auction clearance rates slipping below 50%, and a drop in sales volumes.  

Pete shares his on-the-ground view that many prices are already 10-15% off peak levels but appear to have levelled off in recent weeks, with few genuine fire sales thanks to strong employment.

Pete and Chris examine the...

In this episode of Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates break down the latest property-market shake-up and what it means for buyers, investors and borrowers. The conversation centres on the Federal Budget fallout, the ban on SMSF lending into property, weaker auction conditions and the way sentiment has turned across key housing markets.

Pete and Chris unpack why Sydney and Melbourne were already softening before the policy changes, how investor demand is fading in the established market, and why rental yields and mortgage rates still matter more than headlines. They also explain where they are...

In this episode of Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates ask whether Australia’s housing market has moved from nerves to peak fear.

They unpack weaker auction results in Sydney and Melbourne, falling prices, softer new-home sales and why investor sentiment keeps deteriorating even as hopes build for lower rates later in 2026. A key focus is policy risk: how proposed negative gearing and capital gains tax changes could hit established-property demand, why self-managed super fund lending may become the next political battleground, and whether investors end up being pushed towards new builds or Melbourne apartments in...

In this episode of Australian Property Podcast, Amy Lunardi and Chris Bates unpack the psychological traps that can quietly cost property buyers money, momentum and confidence. The conversation starts with a simple idea: a buyer’s market should feel easier, but in practice it can feel even harder because lower sentiment, softer prices and more choice often create more doubt.

Amy explains why buying property is unlike almost any other purchase. The stakes are high, opinions come from everywhere, data is imperfect and emotions can spike at exactly the wrong moment. Together, Amy and Chris explore the tr...

In this episode of the Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack a housing market that is trying to stabilise after the Budget shock, without much conviction that the hard part is over.

They start with the Reserve Bank holding the cash rate at 4.35%. Bond yields are off their peak, some fixed rates are edging lower, and buyers are asking whether confidence can rebuild. Pete and Chris explain why that does not guarantee a strong recovery while policy uncertainty, softer investor demand and weak sentiment still weigh on Sydney and Melbourne.

The episode...

First home buyers are finally getting a bit more breathing room, but that does not mean every scheme is a green light. In this Australian Property Podcast episode, Chris Bates sits down with Jack Elliott, National First Home Buyer Specialist at Alcove, to unpack what changed after the Budget and how buyers should think about grants, guarantees and shared-equity options in 2026. Jack explains why some first home buyers are seeing less competition at opens and auctions, how changes to investor borrowing power may be shifting the market, and why waiting for the perfect headline can be just as risky...

In this episode of the Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates step back from the panic that followed the federal Budget and ask what is actually changing in Australia’s housing market. The headlines have turned hard, sentiment has cooled quickly and buyers are suddenly hearing talk of weaker auctions, falling prices and a tougher road for investors.

Pete and Chris explain why the fear feels louder than the facts, why some owner-occupier markets may hold up far better than investor-led pockets, and why softer turnover can show up long before the na...

In this 2 Sense episode of the Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack what the post-Budget property reset is starting to look like in real time. The initial panic has eased, but the aftershocks are now showing up in buyer behaviour, lending conversations and market turnover.

Pete and Chris explain why first-home buyers are suddenly seeing less competition at open homes, why established-property investors are retreating, and why Sydney and Melbourne are leading the slowdown. They also dig into the pressure points underneath the headlines: softer sales volumes, weaker auction conditions, tighter serviceability, and the...

This episode was originally featured on the Australian Investors Podcast.

In this episode, Owen Rask sits down with Senator Andrew Bragg for a wide-ranging conversation about the Federal Budget, housing supply, tax, productivity and why so many Australians feel the country has become harder to get ahead in. Rather than getting stuck in party talking points, they focus on the practical questions investors, business owners and workers are asking right now: what happens when policy makes it harder to build homes, why does productivity matter so much for living standards, and how do taxes...

In this 2 Sense episode of the Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack what the post-Budget property reset is starting to look like on the ground. Even before any policy changes are fully legislated, sentiment has shifted: investors are turning cautious, lenders are tightening around serviceability, asking prices are easing in parts of Sydney and Melbourne, and nervous sellers are starting to meet more patient buyers.

Pete and Chris explain why this could create a short-term window for owner-occupiers and first-home buyers, especially if they stay selective and focus on quality assets instead of compromised...

Chris Bates sits down with James O’Reilly to unpack what the latest Federal Budget proposals could mean for Australian property investors at three very different life stages: wealth accumulators, pre-retirees and retirees.

They break down how proposed changes to negative gearing, capital gains tax and trust taxation may change the numbers for investors who have relied on property for growth, cashflow and tax efficiency. From there, the conversation moves beyond headlines into practical strategy: whether younger investors may lean harder on shares, debt recycling and super, why new-build incentives can become a trap if the underlying as...

Is property investing dead, or is Australia just entering an uncomfortable reset? In this 2 Sense episode of the Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack the post-Budget aftershocks now rippling through the housing market.

They start with the investor side of the equation. With Sydney auctions rattled, negative gearing changes looming, and Macquarie already cutting investor serviceability, Pete and Chris explain why many established-property buyers may step back fast. They discuss where demand could weaken first, why some investors may pivot to new builds or other asset classes, and why rental pressure could worsen if...

In this 2 Sense episode of the Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates react to a Federal Budget that could reshape Australia’s housing market faster than many investors expect.

Recording the morning after the announcement, they break down the headline changes: negative gearing being restricted to new builds from 1 July 2027, a tougher capital gains tax regime, and a new minimum tax rate on trusts. But the real focus is what those changes do to behaviour. Pete and Chris unpack why investor borrowing capacity could be hit, why established-property demand may soften, and why areas with he...

Why does it cost so much to build in Australia right now? In this week’s 2 Sense episode of the Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack a fresh construction squeeze just as the housing market heads into a Budget week that could reshape investor behaviour.

They break down the build-cost blowout, including the sharp rise in the cost of delivering a dwelling since 2019, and explain why higher diesel, concrete, piping, plumbing supplies and financing costs all matter. If feasible projects become marginal and marginal projects become unfeasible, the supply response Australia desperately needs gets pu...

Most buyers approach property search the same way regardless of what the market is doing. Pete Wargent and Amy Lunardi argue that this is exactly where buyers go wrong.

In this episode of the Australian Property Podcast, they break down how to identify the market you are actually in and how your strategy needs to change when conditions shift. Rather than relying on broad headlines, they explain how to zoom in on the signals that matter most: auction clearance rates, days on market, vendor discounting, stock levels and real buyer depth at inspections and auctions.

...

This episode was originally featured on The Australian Finance Podcast.

Discover why the traditional path to buying your first home no longer works, the trade-offs modern buyers must make, and how to rethink home ownership in today’s market.

In this Australian Property Podcast episode, your host Gemma Mitchell is joined by Lucinda Hartley, author of Finding Home, to unpack what’s really changed when it comes to buying your first home. They cover:

– Why the traditional “rulebook” no longer applies

– How first home buyers need to reth...

Pete Wargent and Chris Bates break down what potential changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing could mean for investors and renters, then zoom out to the bigger forces shaping the property market.

Key topics:

Rask Resources

Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack how long the Sydney and Melbourne property downturn could last, why build costs may rise again, and what buyers, sellers and investors should do next.

They cover weak auctions, slowing construction, tight rental markets, and the practical decisions facing first-home buyers, upgraders and investors in a softer market.

Resources for this episode

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Rask Resources

Pete's Buyers Agency

Alcove mortgage broking

Amy Lunardi Buyers...

This week on the Australian Property Podcast, we’re sharing a great past conversation originally published on The Australian Finance Podcast.

In this episode, Gemma Mitchell is joined by Ben Kingsley, one of Australia’s leading property investment advisers, founder of Empower Wealth, and Chair of the Property Investors Council of Australia.

Ben, alongside long-time business partner Bryce Holdaway, recently released their third book, How to Retire on $3,000 a Week. Together, they’ve built a strong reputation for helping everyday Australians better understand property investing, and are also the co-authors of best-selling titles...

Pete Wargent and Chris Bates break down the latest fuel shock, rising inflation risk and shifting rate expectations, and what it means for the Australian property market.

They connect the macro pressure to what is happening on the ground — tighter listings, rising build costs, weaker sentiment and the early signs of a split market — and outline how buyers, sellers and investors can navigate what could be a difficult stretch into late 2026.

Together they discuss

– Fuel shock intensifying: shortages emerging and diesel pushing above $3 per litre
– Fuel excise cut unlikely to offse...

Oil prices up, construction costs up, confidence down!

Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack a fast-moving week for property: surging fuel costs, rising inflation risk, collapsing confidence, and what all of that means for rates, building activity, listings, and buyer behaviour. The episode matters because the pressure is no longer theoretical — it is already hitting development feasibility, rental supply, and decision-making across the market.

Together they discuss

- Diesel has surged to roughly $3 per litre, with Australia especially exposed to fuel shocks; Pete notes this is already fl...