Australian Property Podcast

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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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...

Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack the RBA’s latest rate hike, what higher mortgage rates could mean for borrowing power and sentiment, and why Australia’s housing shortage is still intensifying. They move from the macro picture into the real pressure points on the ground: tighter rental markets, a split housing cycle, and the conditions that may create both risk and opportunity over the next 12 months.

Together, they discuss:

- RBA lifted rates and could do so again if inflation persists

- Oil s reigniting inflation risk, feeding into rate...

In this week’s episode of the Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack a volatile week in global markets and what it might mean for Australian housing. From oil price shocks and inflation fears to population shifts and investor behaviour, they explore why short-term uncertainty rarely changes the long-term structural drivers of property markets

Together, they discuss:

- Sudden oil price spikes briefly shake financial markets

- Global supply shocks, inflation pressures and potential interest rate hikes could influence housing sentiment without necessarily changing long-term property demand.

The market is splitting in two. Buyers who stay selective will do better.

Pete Wargent and Chris Bates break down why inflation risks are rising again after renewed global instability, how that’s feeding into rate expectations and buyer sentiment, and why construction is still failing to deliver enough supply. They also unpack the latest noise around negative gearing and capital gains tax, and what reforms might change — versus what just adds uncertainty — as the market shifts into a clear two speed cycle.

Together, they discuss:

Inflation risks returning as global instability pushes up ene...

Inflation is still running hot. Construction can’t keep up. And the Olympics are coming.

Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack what is really driving Australian property in early 2026 — sticky inflation, renewed rate risk, construction bottlenecks and Olympic-driven labour demand. With approvals rising but delivery lagging, they examine how supply constraints, first-home buyer momentum and rising build costs are influencing prices and opportunity across the country.

Together, they discuss:

- Inflation came in hot and what another potential rate hike means for buyer confidence

- Why first-home buyers cont...

Listings are tight. Rents are tighter. And policy might be about to test both.

Pete Wargent and Chris Bates to break down the forces shaping Australian property in 2026 — from capital gains tax reform chatter and rental market stress to financing resilience and where momentum still exists. The focus: what actually changes behaviour, and what just makes headlines.

Together, they discuss:

- Unemployment holding keeps the possibility of further rate hikes alive

- First-home buyers continue pushing ahead

- Record quarterly housing finance and lift in investor lending show capital is...

Rates are higher. Supply is tighter. So where does that leave buyers and investors in 2026? Pete and Chris leads this first timely property and break down rising rates, sticky inflation, the expanded 5% first-home buyer scheme, and the structural supply gap driving pressure across the market.

Together, they discuss:

Who is feeling the pressure right now — renters, first-home buyers, investors, developers.

What higher-for-longer means for borrowing power, buffers and timing decisions.

How to think clearly when credit conditions stay tight.

The 5% First-Home Buyer Scheme

Whether lower deposits improve af...

In this Australian Property Podcast episode your host Pete Wargent from Allen Wargent Property Buyers delivers his 7 key property investment nuggets of wisdom for 2026 and beyond.

Here are the key 7 points he covers:

- Do save and invest for the future

- Don’t save it all for the end!

- Find a job or career with meaning to you or purpose

- How to think about taxes

- Trying to be the biggest and best is risky and anxiety-inducing

...

In this Australian Property Podcast episode, your hosts Amy Lunardi and Chris Bates unpack why not all property markets behave the same, and why trying to “time the market” often leads buyers astray. They explore the realities of hot and cold markets, who drives demand, and why preparation and process matter more than predictions. Topics Covered – Market basics and why hot and cold markets behave differently – City versus regional markets and the role of demographics – Hot markets, including auctions, multiple offers, emotional premiums, and why speed matters – Cold markets, negotiation myths, days on market, and why waiting for the bottom can b...

In this Australian Property Podcast episode, your host Pete Wargent from Allen Wargent Property Buyers interviews Michael Yardney about his best-selling book, now that the original version is 20 years old!

Since its first publication in March 2006, How to Grow a Multi-Million Dollar Property Portfolio - In Your Spare Time has become a perennial bestseller and an Australian investment classic.

Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, this fully updated edition reflects today's economic and lending environment, equipping readers with the tools to thrive in the next property super cycle - a...

In this Australian Property Podcast episode, your host Pete Wargent from Allen Wargent Property Buyers interviews Metropole CEO Michael Yardney about his book Negotiate, Influence, Persuade.

Topics covered

1. What inspired you to write Negotiate, Influence, Persuade — and what’s new in this latest edition?

2. You say “life is one big negotiation.” What do you mean by that?

3. Who is this book for?

4. What are the key elements in becoming a great negotiator?

5. You write a lot about rapport. Why is building rapport so essential?

6...

The Rask 2026 stock market game is live - it's called Stock Genius. Available at stockgenius.com.au, in collaboration with Navexa, the Rask Stock Market is open for you to compete and enjoy with over 1,000 fellow investors.

In this episode, we cover:

- Is AI killing app investing in 2026?

- Are you a stock market genius? Play our game to find out

- How the game works

- Smart tracking for portfolios

- Owen and Navarre’s top picks

Resources for this episode Join the ga...

In this Australian Property Podcast, your hosts Pete Wargent from Allen Wargent Property Buyers and Chris Bates from Alcove group mortgage specialists discuss the property market in review for 2025 and the outlook for 2026.

Episode Overview

2025 – strong price growth in Perth and Brisbane, also Darwin boomed!

2026 – forecasts. SQM’s Boom & Bust report for 2026

- Interest rates - no cuts priced in at all for 2026

- RBA expects inflation to be in the target band later in 2026

- Listings - will they stay tight?

- How...

In this Australian Property Podcast, your hosts Pete Wargent from Allen Wargent Property Buyers and Chris Bates from Alcove group mortgage specialists discuss one of the biggest questions facing investors. That is, whether to buy property or shares in 2026? 

Risks for property

- Debt and leverage

- Interest rates

- Asset selection

- Market downturns

Should I buy property or shares then? Or a combination of both?

- Shares win on liquidity

- Personal preferences?

...

In this Australian Property Podcast episode, your host Pete Wargent from Allen Wargent Property Buyers is back to discuss the property market outlook for 2026. He also runs through the big 3 property news stories of the weeks, and covers your questions in the Listener Q&A. Here’s what was discussed this week:

Story 1 – How property markets finished 2025

Story 2 – Construction cost pressures persist amid record construction activity

Story 3 – Suburbs where people are making a loss

- Listener Q&A

- Other news of interest

Resources for this...