The Property Couch

What if the “safe” property decision you make today is the one you regret in 20 years? 🤔 

With the rules around property investing changing, these are the decisions investors are being forced to rethink. 

Joining Ben Kingsley and Luke Oxenham is Stuart Wemyss, founder of ProSolution Private Clients, host of the Investopoly podcast and author of Wealth by Design. 

Together, they challenge some long-held assu...

The RBA has held the cash rate at 4.35% — but that doesn’t mean the rate story is over.

In this August Economic & RBA Update, Ben Kingsley and economist Evan Lucas unpack the decision, why inflation is still proving stubborn, and why another rate rise hasn’t been ruled out. 

💡 Thinking about refinancing or adjusting your loan strategy? Let the Empower Wealth Mortgage Broking team help you compare your opti...

How do you know when you've bought enough property?

In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Polly Chu is joined by mortgage broker Luke Oxenham to tackle a question from listener Andrew:

"How do you know you're ready to land the plane?"

For many investors, the accumulation phase becomes second nature. The focus is always on the next property, the next equity release, and the next opportunity.

But what happens when you've built the portfol...

Regional markets have boomed. Melbourne's established units are back in the spotlight. And after the government's latest tax changes, many investors are asking the same question: Has the property playbook changed? 

In this week's Q&A, Ben Kingsley is joined by Polly Chu and Ben Thompson to answer five listener questions from every stage of the property journey. 

In this episode, we answer: 

✔️ Is How to Retire on $3...

Every week there’s another headline about artificial intelligence, how quickly work is changing, and which jobs might disappear next.

But in this Throwback Tuesday snippet, social researcher Mark McCrindle joins Bryce and Ben to unpack a slightly different question: what kind of work can’t AI take away?

For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 185 | The Future of Australia’s Population, Retirement Expectation...

Welcome back to Friday Fundamentals on The Property Couch.

In this episode, Shane Pope is joined by Jacob Caine, President of the Real Estate Institute of Australia and Victoria, to unpack a property shift that many homeowners and investors may not be thinking about yet:

Home energy ratings.

Jacob explains why energy efficiency could become a much bigger factor in how properties are valued, rented and sold — particularly as gove...

Recorded just days after Victoria welcomed a new Premier, this conversation couldn't have come at a more pivotal time. 

Ben and Shane sit down with Jacob (Jake) Caine, President of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) and the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA), to unpack one question that's shaping the future of Australia's property market: 

Are governments solving the right problem... or creating new ones?&n...

“Pay yourself first” is one of the most popular rules in personal finance. And to be fair, it’s popular for a reason: it’s simple, memorable, and it works.

But what if saving 10% isn’t enough?

In this Throwback Tuesday snippet, Bryce and Ben unpack why the classic “pay yourself first” rule might still leave room for lifestyle creep… and how trapping more of your surplus can help you pu...

In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Luke Oxenham and Polly Chu unpack a common property investing myth:

Waiting for the perfect time before you start.

From interest rates and market cycles to cost of living, family plans and global uncertainty, there always seems to be a reason to hold off.

But as Luke and Polly explain, waiting for perfect certainty can sometimes leave people sitting on the sidelines for years.

This episode explores ...

Two months on from the Budget's negative gearing and CGT changes, the data is telling a clear story. In our latest episode, Ben sits down with couch crew Luke Oxenham, investment-savvy mortgage broker, and Polly Chu, Qualified Property Investment Advisor, both fielding real client conversations daily. 

Together, they're unpacking what's actually happening on the ground: auction clearance rates stuck below 50% for weeks (the wor...

(Webinar) New vs Established Property: What Should You Buy in Today’s Market? - Tuesday, 28 July @ 7:30PM 👉 www.thepropertycouch.com.au/registernow

With the government’s new tax settings encouraging investors towards new property, one big question is starting to dominate the conversation:

Does a better tax benefit automatically make a new property the better investment?

In this special Tuesday episode, Ben breaks down the...

In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Shane Pope and Luke Oxenham share what they wish more clients knew before buying property.

Shane starts with the negotiation side, unpacking how agents can create pressure and urgency during a deal — and why buyers often have more space than they realise to make a calm, quality decision.

Luke then explains the finance side, including why settlement length is often less important than the fin...

(Upcoming webinar - 7:30pm AEST, Tues, 28th July) New vs Established Property: What should you buy in today’s market? Register here: https://thepropertycouch.com.au/registernow

Do owner-occupier suburbs have better capital growth?

New Cotality research suggests the answer is often yes — particularly when it comes to units.

Between 2010 and 2026, units in owner-occupier-heavy areas grew by 99%, compared with 65% in investor...

When someone leaves a two-star review calling you "property spruikers," you've got two choices: ignore it, or read it out loud and respond properly!

In this Throwback Tuesday snippet, Bryce & Ben unpack a listener's concerns about high debt, over-leveraging and vested interests... and why a healthy dose of scepticism is no bad thing.

For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 437 | The Biggest Danger People Face When Looking...

Welcome back to Friday Fundamentals on The Property Couch.

In this episode, Shane and Luke tackle a question that’s suddenly everywhere:

Would you still buy an established property today if the negative gearing benefit is deferred?

Their answer? Yes — but it depends on your goals, your timeline, and the quality of the asset.

This conversation unpacks why negative gearing is only a moment in time, why growth still does the h...

"I don't think it can get much worse for people trying to get their first property.”  

That’s Glen James, best-selling author, financial educator, host of the award-winning Money Money Money podcast and today’s special guest. 

From Glen's journey as a self-confessed "recovering spender" to why your first home doesn't need to be your forever home, this conversation explores the money habits, finance strateg...

When you’re renovating, it’s easy to look at three quotes and feel your eyes drift straight to the cheapest one. Because surely cheaper means smarter... right?! 

But as Three Birds Renovations share in this Throwback Tuesday snippet, the cheapest quote can sometimes end up costing you the most. 

For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 181 | Tips from Three Birds Renovations on How to Create the Perfect R...

In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Ben is joined by Glen James to explore one of the most overlooked ideas in wealth creation:

The best investment is often in yourself.

From pay rises and career growth to business income and automated investing, this conversation unpacks why the biggest returns early on often come from increasing your earning power — not from chasing speculative returns in a small portfolio.

Glen explains how ...

Is fear quietly influencing your investment decisions? 

With today's market creating uncertainty, it's easy to second-guess yourself. Headlines, market sentiment and endless opinions can make even experienced investors hesitate. 

In this episode, Ben is joined by high-performance coach Brett Burton and KD, Couch Crew, to unpack the psychology behind successful investing—and why your biggest challenge isn't always the ...