The Property Couch

Why does land in one suburb command a lasting premium while land somewhere else doesn’t...even when both have houses, shops and transport? 📈

In this special solo episode, Ben shares his latest framework shaped by more than 30 years of property experience. He takes us beyond the headlines and short-term market cycles to explain the forces that can make a location more valuable over decades: jobs, accessibility, scarcity, lifes...

Four rate rises this year. And the RBA may not be finished yet... 

The Reserve Bank has unanimously raised the cash rate by another 0.25 percentage points, taking it to 4.60% — its highest level in 15 years. 

With property prices falling and the economy showing signs of slowing, could another rate rise be on the cards in November? 

Ben Kingsley and economist Evan Lucas unpack today’s decision in this Septemb...

How do you know whether you're choosing a good buyer's agent?

Following the recent collapse of several buyer's agency businesses, Shane Pope and Ben Thompson tackle an important question:

What should property buyers be looking for when selecting a buyer's agent?

In this week's FUNdamental Friday, they discuss the red flags, warning signs and key qualities that can help buyers make a more informed decision.
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With borrowing capacity tightening and negative gearing changes reshaping the numbers, investors are being pushed towards cheaper properties, higher yields and new strategies. 

But could adapting to the new environment mean compromising the quality of your assets? 

In this jam-packed Q&A episode, Ben, Polly and Luke unpack the post-budget property traps investors need to avoid, before answering listener ...

Over the past 10 episodes, we've covered the complete home-buying journey.

From defining your brief and researching the market through to inspections, negotiations, auctions, settlement and moving in, PRE-Purchase was created to help buyers navigate one of life's biggest financial decisions with greater confidence.

This final episode is simply a thank you.

Thank you for coming along on the journey, for sending ...

Settlement day is finally here.

After months of preparation, research, inspections, negotiations and paperwork, ownership of the property is about to transfer into your name.

But what actually happens on settlement day?

In Episode 10 of PRE-Purchase, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope explain how settlement works, what PEXA is, when you'll receive the keys, and the practical lessons they've learned from years of helpi...

You've bought the property.

You've gone unconditional.

Settlement is approaching.

Now comes one final check.

In Episode 9 of PRE-Purchase, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope explain the purpose of a pre-settlement inspection, what buyers should be checking, and what to do if something isn't working or has changed since the day you purchased the property.

Many buyers mistakenly think a pre-settlement insp...

The auction is over.

You're the highest bidder.

But the property didn't sell.

Now what?

In Episode 8 of PRE-Purchase, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope unpack one of the most misunderstood parts of the buying process: negotiating after a property passes in.

You'll learn what happens immediately after the auction, why buyers shouldn't rush to increase their offer, the first question to ask the agent, and...

Auction day can be one of the most exciting and intimidating parts of the home-buying journey.

In Episode 7 of PRE-Purchase, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope walk through exactly what happens on auction day, from arriving at the property and understanding auction terminology through to bidding strategies, reserve prices and signing contracts after a successful purchase.

This episode focuses on what happens when you're buyi...

Your offer has been accepted.

Time to celebrate... but not quite settle in just yet.

In Episode 6 of PRE-Purchase, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope explain what happens between having an offer accepted and becoming unconditional.

This is the stage where finance approval, building inspections and pest inspections are finalised. While many buyers think the deal is done once their offer is accepted, there are still som...

You've found the property.

You've completed your research.

You've done your inspections and due diligence.

Now it's time to negotiate.

In Episode 5 of PRE-Purchase, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope unpack one of the most challenging stages of the home-buying journey: negotiating a private sale.

You'll learn why understanding the campaign matters, how to work with agents effectively, what "rules of enga...

You've found a property you like.

You've completed your research.

Now comes one of the most important questions in the entire buying journey:

Are you actually ready to commit?

In Episode 4 of PRE-PURCHASE, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope walk through the final checks buyers should complete before making an offer or raising their hand at auction.

From building and pest inspections to contract reviews, ...

A property can look great on inspection day... but what are you actually looking for?

In Episode 3 of PRE-Purchase, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope walk through one of the most important stages of the buying journey: property inspections.

From identifying red flags and hidden risks to understanding presentation techniques and buyer competition, this episode helps buyers inspect properties with greater confidence and a mor...

Most buyers don't lose money because they failed to find a property. They lose money because they didn't spend enough time understanding the market.

In Episode 2 of PRE-PURCHASE, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope explain how to research property properly, set effective search parameters and build the market knowledge needed to buy with confidence.

This episode builds on Episode 1 and explores what happens after you've desig...

Most buyers start searching for properties before they know exactly what they're looking for.

That's where problems begin.

In Episode 1 of PRE-PURCHASE, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope explain why creating a clear property brief is the foundation of a successful property search.

Before you start attending inspections, speaking to agents or scrolling property websites, you need clarity around what you're actually tr...

Thinking about buying a home but not sure where to start?

Welcome to PRE-PURCHASE, a practical step-by-step series designed to help buyers navigate one of life's biggest financial decisions with greater confidence.

In this introductory episode, Ben Thompson and Shane Pope explain why they created the series, share their backgrounds in property, and walk through the framework that will guide the next 10 episodes.

What happens if your property is suddenly worth less than you paid for it?

It's a question many homeowners and investors are asking as property values soften in some parts of Australia.

In this week's FUNdamental Friday, Ben Thompson and mortgage broker Luke Oxenham unpack the reality behind declining property values, negative equity and what it actually means for homeowners.

They discuss:

✅ What negativ...

What would happen to your finances if the person who usually manages the money was no longer there? 

In Episode 615, Ben Kingsley, Kirsty Dunphey and Polly Chu explore women’s financial independence and the risks that can quietly build through career breaks, unpaid caring responsibilities and leaving the bigger financial decisions to a partner.

They also share practical ways to protect your future, from understanding your ...

You probably like to think your financial decisions are rational.

But behavioural economics tells us that emotion, instinct and old rules of thumb can influence our decisions far more than we realise.

In this week’s Throwback Tuesday, Ben and Bryce revisit their conversation with Phil Slade on the “ape brain”, reacting versus responding, and why the rules that once kept us safe can sometimes work against us when it ...