Australian Property Podcast

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 asset is weak, and how upgrading or renovating the family home may stack up differently if CGT settings change.

For pre-retirees and retirees, Chris and James explore the line-in-the-sand moment many property owners could face before 1 July next year, including whether to hold, sell, add to super or rethink how wealth gets passed on. They also discuss SMSF property risks, why tax now matters more than ever in long-term modelling, and how good advice can help people avoid rushed decisions based on policy noise.

If you own property, want to buy, or are rethinking where your next dollar should go after the Budget, this episode offers a calm framework for weighing the trade-offs.

Episode resources

– Ask a question (select the Property podcast)

Rask Resources

– Pete's Buyers Agency

– Alcove mortgage broking

– Amy Lunardi Buyers Agency (Melbourne)

– All services

– Financial Planning

– Invest with us

– Access Show Notes

– Ask a question

– We love feedback!

Follow us on social media

– Instagram: @rask.invest

– TikTok: @rask.invest

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg
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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 fewer investors keep stock in the market.

The episode also explores the flip side: could this finally be a better window for first-home buyers? The pair look at how reduced investor competition may change conditions on the ground, why strategy matters more than panic, and what buyers and sellers should be thinking about while the policy picture is still evolving.

They also answer listener questions on getting a home loan while working on contract, plus the risks of chasing offshore property opportunities in places like the UAE or New Zealand. If you want a calm, practical conversation about rents, borrowing power, first-home buyer opportunities and what the Budget could change next, this is a timely listen.

Episode resources

– Ask a question (select the Property podcast)

Rask Resources

– Pete's Buyers Agency

– Alcove mortgage broking

– Amy Lunardi Buyers Agency (Melbourne)

– All services

– Financial Planning

– Invest with us

– Access Show Notes

– Ask a question

– We love feedback!

Follow us on social media

– Instagram: @rask.invest

– TikTok: @rask.invest

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg
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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 heavy investor ownership could feel the pressure first.

The episode also looks at the flow-on effects for rents, first-home buyers and housing supply. With vacancy rates already tight and rates still elevated, the pair explain why the market could split further between scarce owner-occupier-grade assets and investor-led stock such as some apartments and regional hotspots. They also discuss the likely policy response, including a bigger role for the 5% deposit scheme as government tries to keep demand from falling too hard.

If you want a practical conversation about what the Budget could mean for prices, rents and property strategy from here, this is a timely episode to queue up now.

Episode resources

- Ask a question (select the Property podcast)

Rask Resources

- Pete's Buyers Agency

- Alcove mortgage broking

- Amy Lunardi Buyers Agency (Melbourne)

- All services

- Financial Planning

- Invest with us

- Access Show Notes

- Ask a question

- We love feedback!

Follow us on social media

- Instagram: [@rask.invest]

- TikTok: [@rask.invest]

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg

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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 pushed even further out.

The conversation then shifts to policy risk. Pete and Chris explore reported changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing, softer conditions in Sydney and Melbourne, stronger rental yields, and what tighter supply could mean for buyers, investors and rents.

The episode also answers listener questions on selling an investment property to buy ETFs, and how to balance property with shares for long-term retirement goals. It’s a practical, timely listen for anyone trying to read the next phase of the housing market.

Episode resources

Ask a question (select the Property podcast)

Rask Resources

Pete's Buyers Agency

Alcove mortgage broking

Amy Lunardi Buyers Agency (Melbourne)

All services

Financial Planning

Invest with us

Access Show Notes

Ask a question

We love feedback!

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @rask.invest

TikTok: @rask.invest

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg
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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.

In hot markets, they cover the need to move quickly, complete due diligence early, set a hard ceiling before negotiations begin and avoid the emotional exhaustion that leads buyers to overpay or drift from their brief. In cooler markets, they unpack how to spot a genuinely motivated vendor, when to make an offer before being invited, how to think about off-markets and EOI campaigns, and why waiting for the perfect bottom can become its own costly mistake.

The result is a practical guide for first-home buyers, upgraders and investors who want to buy well in any environment. There may never be a perfect market, but there is a smarter way to buy in the one you have.

Resources for this episode

Ask a question (select the Property podcast)

Rask Resources

Pete's Buyers Agency

Alcove mortgage broking

Amy Lunardi Buyers Agency (Melbourne)

All services

Financial Planning

Invest with us

Access Show Notes

Ask a question

We love feedback!

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @rask.invest

TikTok: @rask.invest

DISCLAIMER: This podcast contains general financial information only. That means the information does not take into account your objectives, financial situation, or needs. Because of that, you should consider if the information is appropriate to you and your needs, before acting on it. If you’re confused about what that means or what your needs are, you should always consult a licensed and trusted financial planner. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this podcast, including any financial, taxation, and/or legal information. Remember, past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The Rask Group is NOT a qualified tax accountant, financial (tax) adviser, or financial adviser. Access The Rask Group's Financial Services Guide (FSG): https://www.rask.com.au/fsg
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices