Australian Property Podcast

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 then turns to what is changing on the ground. Investors are pulling back, upgraders are cautious, first-home buyers are getting a little more breathing room, and rents remain under pressure because vacancies are still tight. They also unpack stamp duty changes, buyer incentives and why mortgage stress is still more of a pressure story than a distressed-sales story.

Finally, they look ahead to late 2026 and 2027. If rates fall meaningfully, the market could find a new leg higher. If cuts stay modest, Australia may be heading into a slower, more balanced phase instead. It is a useful episode for buyers, investors and homeowners trying to work out what matters now and what noise to ignore.

Episode resources

– Ask a question (select the Property podcast)

Show partner resources

– Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit

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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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 as rushing in too early. The bigger question, according to Jack, is whether you are actually ready: know your numbers, stress-test your budget, understand your pathway and buy with the next five to ten years in mind.

They also break down the main paths into the market, including the 5% deposit scheme, LMI waivers for certain professions, guarantor loans, Help to Buy, and gifted money. Plus, they cover what to watch with stamp duty concessions and the First Home Owner Grant, and the trap of letting a short-term incentive drive a long-term property decision.

If you are trying to work out whether to buy now, which scheme fits your situation, or how to avoid the biggest first-home-buyer mistakes, this episode is for you.

Episode resources

– Ask a question (select the Property podcast)

Show partner resources

– Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit

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 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 national data fully catches up. They also discuss why first-home buyers may get a little more breathing room if investors retreat, but why that same shift could deepen rental pressure and make the supply problem worse.

The episode then moves from headlines to strategy. Pete and Chris unpack where capital may flow next, including commercial property and new apartments, and whether those pivots genuinely stack up for investors. They also weigh up the more constructive side of the story: ongoing housing undersupply, easing rate expectations and the chance some of the most dramatic policy fears get diluted over time.

Plus, they answer listener questions on land tax, retirement pressure and what a move to New Zealand could mean for Australians with property held across multiple structures. If you want a practical take on the post-Budget property reset, buyer opportunity and the risks hiding underneath the noise, this is a timely episode to queue up.

Episode resources

– Ask a question (select the Property podcast)

Show partner resources

– Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit

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 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 risk that lower turnover makes housing even less flexible for households and state budgets alike.

A big focus in this episode is the mismatch between policy intent and what may happen on the ground. New-build and off-the-plan inquiries have jumped, but that does not mean projects will stack up or convert into real sales. Pete and Chris talk through why build costs, borrowing limits, settlement risk and buyer caution still matter, and why some “solutions” may look better on paper than in practice.

They also cover rents, vacancies, buyer’s agents under pressure, the markets most exposed if investor demand keeps fading, and what listeners should watch next if they want to buy, hold or rethink a property plan. If you want a calm, practical read on where the market may be heading from here, this is a timely listen.

Episode resources

– Ask a question (select the Property podcast)

Show partner resources

– Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit

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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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, regulation and incentives shape whether Australia creates more wealth or simply fights over what already exists?

Andrew explains why he believes cutting housing supply is one of the worst policy choices Australia can make, how rising rents, higher rates and broader cost-of-living pressure are changing the national mood, and why small business, private investment and simpler rules still matter if Australia wants to stay competitive. The conversation also touches on super, the role of large institutions, and why clearer economic thinking matters more when confidence is low.

Owen pushes on the bigger picture too: whether Australia has lost ambition, why the policy debate feels less honest than it should, and what needs to change if Australians want better opportunities over the next decade. If you want a plain-English discussion about housing, tax, productivity, competitiveness and the long-run direction of Australia, this is a timely episode to queue next.

Episode resources

– Ask a question (select the Property podcast)

Show partner resources

– Join Pearler using the code "RASKSWITCH" and get $32 of Pearler Credit

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