The Elephant In The Room Property Podcast | Inside Australian Real Estate

• Building Community, Not Just Property: Inside the Property Collectives Model

  In this episode, we’re joined by Tim Riley, founder of Property Collectives, to explore a new way of thinking about housing—one rooted in collaboration, not speculation. Tim breaks down how the group build model works, why it’s gaining traction, and how it empowers people to co-create their homes rather than buy off the plan. We cover a wide range of topics, including long-term land leases, co-op residency structures, cost-based living models, and how these ideas could offer an alternative to rising rents and traditional home ownership. Tim also talks through the realities of group decision-making, equity capital requirements, and the mindset shift needed to embrace collective development. If you’re interested in housing affordability, innovative ownership structures, or just want to understand where the future of property might be heading, this conversation is packed with insights. Tune in now to hear how Property Collectives is challenging the status quo in Australian housing. Episode Highlights: Welcome [00:00] Tim Riley's Journey and Initial Projects [02:14] Details of Group Builds and Decision-Making [04:53] Financial Benefits and Social Aspects [06:33] Formation and Management of Groups [12:16] Challenges and Solutions in Group Builds [15:10] Expansion and Future Plans [31:05] Impact and Broader Implications [55:21] About our Guest: Tim Riley is the founder and Development Director of Property Collectives, a pioneering Australian property development group known for its innovative, community-led approach to housing. With a background in marketing, Tim transitioned into property development in 2010, establishing Property Collectives to empower individuals and groups to collaboratively design and build architecturally distinctive homes at cost. Under his leadership, the company has delivered numerous projects across Melbourne, focusing on affordability, sustainability, and social impact. Tim’s vision centers on creating quality homes and vibrant communities by enabling participants to become co-developers, sharing both the responsibilities and rewards of property ownership Connect with Tim: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timykriley/ Website: https://propertycollectives.com.au/team/tim-riley/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/timykriley1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/propertycollectives Resources: Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au Visit our website https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at: The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - [email protected] Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au Looking for a Mortgage Broker? https://www.alcove.au Work with Chris: [email protected] Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word, and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now! Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765 If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey! See you on the inside, Veronica & ChrisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• What’s Fueling the Sentiment Shift in Regional Property?

  What’s really behind the shift we’re seeing in regional property market trends, especially along the NSW South Coast? In this episode, we sit down with our good friend and local expert Matthew Knight as someone who’s been living and breathing this stuff for years, to give us the real story. We’ve heard all the noise about COVID booms and tree changers flooding coastal towns, but what happens after the rush settles? Are people still moving out of the city, or has the tide gone out? Matthew walks us through what he’s seeing on the ground; where prices surged way too far, where they’ve pulled back, and which areas are starting to bounce back. We talk about the rise of Airbnb buyers again, the return of holiday home interest, and how first-home buyers have actually had some solid opportunities, despite what the headlines say. The regional property market trends aren’t one-size-fits-all, and this chat really digs into why. We also get into infrastructure changes like the Shell Cove Marina and new hospitals, and how those are making a real difference for retirees, families, and essential workers looking to settle in. And of course, we couldn’t help but talk about schools, childcare, and what happens when a region grows faster than it’s ready for. This one’s a grounded, honest look at life beyond the cities; what’s working, what’s struggling, and what might be next. If you’ve been watching regional property market trends and wondering where things are headed, this episode’s got plenty to chew on. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction 01:12 - Who is Matthew Knight? 01:29 - How has the South Coast property market changed since COVID? 05:44 - Which areas were hit hardest when the South Coast boom was corrected? 08:18 - Did city buyers push prices beyond what locals consider fair value? 10:53 - Why are some beach towns struggling more than others? 13:15 - Are more investors shifting to short-term rentals like Airbnb? 15:49 - Why have some people reversed their sea change and returned to the city? 23:36 - Did first-home buyers take advantage of softer conditions in 2024? 28:40 - What infrastructure upgrades are reshaping the region? 32:01 - Are zoning changes and new housing keeping up with growth? 33:41 - What broke when the population boomed and is it being fixed? 36:45 - What does the next five years look like for the regional market? 39:37 - How much does the future of remote work affect the coast’s appeal? 42:07 - Do locals just visit the city when they need a dose of culture or convenience? 46:22 - Matthew Knight’s property dumbo About Our Guest: Matthew Knight is the Founder and Director of Precium, a buyer’s agency specialising in regional New South Wales, particularly the NSW South Coast. With over two decades of experience in property investment and market analysis, Matt combines data-driven insight with a practical understanding of local dynamics. A long-time resident of the South Coast himself, he has firsthand knowledge of the region’s unique challenges and opportunities. Matt is widely respected for his integrity, deep local expertise, and commitment to helping homebuyers, investors, and downsizers make informed, confident property decisions. Connect with Matthew Knight: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattknightprect Instagram https://www.instagram.com/preciumproperty/ Website https://precium.com.au/ Resources: Visit our website https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at: The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - [email protected] Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au Looking for a Mortgage Broker? https://www.alcove.au Work with Chris: [email protected] Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now! Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• What’s Really Causing the Housing Crisis in Australia? Peter Mares Breaks It Down

  Is housing really unaffordable because we’re not building enough? Or is that just one part of a much bigger, more complicated story? In this episode, we sit down with Peter Mares, journalist, researcher, and author of No Place Like Home – to break down the real reasons why housing is unaffordable in Australia today. Peter walks us through how decades of policy decisions, from tax incentives to the withdrawal of public housing investment, have created a system that prioritises wealth-building over stability. We talk about the deeper issues at play; like how negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions have distorted the market, and why treating housing as infrastructure could be a game-changer. We also get into the cultural side of the problem. The obsession with homeownership, the underuse of housing stock, and the lack of medium-density options in the suburbs all play a role in keeping people locked out. And Peter doesn’t just point out what’s wrong, he offers grounded, practical ideas on what can actually shift. If you’ve ever wondered why housing is unaffordable in Australia, beyond the headlines and hot takes, this conversation pulls back the curtain. It’s honest, insightful, and packed with the kind of context that’s so often missing from the national debate. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction 04:14 - Should home ownership be the goal of housing policy? 06:09 - How has financialisation distorted our housing system? 10:39 - What are the key structural issues we keep avoiding? 14:18 - Can we even build enough housing with current capacity limits? 16:54 - What does it mean to treat housing as infrastructure? 19:03 - Can Singapore’s housing model teach Australia something? 21:23 - Should we rethink what the “ideal” Australian home looks like? 25:00 - Why aren’t people downsizing even when it makes sense? 27:04 - How does tax shape housing decisions? 32:51 - What’s changing behind the scenes at Treasury? 35:07 - Could new superannuation taxes push more money into housing? 39:06 - Is Labor too scared to touch housing tax reform again? 46:01 - Would a land tax instead of stamp duty really work? 50:35 - What got you interested in housing policy in the first place? 52:12 - What’s your take on current housing journalism? 54:53 - Peter Mares’ property dumbo About Our Guest: Peter Mares is an independent journalist, researcher, and public commentator best known for his book No Place Like Home: Repairing Australia’s Housing Crisis. He spent 25 years at the ABC—first as a foreign correspondent and later hosting national radio programs—before moving into urban policy and social issues. He held roles as an adjunct senior research fellow at Monash University, a Cities Fellow at the Grattan Institute, contributing editor for Inside Story, and lead moderator of the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership. Connect with Peter Mares: Website https://petermares.com.au/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-mares-a3211617b Resources: Visit our website https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at: The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast [email protected] Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au Looking for a Mortgage Broker? https://www.alcove.au Work with Chris: [email protected] Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now! Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Could the Property Boom Be Built on Illusion? Martin North Has a Warning

  Is all this property wealth we talk about actually real—or is it just theoretical? That’s what we unpack in this episode with our guest Martin North, founder of Digital Finance Analytics and someone who’s been watching the numbers and the story behind them for years. We ask him: is Australia’s $11 trillion property market built on something solid, or are we clinging to an illusion that’s quietly reshaping the country? Martin walks us through what he calls a “Python swallowing an elephant” moment; the massive bulge of intergenerational wealth that’s moving slowly through the system. We get into what’s really happening with downsizing, why reverse mortgages might not be the win they’re often sold as, and what happens when kids start relying too heavily on the Bank of Mum and Dad. Spoiler: it’s not as simple or as safe as people think. We also look at what governments are doing, policies around death tax fears, proposed taxes on unrealized gains in super, and the broader impact of kicking the can down the road. Martin doesn’t hold back when it comes to calling out flawed thinking or dangerous policy decisions, and it makes for a really thoughtful, at times surprising, conversation. If you’re trying to make sense of where the market’s heading or what might be brewing beneath all this apparent prosperity, you’ll want to sit with this one. It’s not about panic—it’s about facing the bigger picture and asking the harder questions most people still avoid. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction 01:26 - Who is Martin North? 02:20 - Why is intergenerational wealth transfer such a big issue today? 07:38 - Are we double counting superannuation totals when comparing asset classes? 11:29 - Why can’t many older Australians downsize, even if they want to? 13:04 - Financial traps hidden in retirement villages and reverse mortgages 18:31 - How wealth and mortgage debt are distributed across generations, and why it matters 23:21 - Cultural shift in how families are handling financial support across generations? 28:05 - Are younger generations developing a sense of entitlement toward parental financial support? 33:52 - Martin's thoughts on the proposed policy to tax unrealized gains in superannuation 39:01 - Did tax reforms under Howard trigger Australia’s property boom? 41:57 - Why has Australia’s property market outpaced the UK since 2000? 45:00 - Will Australia’s $11 trillion in property wealth ever truly change hands? 48:48 - What happens when the property wealth wave finally hits the end of the line? 52:56 - Are Australians starting to see the deeper layers behind the housing crisis? 57:19 - Martin North’s property dumbo About Our Guest: Martin North is the founder of Digital Finance Analytics, a boutique research and analytics firm focused on the intersection of finance, property, and consumer behavior in Australia. With a background in banking, data science, and strategic consulting, Martin is known for his in-depth housing market surveys and independent commentary on financial systems. He regularly appears in media and podcasts to share insights grounded in data, particularly on topics like intergenerational wealth, mortgage stress, and housing affordability. His work combines macroeconomic analysis with real-world household data, making him a respected voice in Australian property and finance conversations. Connect with Martin North: LinkedIn https://au.linkedin.com/in/martin-north-6a799182 Website https://www.digitalfinanceanalytics.com/ X (formerly Twitter) https://x.com/DFA_Analyst Resources: Visit our website https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at: The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - [email protected] Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au Looking for a Mortgage Broker? https://www.alcove.au Work with Chris: [email protected] Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now! Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• Australia’s Biggest Home Builder Opens Up About Survival

  The building industry in Australia 2025 is still feeling the ripple effects of COVID, supply chain chaos, and builder collapses, and we wanted to know what it actually looks like to survive all that. So we brought in Brad Duggan, CEO of Metricon, to pull back the curtain on what went wrong, what they got right, and what others need to understand if they’re going to build homes (and stay afloat) in this market. Brad doesn’t hold back. He talks about the grind; the fixed-price contracts, the cost blowouts, the tough calls they had to make just to finish the work they promised. We got into what shifted for buyers too: smaller homes, simpler choices, and a stronger demand for turnkey builds. There’s a reason Metricon pivoted in that direction, and it’s not just about profit, it’s about stability. We also talked through some of the bigger picture issues shaping the building industry in Australia 2025. Delays in planning, lack of trades, materials tied up in tunnels and infrastructure jobs, councils dragging their feet. Brad’s got strong views on all of it, and some practical thoughts on what actually needs to change. If you’re buying, building, or even just trying to wrap your head around the future of housing in Australia, this chat cuts through the noise. So let's dive in and get started. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction 01:11 - Who is Brad Duggan? 01:33 - How bad has it really been for builders in the last few years? 04:14 - The toughest truths Brad had to face in stepping in as CEO 05:56 - How much building capacity did the industry lose due to insolvencies? 07:26 - If builders went under, why is there still a skilled labor shortage? 09:05 - What’s driving the increase in home building costs today? 11:45 - How much of the 50% cost increase is due to materials vs labour? 14:48 - Is outsourcing builds to China a practical solution to supply shortages? 16:05 - What makes modular construction so expensive and hard to scale? 18:29 - Are Australians too picky about customisation for mass-market housing to work? 20:31 - Why aren’t apartments a good entry point for young buyers? 21:21 - What types of builds make up Metricon’s current portfolio? 22:41 - What are the cost and risk differences between custom builds and volume builders? 25:19 - The risk of cookie-cutter suburbs in affordable housing 29:38 - Has construction productivity actually improved in Australia or not? 32:43 - Should buyers focus more on land content for better capital growth? 36:38 - Have all affected customers from collapsed builders been helped? 37:45 - What role should regulators play in builder accountability? 39:05 - Are investors finally returning to the market? 40:07 - What’s wrong with how some investment properties are sold? 47:14 - Does protecting the ‘neighbourhood feel’ stall progress? 51:39 - Brad Duggan’s property dumbo About Our Guest: Brad Duggan is the Chief Executive Officer of Metricon, Australia’s largest home builder. He stepped into the CEO role in July 2023 after serving as the company’s Chief Financial and Operating Officer. With over two decades of experience in finance and construction, Brad has held senior leadership positions at Probuild, WBHO Infrastructure, Australian Unity, and PwC. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance from the University of Tasmania and is a Chartered Accountant. Brad is known for his pragmatic leadership during one of the most challenging periods in the construction industry, guiding Metricon through a successful financial turnaround while maintaining its position as the country’s top residential builder. Connect with Brad Duggan: LinkedIn https://au.linkedin.com/in/brad-duggan-96160818 Website https://www.metricon.com.au/ Resources: Visit our website https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at: The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast [email protected] Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au Looking for a Mortgage Broker? https://www.alcove.au Work with Chris: [email protected] Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now! Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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