The Property Couch

Can Australia continue funding the level of concessions, subsidies and benefits we're currently providing?
In this week's FUNdamental Friday, Ben Kingsley is joined by Evan Lucas for a thought-provoking discussion about government spending, welfare, pensions and the growing cost of supporting an ageing population.
The conversation explores whether Australia's safety net is targeted in the right places, and whether some government benefits should be better aligned with financial need.
They discuss:
✅ Age pensions and means testing
✅ Concession cards and public transport benefits
✅ The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
✅ Superannuation and retirement funding
✅ The rising cost of welfare programs
✅ Housing, retirement and financial independence
✅ Why future governments may face difficult decisions
Whether you agree or disagree, it's a conversation that challenges some widely held assumptions.
🏡 Thinking About Buying A Home?
Check out PRE-Purchase, our free 10-part video series designed to help Australians buy property with greater confidence.
From creating a property brief through to auctions, negotiations and settlement, each episode tackles a key stage of the buying journey.
🎥 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/prepurchase
⌚Timestamps
0:00 Should wealthy retirees receive benefits?
0:24 Why this debate matters
0:52 Government spending and inflation
1:43 Pensions, concessions and welfare
2:24 PRE-Purchase Series
3:07 State concessions explained
4:01 The growing cost of the PBS
5:00 Should pension income be taxed?
5:27 "I worked all my life"
6:12 Why superannuation exists
7:08 Why accessing super early is controversial
7:37 Should the family home be means tested?
8:40 The case for supporting vulnerable Australians
9:03 What is middle-class welfare?
9:29 Australia's $292 billion welfare bill
10:34 Why pensions dominate welfare spending
11:02 The promise politicians made
11:49 Revenue reforms vs spending reforms
12:53 Where should support be targeted?
13:21 Evan's final thoughts

#PersonalFinance #RetirementPlanning #Superannuation #PropertyTok #ThePropertyCouch #FUNdamentalFridays
LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

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FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

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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, lifestyle, buyer behaviour and the momentum that builds when these factors come together. 
It’s a deeper dive than usual, but the practical question is simple: how do you find the best location and property type your budget can afford? 
This episode might just be Ben’s “Magnum Opus”; listen now!  
FREE STUFF MENTIONED
📥 FREE INFOGRAPHIC: Why Do Some Locations Outperform?  
Ben brings together the foundations of location value, seven core drivers and five engines of momentum in a visual guide you can revisit when weighing up where and what to buy.
👉 Download the free framework 
 
🎧 Guests & Episodes Mentioned:  Episode 418: The Hidden Forces Driving Property Values 
Cycle Amplifiers: The 7 Forces Moving Property Prices Right Now | Tuesday Toolkit 

LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
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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 September Economic & RBA Update. 
💡 Thinking about refinancing or adjusting your loan strategy? Let the Empower Wealth Mortgage Broking team help you compare your options. 
 
LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
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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.

They explore:
✅ Why paying large fees upfront may be risky
✅ The importance of proven philosophies and track records
✅ Why "one-size-fits-all" property advice should raise concerns
✅ Questions to ask before engaging a buyer's agent
✅ The dangers of silver-bullet investment strategies
✅ Why longevity and consistency matter
✅ What genuine buyer advocacy should look like

Because when you're trusting someone to help build long-term wealth, due diligence matters.

🏡 Buying a home soon?

Before your next open for inspection, check out PRE-Purchase, our free 10-part video series designed to help Australians buy property with greater clarity and confidence.

From creating a property brief and researching the market, through to negotiating, bidding at auction and understanding settlement, we've broken the buying journey into easy-to-follow episodes.

🎥 Watch the full series here:
 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/prepurchase

🎁 FREE UPDATED $3,000 A WEEK CASE STUDIES

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Then:

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📧 Email it to info@thepropertycouch.com.au

We'll send you FREE access to our updated video case studies, refreshed for today's property market, negative gearing and capital gains tax changes.

🕰️Timestamps
0:00 The hill Shane is willing to die on
1:04 Recent buyer's agency collapses
2:19 What to look for in a buyer's agency
3:03 The biggest red flag
3:24 Why business structure matters
4:15 Longevity and consistency
5:00 Why philosophy matters
5:46 Too many hats
7:02 Beware the silver bullet
8:11 The Victorian unit debate
8:50 Why one-size-fits-all doesn't work
10:07 How performance should be presented
11:05 Be critical of marketing claims
11:29 The biggest warning sign
11:55 Why Shane believes fees should be paid at the end

#PropertyInvesting #BuyersAgent #PropertyAdvice #PropertyInvestor #PropertyStrategy #InvestmentProperty #WealthCreation #PropertyMarket #ThePropertyCouch #FUNdamentalFridays
LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Youtube

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 questions about grandfathering, offset accounts, upgrading the family home and preserving financial flexibility. 
Listen now!  
FREE STUFF MENTIONED
📊 The Upgraded Case Study Series
Explore seven refreshed case studies plus a brand-new Live-Vesting strategy, updated for today’s lending, tax and cash-flow environment. 
As thanks for being part of our community, use COUCH17 to access the series for just $17 (RRP $197).
👉 Explore the Case Studies 
🎥 The PRE-Purchase Series
A free ten-part, bite-sized series designed to guide you through the three key stages of purchasing property—Preparation, Research and Execution.
👉 Access the free series 
🐖 Moorr: Your Home for Property, Finance & Money Management
Bring your cash flow, properties, loans and overall financial position together, so you can understand your numbers and make more informed decisions.
👉 Get started with Moorr for free 
🔎 We’re Looking for a Sydney Buyer’s Agent
Empower Wealth is looking for an experienced Sydney-based Buyer’s Agent to help clients purchase quality homes.
👉 Visit Empower Wealth and head to About Us → Careers. 
 
LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Youtube