The Property Couch

Auctions can be intense… and it’s not just the bidding that drives the pressure.
In this bonus episode, Bryce chats with behavioural economist and psychologist Phil Slade about why auctions trigger powerful emotions, how time pressure and competition can cloud judgement, and what you can do to avoid falling into the bidding war trap.
For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 338 | Going Ape S#!t: How To Hack Your Brain To Make More Money.

LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

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- 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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Welcome to the first episode of our brand-new Friday mini-series: The Hill I’ll Die On.
Each week, one member of the Property Couch crew steps up to share a bold money or property stance they’re willing to stand behind and unpack the behind-the-scenes truths most people think… but rarely say out loud.
First up: Ben Thompson.
As a QPIA and auctioneer with over 1,000 auctions under his belt, Ben makes a strong case that auctions are the most transparent way to buy property.
Are they intimidating? Yes.
Are they emotional? Absolutely.
But are they unfair? Ben doesn’t think so.

In this 10-minute episode, he breaks down:
 ✔️ Why transparency matters more than comfort
 ✔️ The psychology of bidding
 ✔️ The tactics buyers use to influence the room
 ✔️  And why you should attend at least six auctions before bidding at one
 
New episode every Friday.
Got a hill you want one of our Couch Crew to defend? Send it through to our website. 
 
Timestamps 
0:33 – Meet Ben T: QPIA & 1,000+ Auctions Later
2:07 – The Hill: Why Auctions Win on Transparency
4:20 – “Auctions Are Scary” (Or Are They?)
6:30 – Buyer Tactics: Doubt, Disruption & Confidence Plays
8:40 – Auctioneer vs Bidder: Who’s Really in Control?
11:00 – The Golden Rule: Attend At Least 6 Auctions
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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Rates are back in the spotlight… and with them comes the big question: 
👉 Should you fix your loan? 
In this episode, Ben sits down with mortgage experts Luke Oxenham and Kirsty “KD” Dunphey to unpack what rising interest rates actually mean for: 
Borrowing power 
Mortgage jail 
Fixed vs variable decisions 
Investor strategy in a rising-rate cycle 
Because just because the bank says you can borrow it… doesn’t mean you should. 

Free Stuff Mentioned 
 LIMITED TIME: Free Audiobook – How to Retire on $3K a Week
If you haven’t started it yet (or you’re halfway through 😉), this is your reminder. The full audiobook is available free on our podcast feed, but only until 18 March. After that, it comes down.
⏳ Don’t miss your chance to listen before it disappears. 
🎧 Exchanges with Evan Lucas: The Inner Workings of the RBA with Sarah Hunter, Chief Economist and Assistant Governor (Economic) at the Reserve Bank of Australia.
📊 Breaking News: Capital Gains Tax Reform 
🏡 Breaking News: Negative Gearing Changes?
🌏 International Women’s Day on 8 March! 
🎙 New Friday Series: The Money Stuff We Don’t Talk About 
We’re launching a brand-new Friday mini-series to help you get to know the Couch Crew a little better! First theme: “The Hill I’ll Die On.”  
👉 Keep an eye out each Friday on your podcast feed. 
 
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 the May 2026 federal budget approaching, rumors of negative gearing changes are reaching a fever pitch. At The Property Couch, we’ve always said you only need 2 to 3 properties to change your life, but how would a formal cap impact your long-term plan? Watch the full video on YouTube here >
Before we get there… Stop the presses! Let’s acknowledge that for the second time in less than a week, we have major breaking news episodes regarding property tax in Australia. Hot on the heels of the Capital Gains Tax debate, we are now looking at a potential "Double Whammy" with new negative gearing reforms currently being modelled by Treasury.
Why is this urgent? The May Budget is just weeks away. We have a very small window of time to ensure the government hears the voice of the everyday investor before these models potentially become policy.
Our Take: Regular listeners of The Property Couch know that we have always advocated for a "less is more" strategy—building a life-changing passive income with just 2 to 3 high-quality properties. On the surface, a "Two-Property Cap" sounds like it aligns with that philosophy and is certainly a better policy than what was proposed in 2019.
But there is a catch. If the government gets the details wrong, they risk spooking the entire market into a dormant state, causing an exodus of rental supply at the exact moment Australia needs it most.
In this special presentation, Ben Kingsley (Chair of PICA) breaks down the data and the "Victorian Warning" to explain why we need an open dialogue with Canberra right now.
Missed our first breaking news update on CGT? Catch it here >
Don't just watch from the sidelines. If you want to protect your financial future and have a say in these policy changes, join PICA. It’s the best investment you can make for your portfolio. 👉 Join here: https://pica.asn.au

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
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Is the government about to pull the rug out from under the rental market? 🚨
With housing affordability dominating the headlines, Federal Labor and the Treasury are officially modeling potential changes to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Negative Gearing. 
Note: This deep-dive presentation was originally produced by Ben Kingsley for the Property Investors Council of Australia (PICA). Given the gravity of these potential tax reforms and how much they impact our community, we knew we had to share it here on The Property Couch. Watch the full video on PICA Here >
Ben cuts through the political spin to analyze the real-world impact of the policies currently on the table. He puts the proposals from Labor, the Greens, the Grattan Institute, and the recent Treasury news on AFR under the microscope to see who passes—and who fails—the ultimate "Supply Test."
In this episode, we cover:
The #1 Capital Gains Tax Misinformation: What most people are saying wrong?
The "Crowding Out" Myth: Do investors actually lock out First Home Buyers? (The data says otherwise).
The 90% Factor: Who is actually building Australia’s new housing stock?
The Policy Scorecard: Grading the current CGT proposals against the Government’s own objectives.
The 1999 Fact Check: The real (and forgotten) reason the 50% CGT discount was created.
The PICA Solution: A balanced, tiered CGT policy that satisfies investors, renters, and the Government.
This is a masterclass in policy and "Economic Darwinism." If you are one of the 2.3 million property investors in Australia, you cannot afford to miss this.
🔗 Resources Mentioned:
Read PICA’s Policy Document here >
Join PICA and help us build a stronger voice >

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