The Property Couch

In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Shane Pope and Luke Oxenham share what they wish more clients knew before buying property.
Shane starts with the negotiation side, unpacking how agents can create pressure and urgency during a deal — and why buyers often have more space than they realise to make a calm, quality decision.
Luke then explains the finance side, including why settlement length is often less important than the finance clause, cooling-off period, and the time needed to secure unconditional approval.
Together, they cover the parts of buying property that can feel stressful, confusing or rushed — and how better preparation can help buyers avoid poor decisions.
If you’re planning to make an offer, this is a useful episode to listen to first.
Got a question or a “hill” you want us to unpack? Send it through here 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/topics/

⏱️ Timestamps

00:27 – Welcome back to Friday Fundamentals
01:09 – What Shane wishes more buyers knew
01:11 – Why agent pressure can feel so intense
01:34 – Can buyers push back on offer deadlines?
01:59 – Why buyers can be firmer with agents
02:24 – Creating space to make better decisions
03:01 – Why first home buyers can feel like they’re bidding against themselves
03:20 – Going radio silent and using time as a tell
03:49 – Why timing matters in negotiations
04:06 – Case study: negotiating a lifestyle property
04:26 – Four other buyers at the table
04:54 – Why a good buyer’s agent can help
05:13 – What Luke wishes more buyers knew
05:33 – Why unconditional approval matters
05:54 – Finance clauses and lender timeframes
06:12 – Why brokers plan for the worst-case scenario
06:45 – Why the first week matters most
07:04 – Buyer pressure before and after settlement
07:41 – Final thoughts and send in your questions

#ThePropertyCouch #PropertyBuying #BuyersAgent #MortgageBroker #propertytips
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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(Upcoming webinar - 7:30pm AEST, Tues, 28th July) New vs Established Property: What should you buy in today’s market? Register here: https://thepropertycouch.com.au/registernow
Do owner-occupier suburbs have better capital growth?
New Cotality research suggests the answer is often yes — particularly when it comes to units.
Between 2010 and 2026, units in owner-occupier-heavy areas grew by 99%, compared with 65% in investor-heavy suburbs. Applied to the national median unit value at the beginning of that period, that represents an estimated $148,000 difference in capital gains.  
But does that mean investors should simply avoid any suburb with a high share of renters? Not quite. 
In this episode, Ben Kingsley is joined by Gerard Burg, Head of Research at Cotality Australia. Gerard brings more than two decades of experience analysing economic and industry trends across government and the private sector, including his previous role as a Senior Economist at NAB.  
Together, they unpack what Cotality’s ownership-composition research really tells us, why the relationship is so much stronger in the unit market, and how liveability, amenity, renovation activity and future housing supply can influence long-term performance. 
They also explore the risks of investor-heavy apartment markets, the potential consequences of pushing more investors towards new builds, and what the latest listings and lending data reveal about Australia’s property market in 2026.

Free Stuff Mentioned
(LIVE Webinar!) New vs Established Property: What should you buy in today’s market? Have recent tax changes made new property the obvious choice for investors? Join us on Tuesday, 28 July at 7:30 pm AEST as we unpack the real numbers, risks and trade-offs behind buying new versus established property.👉 Register for the free webinar
Cotality’s Owner-Occupier and Investor Research  👉 Read the research and download the full analysis or learn more about Cotality here
Moorr’s Suburb Search Feature: Looking for more suburb data? Check our Moorr’s brand new feature: Suburb Search! Research over 30,000 Australian suburbs with just a few clicks. Explore monthly-updated market data, compare locations, uncover hidden opportunities and access suburb-level insights to help you invest with greater confidence. 👉 Learn more

Timestamps 
01:23 – Should You Buy New or Established Property After the Tax Changes?
02:28 – Meet Gerard Burg, Head of Research at Cotality Australia
03:21 – Money Story: Growing Up as the Youngest of Five Children
09:19 – How Gerard Found His Way Into Economics and Property Research
14:16 – How the Rental Ratio and Ownership Research Was Calculated
15:27 – Do Owner-Occupier Suburbs Have Better Capital Growth?
17:15 – How Ownership Composition Created a $148,000 Difference
20:00 – Why Schools, Transport and Liveability Influence Property Values
23:29 – Why New Apartment Supply Can Limit Capital Growth
27:00 – How Investors Should Use a Suburb’s Rental Ratio
32:23 – How the New Tax Settings Could Change Investor Behaviour
37:05 – Could New Housing Estates Become the Next Investor-Heavy Markets?
39:29 – Rental Guarantees, Oversupply and Concentration Risk Explained
44:27 – The Practical Property Research Lessons Investors Can Apply
46:08 – Australia’s Property Market Outlook for the Rest of 2026
46:36 – Are Rate Rises or the Federal Budget Driving the Market Slowdown?
51:00 – Are Regional Property Markets Still Outperforming the Capitals?
53:57 – What Rising Listings Tell Us About Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane
56:31 – Interest Rates, Borrowing Capacity and the Signals to Watch Next
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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When someone leaves a two-star review calling you "property spruikers," you've got two choices: ignore it, or read it out loud and respond properly!
In this Throwback Tuesday snippet, Bryce & Ben unpack a listener's concerns about high debt, over-leveraging and vested interests... and why a healthy dose of scepticism is no bad thing.
For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 437 | The Biggest Danger People Face When Looking at Property Data.

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

Welcome back to Friday Fundamentals on The Property Couch.
In this episode, Shane and Luke tackle a question that’s suddenly everywhere:
Would you still buy an established property today if the negative gearing benefit is deferred?
Their answer? Yes — but it depends on your goals, your timeline, and the quality of the asset.
This conversation unpacks why negative gearing is only a moment in time, why growth still does the heavy lifting over the long term, and why chasing a tax outcome can be a dangerous way to build an investment strategy.
They also break down why established property still has a strong case, especially when land, location and asset quality are front and centre.
If you’ve been wondering whether the recent changes mean you need to completely rethink your property approach, this is a great place to start.
Got a question or a “hill” you want us to unpack? Send it through here 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/topics/
Timestamps
00:10 – Welcome to Friday Fundamentals
00:49 – The big question: would you still buy established property?
01:13 – Luke’s answer: yes, but it depends
01:45 – Why long-term goals still matter most
02:03 – PPOR maxing and future strategy
03:17 – Why Shane would still buy established property
04:09 – The buyer’s decision quadrant explained
04:24 – Why not all “tax-friendly” property is good property
05:00 – Negative gearing is a moment in time
05:39 – Final thoughts and send in your questions
#ThePropertyCouch #PropertyInvesting #NegativeGearing #EstablishedProperty #MoneyManagement
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

"I don't think it can get much worse for people trying to get their first property.”  
That’s Glen James, best-selling author, financial educator, host of the award-winning Money Money Money podcast and today’s special guest. 
From Glen's journey as a self-confessed "recovering spender" to why your first home doesn't need to be your forever home, this conversation explores the money habits, finance strategies and changing tax landscape shaping the next generation of property owners and investors. 
You'll learn: 
✔️ The outdated first-home advice you can ignore 
✔️ Whether rentvesting still stacks up in today's market 
✔️ The first conversation every aspiring buyer should have  
✔️ The role family guarantees and LMI can play 
✔️ How to choose the right first property—not just your dream property 
Listen now!  
 
FREE STUFF MENTIONED
The Quick-Start Guide to Your First Property 📘
Glen and Rachelle Kroon's practical new book cuts through the confusion of buying your first home or investment property with clear, step-by-step advice to help you get into the market sooner.
👉 Grab your copy here 
Money Money Money Podcast 🎧
Listen to Glen’s award-winning personal finance podcast covering budgeting, investing, property and practical money strategies. 
👉 Listen here  
Buying your first home? 🏠
We've just released a 3-part series to make the start of your property investing journey easier. 
👉 Start here: 593 | How to Buy a Home (The Right Way) – Part 1 
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