The Property Couch

Welcome back to Friday Fundamentals on The Property Couch.
In this episode, Shane Pope is joined by Jacob Caine, President of the Real Estate Institute of Australia and Victoria, to unpack a property shift that many homeowners and investors may not be thinking about yet:
Home energy ratings.
Jacob explains why energy efficiency could become a much bigger factor in how properties are valued, rented and sold — particularly as governments look more closely at the energy performance of existing homes.
The conversation covers mandatory disclosure, retrofitting, the former NatHERS system now moving under the Home Energy Rating brand, and why upgrades like solar, insulation, batteries, heat pumps, efficient appliances and decommissioning gas could become part of a property’s future value story.
They also explore why this may create a major opportunity for owners of existing homes, especially if buyers and renters increasingly factor energy performance into their decisions.
If you own property, rent property, or are thinking about upgrading, this is one to keep on your radar.
Got a question or a “hill” you want us to unpack? Send it through here 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/topics/
#ThePropertyCouch #EnergyEfficiency #PropertyValue #AustralianProperty #PropertyInvesting
⏱️ Timestamps
00:24 – Welcome back to Friday Fundamentals
00:36 – Meet Jake Caine
00:52 – Why energy efficiency matters for property
01:17 – The built environment and net zero targets
01:23 – How energy ratings may impact property values
01:32 – New builds vs existing homes
01:53 – Why retrofitting is the big opportunity
02:15 – Mandatory home energy rating disclosure
03:02 – Energy ratings at point of sale or lease
03:31 – How this could roll out across states
04:01 – Victorian rental energy standards
04:22 – Energy efficiency and the value premium
04:41 – The potential difference in property value
04:59 – Solar, batteries, insulation and heat pumps
05:18 – Why owners should start thinking about upgrades
06:06 – How Home Energy Ratings could guide improvements
06:47 – Will upgrades translate into added value?
07:38 – Comparing energy upgrades to pre-sale improvements
08:39 – Could small upgrades create a larger value premium?
08:56 – Final thoughts and webinar reminder
LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

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

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- Make Money Simple Again

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Recorded just days after Victoria welcomed a new Premier, this conversation couldn't have come at a more pivotal time. 
Ben and Shane sit down with Jacob (Jake) Caine, President of the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) and the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA), to unpack one question that's shaping the future of Australia's property market: 
Are governments solving the right problem... or creating new ones? 
From Victoria's rental reforms and proposed auction reserve price changes to the Federal Government's new tax policies and anti-money laundering (AML) laws, Jake explains why the industry believes many well-intentioned reforms are producing unintended consequences. 
Drawing on REIA's Senate evidence, independent modelling and frontline industry experience, the conversation explores what these changes could mean for housing supply, affordability, investor confidence and everyday Australians looking to buy, sell or rent property. 
If you've been wondering whether the latest reforms are helping or hurting, this episode will be your answer. Listen now!   
Free Stuff Mentioned 
Nathan Mawby: Property sector puts Ben Carroll on notice over Allan’s ‘damaging’ reforms
REIA:Opening Statement to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee
Property prices rise nationally as rental markets tighten further 

REIV:  The 8-Point Blueprint for Marketing of Residential Real Estate in Victoria 
Jake’s Article for The Age, 11 August 2025, “Peak real estate lobby backs underquoting overhaul”
 Guests & Episodes Mentioned:  
595 | Building Inspections, Hidden Defects & A Risky Govt Proposal (Buying a Home | Part 2) – Chat with Paul Baker & Myles Clark 

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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“Pay yourself first” is one of the most popular rules in personal finance. And to be fair, it’s popular for a reason: it’s simple, memorable, and it works.
But what if saving 10% isn’t enough?
In this Throwback Tuesday snippet, Bryce and Ben unpack why the classic “pay yourself first” rule might still leave room for lifestyle creep… and how trapping more of your surplus can help you put your money to better use.
For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 191| Seven Steps to Make Money Simple Again. 

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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In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Luke Oxenham and Polly Chu unpack a common property investing myth:
Waiting for the perfect time before you start.
From interest rates and market cycles to cost of living, family plans and global uncertainty, there always seems to be a reason to hold off.
But as Luke and Polly explain, waiting for perfect certainty can sometimes leave people sitting on the sidelines for years.
This episode explores how to plan for uncertainty before buying property, including stress testing your repayments, modelling higher interest rates, allowing for rental changes, planning for holding costs, and keeping cash buffers in place.
They also discuss why trying to time the bottom of the market can be difficult, and how big life goals should be considered before building an investment strategy.
Got a question or a “hill” you want us to unpack? Send it through here 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/topics/
Timestamps
00:23 – Welcome back to Friday Fundamentals
 00:41 – The myth: waiting for the perfect time
 00:55 – Why people feel they need to wait
 01:13 – There’s always another reason to hold off
 01:43 – Why uncertainty feels uncomfortable
 02:19 – How planning helps manage uncertainty
 02:22 – Running the numbers before buying
 02:36 – Modelling higher interest rates
 03:21 – Planning for worst-case scenarios
 03:31 – Rental income, holding costs and maintenance
 04:07 – Stress testing your loan repayments
 04:39 – Why cash buffers matter
 05:06 – The danger of using every dollar to buy
 06:20 – Should you wait for a particular time?
 06:38 – Why waiting for the market to turn can take years
 07:08 – The problem with timing the bottom
 08:08 – Waiting for life to settle down
 09:24 – Big life decisions vs borrowing capacity
 10:04 – The big rocks in the jar analogy
 10:26 – Final takeaway: there is no perfect time
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

Two months on from the Budget's negative gearing and CGT changes, the data is telling a clear story. In our latest episode, Ben sits down with couch crew Luke Oxenham, investment-savvy mortgage broker, and Polly Chu, Qualified Property Investment Advisor, both fielding real client conversations daily. 
Together, they're unpacking what's actually happening on the ground: auction clearance rates stuck below 50% for weeks (the worst run since 2018), open home attendance down 43% year-on-year, and the lending data driving it all. 
How lenders scrambled to rewrite borrowing power calculators within days of Budget night — some borrowers lost up to $160K in capacity overnight 
Why majors and smaller lenders are treating investment debt so differently 
What AFG's lodgement data really reveals about first home buyers, upgraders and investors 
The shift toward interest-only loans as borrowers protect negative gearing and build buffers 
Why this cautious market might be the smartest time for new investors to prepare — and what "prepared" actually means 
Tune in to hear the conversations happening behind closed doors right now. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Free Webinar: New vs Established Property — What Should You Buy in Today's Market? 🎙️
The rules have changed. Should your strategy? Join us live to unpack the real numbers behind buying new vs established in today's market.
📅 Tuesday, 28 July 2026, 7:30pm AEST
👉 Register free 
Free Borrowing Power Calculator 💰
Curious what you could actually borrow right now? Run your numbers through Moorr's latest feature and get clarity in minutes. 
👉 Get financial clarity now  
Free Personalised Lending Chat 📞
Want to know exactly where you stand? Have a free, no-obligation chat with our team and get a lending assessment tailored to you.
👉 Book your free chat today. 
 
Between rate rises and rewritten legislation, it's a lot to keep up with. Got a question?👉 We've got you! Send it in for our upcoming Q&A Day >>  
 
Resources from this week’s episode  Ray White: Open homes are quieter, but attendance may be stabilising 
Westpac-MI Consumer Sentiment July 
AFG brokers lodge $28.1 billion in home loans in Q4 FY26 
The Advisor:  FHB pullback almost as steep as investor retreat 
Majors’ share slips as Westpac tops AFG lodgements 

Broker Daily: Westpac forecasts slump in investor activity following budget 

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