The Property Couch

In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Shane and Evan Lucas unpack a much bigger issue than the usual property or tax headline:
has the social contract around work, education and getting ahead been broken?
Evan argues that the current debate around intergenerational inequality is focusing too heavily on the margins while missing the core problem.
For many Australians, the traditional path of studying hard, working hard, and moving forward financially does not feel as reliable as it once did. Education costs more, HELP debts are larger, taxes bite earlier, and the reward for extra effort can feel less clear.
This episode explores the deeper structural issues behind the frustration many people feel — and why the real conversation needs to go beyond surface-level policy fixes.
Got a question or a “hill” you want us to unpack? Send it through here 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/topics/
⏱️ Timestamps
00:09 – Welcome back to Friday Fundamentals
00:20 – Evan’s hill to die on
00:37 – Why the intergenerational equality debate feels off
00:55 – The old promise: work hard and get ahead
01:12 – Why education used to deliver a bigger payoff
01:52 – What changed after the GFC
02:19 – HELP debt, inflation and the cost of getting ahead
03:17 – Why the incentive structure feels broken
04:13 – Is the government too reliant on one type of tax revenue?
05:26 – Why this debate is bigger than CGT and negative gearing
06:32 – Could tax bracket indexation help?
07:26 – Younger workers, older wealth and structural imbalance
08:39 – Final thoughts and what actually needs fixing
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 EOFY fast approaching, Ben is joined by BanTacs tax expert Julia Hartman and Couch Crew and Senior Empower Wealth Tax Advisor, Danish Ahmed to unpack the latest tax developments impacting property investors... 
This episode covers: 
✅ The ATO's newly-finalised holiday home rules
✅ What qualifies as a "new build" (and where the loopholes and unanswered questions still exist)
✅ How unused super contribution caps can create valuable tax planning opportunities before 30 June 
✅ Why negative gearing hasn't disappeared — it's simply become a deferred tax benefit 
✅ The biggest misconception investors have about property values, and why residential real estate behaves completely differently from shares and other asset classes 
Plus, Ben breaks down the concept of price discovery and explains why scarcity, emotion and owner-occupier demand remain the biggest drivers of long-term property performance. Listen now! 

FREE STUFF MENTIONED
📅 Free 15-Minute Tax Consultation 
With EOFY approaching, book a complimentary consultation with a qualified tax accountant to discuss tax planning opportunities and investment property strategies.
👉 Book your free initial consultation today   
📊 Moorr: You’re Home for all Your Financial Needs
Click on the titles below to find out more about each feature, or create an account or login or download into the Moorr App today! 
Property Research & Suburb Search 
Explore 17 suburb metrics, historical trends, demand indicators and property research tools designed to help investors make smarter decisions. 
Negative Gearing Calculator 
Model the difference between immediate tax benefits and deferred tax benefits under the proposed negative gearing changes using Moorr's new calculator tools. 
📰 Read Julia’s Articles:  
A Quick Budget Fact Sheet for Residential Property Investors 
No Deduction at all for Holding Costs on Holiday Homes! 
Utilising Your Unused Superannuation Caps 
How to make your own super contributions – Updated 29/05/2026  
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

The RBA just hit pause... holding the cash rate at 4.35% after three hikes in a row this year. And the vote was unanimous, with all nine Board members backing the hold.
Ben Kingsley and economist Evan Lucas break down what the unanimous decision really signals, why the RBA's own inflation forecasts still have them cautious, and whether this is genuinely the peak... or just the calm before more pain.
💡 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:
- Website
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Youtube

In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Shane Pope and Luke Oxenham tackle a very practical question:
If you already own property, what’s the smartest next move?
With the tax landscape changing and investors reassessing their options, this conversation explores why growth still matters most — and why your principal place of residence may be more important than ever in shaping your next step.
Shane and Luke unpack the idea of improving your home, releasing equity, and getting positioned to act while others are still sitting on the sidelines.
They also discuss why the current environment may be creating a rare opportunity for upgraders, particularly with fewer investors competing in the market.
If you already own property and you’re trying to work out what comes next, this is a timely one.
Got a question or a “hill” you want us to unpack? Send it through here 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/topics/
⏱️ Timestamps
00:29 – Welcome back to Friday Fundamentals
00:57 – Why this question matters right now
01:28 – If you already own property, what’s the smartest next move?
01:39 – Shane’s “PPOR maxing” strategy
02:01 – Has growth become even more important than tax benefits?
03:01 – Improving your home and releasing equity
03:50 – What changed for investors and lenders
04:41 – Why principal place of residence strategy matters more now
05:24 – Why upgraders may be in a stronger position
05:59 – What happens when investors pull back from the market
06:17 – Is now the time to jump to the next rung?
07:00 – Final thoughts and send in your questions
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

The rules may be changing, but the fundamentals haven’t.
As proposed negative gearing reforms dominate headlines, many investors are asking the same question:
Should I rethink my strategy?
To help answer that, Ben Kingsley welcomes Lachlan Delahunty, Founder of Follio and a property professional who has been involved in more than $2 billion worth of property acquisitions.
Together, they explore what really drives long-term property performance and why some investors risk being distracted by tax outcomes rather than investment fundamentals.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
Why negative gearing was never the strategy — capital growth was
The difference between commutable and non-commutable regional markets
Why some regional locations thrive while others experience boom-bust cycles
The investment-grade framework: Location, Land, Asset
How scarcity, agglomeration and demographic trends influence property values
Why guaranteed returns, social media hype and thinly traded regional markets can create significant risks for investors
As Lachlan reminds listeners:
“The rent keeps you in the market. Growth creates the wealth.”
But perhaps the biggest message from this conversation is even simpler:
Good property is still good property.
Governments change.
Policies change.
Markets change.
But the fundamentals that drive long-term wealth creation remain remarkably consistent.
 
 
FREE STUFF MENTIONED
🎥 Property Prices After Tax Reform: Fact vs Fiction (Replay + Slide Deck)
Ben’s webinar replay is now available on demand, along with the downloadable slide deck that explores:
What really drives long-term property growth
Scarcity and land appreciation
The potential impacts of negative gearing and CGT changes
Winners, losers and unintended consequences of the proposed reforms
👉 Access the replay and download the slide deck: thepropertycouch.com.au/webinar
📊 Negative Gearing Analysis Tool (Moorr)
Compare property scenarios side-by-side and model the impact of:
Negative gearing
Deferred tax benefits
Cash flow changes
Different investment property scenarios
👉 Explore the tool: moorr.com.au/negative-gearing-analysis-tool
 
TIMESTAMPS 
00:00 – Negative Gearing Is Not Gone: What Investors Need To Know
03:48 – The Money Habits That Shaped A $2 Billion Property Career
12:08 – Negative Gearing Was Never The Strategy
19:19 – Regional Markets: Opportunity or Trap?
23:26 – The Investment Grade Framework: Location, Land & Asset
28:40 – Commutable vs Non-Commutable Regional Markets
42:54 – Guaranteed Returns, Hype & Regional Risk
53:16 – Why Fundamentals Still Matter
58:49 – Lachlan’s Final Message To Investors
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