The Property Couch

Episodes

• 
  The Biggest Insurance Myths Young Australians Believe | FUNdamental Fridays 06.11.2026 11m

  Do young, healthy Australians actually need insurance? Many people assume insurance is something to think about later in life. But according to financial adviser Chemere Brown, the majority of insurance claims occur between the ages of 25 and 45. In this week's FUNdamental Friday, Shane and Chemere unpack some of the biggest insurance myths and explain why many Australians may be underinsured during the years they have the most financial commitments. They discuss: ✅ Why most claims happen bet...
• 
  622 | Mortgage Prison & the AI Revolution: Can You Borrow Smarter? 05.11.2026 58m

  Would you trust AI with your home loan? 🤖🏡 It might find a cheap rate, but will it ask the questions that could change your next property move? In this topical episode, Ben is joined by investment-savvy mortgage brokers and Couch Crew members Luke Oxenham and Brad Fraser to unpack: 🔒 Mortgage prison: why a cheaper loan can still be out of reach ⚖️ Fixed vs variable: certainty, flexibility and the trade-offs 🧮 Borrowing calculators: will the bank agree with your estimat...
• 
  (RATE HIKE) RBA Nov 2026 | The Real Scare Is Closer to Home 03.11.2026 53m

  Halloween might be over, but the scary stuff isn’t. Inflation is back on the rise, unemployment is creeping up, and the property market is working through what could be its biggest correction in 40 years. Ben Kingsley and economist Evan Lucas unpack the RBA’s November decision, why Australia’s inflation problem is increasingly homegrown, why rents aren’t coming down, and why productivity is the problem interest rates can’t fix. 💡 When was the last time you reviewed your loa...
• 
  Should You Wait For Property Prices To Recover? | FUNdamental Fridays 30.10.2026 11m

  Is Australia's property market really performing the way the headlines suggest? In this week's FUNdamental Friday, Ben Thompson sits down with independent property economist Cameron Kusher to unpack what's actually happening beneath the surface of today's housing market. From interest rates and buyer confidence through to property data, sales volumes and long-term housing fundamentals, Cameron explains why the widely reported numbers don't always reflect what's happening on the ground. The...
• 
  621 | Is Australia Heading for a Property Market Reckoning? – Chat with Cameron Kusher 29.10.2026 1h 10m

  What happens when property prices stop going up? 🏠 For buyers, it might feel like an opportunity. For homeowners and investors, it can raise a very different question: what does this mean for my wealth? But the impact of a property slowdown can reach much further than the Aussies simply buying and selling. In this week’s episode, Ben is joined by independent property economist Cameron Kusher and economic futurist Evan Lucas to discuss the changing property market, the p...
• 
  The Money Beliefs You Didn’t Know You Had | Throwback Tuesdays 27.10.2026 6m

  Think back to your very first interaction with money. Not your first job or bank account, but the first time it was physically in your hands. For most of us, it probably went something like this: you were a toddler, you found a coin, and you put it straight in your mouth. An adult pulled it out and said: Don’t do that. Money is dirty. Obviously, they were talking about germs. But it’s a fascinating example of how early the language around money begins. In this week’s Throwback Tuesday s...
• 
  What Happens If Your Income Stops? | FUNdamental Fridays 23.10.2026 10m

  Most people don't avoid insurance because they think it's bad. They avoid it because they'll "get around to it later." In this episode of Friday Fundamentals, Shane sits down with insurance specialist Don Glendinning to bust some of the biggest myths surrounding life insurance, income protection and personal cover. They unpack why so many Australians delay getting insurance, what can happen when unexpected events strike, and why even basic cover can be better than having none at all. Whether ...
• 
  620 | High Yield, Hard Exit: What If There's No Buyers - Chat with Lachlan Delahunty 22.10.2026 1h

  What if the property that solves your cash-flow problem today creates a much bigger problem tomorrow? 🚨 With property investors reassessing their next move, high-yield apartments and commercial property are attracting attention. But behind the attractive numbers, are buyers asking enough questions about asset quality, vacancy risk and who will eventually buy the property from them? In Episode 620, Lachlan Delahunty from Follio returns to join Ben for a post-budget follow-dis...
• 
  What Financial Freedom Actually Looks Like | Throwback Tuesdays 20.10.2026 4m

  Ask most people what financial freedom looks like and you’ll get a number. A portfolio size, a passive income figure, a date on the calendar. Michael Kemp answers it with three words instead: friends, family, freedom. In this week’s Throwback Tuesday snippet, Michael (author of The Ulysses Contract) explains why he sees money as a pool of capital rather than simply a way to buy things... and why the goal is to live off the harvest, not the farm itself. Plus: the 2,300-year-old Greek philosoph...
• 
  New Auction Rules Might Be Making Things Worse | FUNdamental Fridays 16.10.2026 6m

  If a property reaches its advertised reserve price... doesn't it have to sell? Surprisingly, no. In this week's FUNdamental Friday, Shane Pope is joined by veteran auctioneer Glen Coutinho to unpack Victoria's recent auction rule changes and explain why they may be creating more confusion rather than clarity. They discuss: ✅ What happens when a reserve price is published ✅ Whether a vendor is actually required to sell ✅ Why buyers may be misunderstanding the new rules ✅ How auctions are c...
• 
  619 | Recession-Proof Properties & Foolproof Rules of the School Belt - Chat with Glen Coutinho 15.10.2026 1h 4m

  Some properties keep attracting buyers. Others need a discount to get their attention. What separates the two? Is it the renovation? The suburb? The school around the corner? Or could moving just one street over change what you’re really buying? This week, Glen Coutinho, RT Edgar Sales Manager, returns to The Property Couch almost a decade after his first appearance, joining Ben Kingsley and Shane Pope to unpack the lessons that come from 40 years in real estate. From Melbou...
• 
  How to Stop Money Slipping Through Your Fingers | Throwback Tuesdays 13.10.2026 11m

  You get paid. You’re careful. You don’t do anything extravagant. Then a week later, you check your bank account and think… where did it all go?! In this week’s Throwback Tuesday snippet, Ben and Bryce unpack the idea of slippage (the small, everyday spending that quietly adds up...) and explain why the answer isn’t necessarily more willpower. 📖 How to Stop Money Slipping Through Your Fingers 🎧 Listen to the original episode 📗 Get Make Money Simple Again free LISTEN TO THE FIRST ...
• 
  Would You Rather Own 1 Great Property Or 12 Average Ones? | FUNdamental Fridays 09.10.2026 9m

  Is owning more investment properties always better? Not necessarily. In this week's FUNdamental Friday, Ben Kingsley sits down with Lachlan Delhunty from The Folio Group to discuss one of the biggest misconceptions in property investing: The belief that more properties automatically means more wealth. Lachlan shares a real-world example of an investor who accumulated 12 properties across four years, only to discover the portfolio wasn't producing the results they expected. They discuss: ...
• 
  618 | The $4.5 Million Asset Behind Your Property Portfolio? - Chat with Don Glendinning 08.10.2026 1h 1m

  Your biggest asset may not be your home or property portfolio. It could be your ability to keep earning an income. But what happens to everything you’ve built if illness, injury or death suddenly takes that income away? In Episode 618 of The Property Couch, Ben is joined by Chemere Brown, Head of Financial Planning at Empower Wealth, and Don Glendinning, Regional Sales Manager at NEOS, to unpack the personal insurance safety net behind your wealth plan. Through real-life claim sto...
• 
  Breaking: Could Victoria's New Auction Rules Make Things Worse for Buyers? 06.10.2026 29m

  Victoria has introduced major changes to the way residential properties are sold, including new reserve price rules for auctions and fixed-date sales. But will the reforms actually make things easier for buyers? In this breaking news episode, Ben Kingsley is joined by Couch Crew regular Ben Thompson (qualified property investment adviser by day and licensed auctioneer on weekends) to unpack the new rules and the unintended consequences buyers need to know about. 📖 Read our full breakdow...
• 
  Should Wealthy Retirees Still Get Government Benefits? | FUNdamental Fridays 02.10.2026 13m

  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 dis...
• 
  617 | How Is Prime Land Created to Outperform Over Decades? 01.10.2026 1h 1m

  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 factor...
• 
  (LIVE) RBA Sep 2026 | Rates Hit a 15-Year High. What Happens Next? 29.09.2026 1h 15m

  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 adj...
• 
  How To Tell If An Agent Is Legit | FUNdamental Fridays 25.09.2026 13m

  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 prov...
• 
  616 | Why Chasing Yield Could Cost You - Q&A Day 24.09.2026 56m

  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...