Property Investment Podcast Network

Episodes

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  Which Mortgage: The refinancing rush setting investors up for their next buy 31.10.2026 28m

  Refinancing is dominating investor lending activity as borrowers unlock equity, prepare for further price falls, and look beyond traditional lenders for their next move. On Which Mortgage, Alex Whitlock speaks with Finni Mortgages brokers Eva Loisance and Costa Arvanitopoulos about the refinancing rush, as investors unlock equity and secure pre-approvals ahead of their next property purchase. The brokers discuss where investors are still buying, from Melbourne and Geelong to Ballarat, and the growing use of alternative lending options. They also name three lenders attracting attention, including one offering SMSF refinancing at a lower rate and another assessing self-employed borrowers using recent business activity statements instead of tax returns. The trio also examine a construction business owner's case, where a $2.6 million property valuation helped unlock an extra $500,000 for renovations through a low-doc loan, despite the borrower having no recent tax returns.
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  Property Buzz: Is Australia heading for a French-style debt crisis? 30.10.2026 46m

  France is already paying billions to service its debt. Australia could be heading down the same path, with only a narrow window to turn things around. On Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman compare Australia's fiscal position with France's, examining rising debt costs, bond yields, tax settings, and public sector growth.  Garman warns Australia could be only a few years behind as government spending and debt servicing put increasing pressure on the economy. The pair revisit France's failed wealth tax experiment and Greece's experience with spending cuts, before examining Australia's own warning signs, including weaker employment, falling stamp duty revenue, and fewer capital gains to tax. They also compare personal, company, and capital gains tax settings, and debate whether further property tax changes could push investors out of the market. Tarrant is sharply critical of the federal government and the ATO, predicting a royal commission and further political battles over property taxes before the next election. The discussion also covers the impact of the SMSF residential property ban on development, rising construction costs, and the risks facing first home buyers caught in falling apartment markets. To get in involved, leave questions for Phil and Liam, or simply share videos or memes - join the Whatsapp group here.
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  PROPERTY INVESTING INSIGHTS WITH RIGHT PROPERTY GROUP: Blue chip, bargain, or money pit? What makes a good investment today 30.10.2026 55m

  Bargain prices can mask costly problems, while a premium price tag does not guarantee a quality investment. From hidden defects to lending risks, here is what investors need to assess before buying. On Property Investing Insights, Phil Tarrant and Right Property Group director Victor Kumar discuss what separates a quality investment from a costly mistake as prices soften, lending conditions shift, and compliance obligations grow. Kumar warns that heavily discounted properties often come with problems that cannot be fixed, while newer or more expensive assets are not automatically better investments. He sets out four tests every property should pass: rentability, liveability, lendability, and sellability, with the pair examining everything from flammable cladding and Victorian rental requirements to strata costs, structural defects, and location risks. The discussion also tackles the risks of renovating while prices are falling, whether waiting for further discounts could leave investors with less borrowing power, and why town houses, villas, and units deserve a place alongside houses.
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  SPECIAL SERIES: Financing commercial property – debt, leverage, and valuation 28.10.2026 44m

  Short loan terms, annual reviews, and lenders who can change their appetite mid-term. Victor Kumar says investors who treat commercial finance like residential lending can be caught out in the later years of ownership. Here's how to understand the financing behind your commercial deal. Investors can get the purchase right, just to be blindsided by the loan. In Part 4 of the Post-Budget Guide to Commercial Property Investing, Phil Tarrant sits down with Victor Kumar of Right Property Group to unpack how commercial lending really works, and where the risks hide. Victor explains why commercial loans revolve around the lease rather than your personal serviceability, and why terms of one to five years and annual reviews can trigger a margin call on your loan-to-value ratio, even when you've simply been kind to a struggling tenant with a rent reduction. They also break down lease doc and full doc loans, how much cash you may need up front, and why a "positive cash flow" property may only tell half the story. The pair then look at the hidden costs and traps: valuations that can come in below the advertised yield, higher valuation fees, and a due diligence story where a deal started to unravel after the strata and lease details didn't add up.
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  Built for Scale: Trusts are out, companies are in – experts reveal how to sidestep the post-budget structure trap 28.10.2026 57m

  Too many investors hit their borrowing ceiling before they've built a portfolio. An accountant, broker and buyer's agent expose the structure mistakes behind it, the tax traps the federal budget has created, and the structure tips you need before your next contract. On this episode of Built for Scale, hosts Liam Garman and Josh Crealy are joined by accountant Jeremy Iannuzzelli of Praedium Partners and broker Bill Childs of Limitless Lending Group to unpack how the budget has reshaped the way sophisticated investors structure their portfolios, and the traps many are walking into. Iannuzzelli explains why investors are now "forced" into companies, a structure he once avoided, and warns that a company is a long-term tool, not a quick way to cash out. He then breaks down the new capital gains tax treatment and what it means for the tax you pay on a sale. Childs reveals the costly mistake he made himself: buying six properties in his own name and hitting his borrowing limit early. He shares when personal names are fine, when to move into entities, and why lenders are loosening policy to win back volume.
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  THE PROPERTY NERDS: From off-the-plan mistakes to a $7m portfolio 27.10.2026 36m

  Their first off-the-plan apartments barely grew, but a Sydney doctor and lawyer built a $7 million portfolio by investing across regional markets and delaying their dream home. On The Property Nerds, Arjun Paliwal speaks with doctor Rex Kwan and lawyer Melissa Tsui about turning stagnant off-the-plan apartments into a multi-state portfolio worth more than $7 million, with over $2 million in equity. After their first properties delivered little capital growth and weak rental yields, the couple changed tack in 2021, buying across South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, and Victoria, including properties they had never inspected in person. They explain why they put their Sydney home dream on hold, how data helped them overcome doubts about unfamiliar regional markets, and the settlement drama that nearly derailed their latest Victorian purchase. From starting young and choosing the right team to keeping cash flow and borrowing capacity in check, the couple share the lessons behind their portfolio growth and their plans to keep expanding.
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  From a housing commission flat to a $40m portfolio at 29: How Ali Hallak did it 26.10.2026 50m

  Ali Hallak grew up in a housing commission flat, worked three jobs and saved $35,000 for his first purchase just after his 19th birthday. Now he reports a portfolio of around $40 million. See his rules for making money now, including the 1 per cent of house and lands that are built for growth – and how you can pick them. On this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, Liam Garman sits down with Ali Hallak of Buyers Club, who grew up in a Riverwood housing commission flat and who now has over 60 rentals – worth over $40 million. Hallak tells the story behind the numbers, from nearly being expelled at school to working three jobs, buying his first property at 19 and, two years ago, a home for his mother, a goal he first wrote down at 16. Then he takes on one of the market's biggest debates: whether house and land is a product to avoid. He argues it shouldn't be written off if it's tested like established property and walks through examples where land plus a build came in below comparable homes. Hallak shares his checklist for vetting a build, including how to spot misleading comparables, why he rings local property managers to learn how a builder handles defects, and the one design detail that makes him walk away. Finally, he explains where Buyers Club is looking now, why he thinks investors should stop waiting for the bottom of the market, and why he believes recent government changes have helped first-time investors more than first home buyers. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email editor@smartpropertyinvestment.com.au for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.
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  Which Mortgage: How 1 Perth investor unlocked $1.2m without selling a property: The secret – an expert broker 24.10.2026 42m

  A 58-year-old investor with a $1.8 million home and five investment properties wanted lower repayments and as much cash as possible to invest again. His broker says the answer is doing it in three steps and looking at the whole portfolio rather than one loan at a time. On this episode of Which Mortgage, Finni brokers Eva Loisance and Costa Arvanitopoulos are joined by Phil Tarrant, standing in as co-host, to unpack a real client scenario. "Bob" wanted lower repayments, more cash to invest and a debt-recycled home loan. Arvanitopoulos explains the three-step restructure that made it work, and why looking at the whole portfolio, not one loan at a time, was the key. The trio dig into debt recycling: how paying off a home loan and borrowing against it for investing turns non-deductible debt into deductible debt, and why using offset cash to buy an investment property is a common mistake. Bob ended up with around $1.2 million ready to deploy. They also unpack why many banks push cross-collateralisation, and how uncrossing properties can open up more options. Then it's lenders of the week, including a sharp SMSF refinance rate and a bridging policy with no interest payments during the bridging period. Plus, what banks don't want you to know about lower servicing buffers.
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  Property Buzz: 20k Perth homes are underwater, economist says some pockets could fall 40% 23.10.2026 41m

  Prestige vendors are being asked to accept millions less, forecasters are revising their predictions down, and the RBA is hinting that inflation is worse than expected ... but will rising yields be a silver lining? Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman unpack what it could mean for investors, first home buyers and anyone with a mortgage. On this episode of Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman look at a market where negative equity is spreading. They discuss a report that 20,000 Perth homes are now worth less than their owners paid and a Harbourside Sydney listing where the guide has reportedly slipped from a $28 million offer to $20 million-plus. The pair then weigh up the forecasts, including JPMorgan's revised outlook and Coolabah Capital's warning that some pockets could fall by as much as 40 per cent. Garman explains why he doesn't agree with every call, and why falling prices could open up higher yields in blue-chip suburbs for long-term investors. Both urge listeners to do their own due diligence and be wary of spruikers. Tarrant also challenges a report that investors are shifting to new builds, while the hosts discuss what proposed changes to trusts could mean for tradies and builders, and how rising interest costs and the pullback of SMSFs are adding pressure to developers. Then it's on to rates and politics: hints of a Melbourne Cup rate rise, what is feeding inflation beyond the war in Iran, and One Nation's pledge to restore the capital gains tax discount for up to two investment properties. Garman argues investors should factor in every political outcome, with the hosts floating a tongue-in-cheek policy of one negatively geared property per child. To get in involved, leave questions for Phil and Liam, or simply share videos or memes - join the Whatsapp group here.
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  He's avoiding commercial and the smaller capitals – why 1 investor is going all in on units for the yield 23.10.2026 39m

  Josh Crealy used to sell commercial property for a living. Now he says most investors are pivoting from residential too early, and he's put his money into Melbourne and western Sydney units instead. On this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, Liam Garman sits down with LEVR's Josh Crealy, a former commercial sales agent who has bought 15 Melbourne properties in the past 18 months, to ask where he'd put his money now and why. Crealy says the 18.6-year land cycle points to Melbourne and Sydney leading the next recovery, with the smaller capitals having already had their run. He treats the cycle as a framework only, and explains why it must be overlaid with supply, demand and affordability. Then he explains why he's wary of commercial property. From a Perth hair salon with a tenant who isn't paying to an off-the-plan warehouse with a rent-back guarantee that left its owner unable to sell for what they paid, Crealy shares the cautionary tales he's seen. He also outlines what to check in a lease, and why he believes better commercial buying opportunities could be 12 to 24 months away. The pair also compare individual units with unit blocks, including how lenders classify larger blocks as commercial loans, what that means for loan-to-value ratios and borrowing power, and the checks Crealy runs before buying. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email editor@smartpropertyinvestment.com.au for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.
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  SPECIAL SERIES: Where commercial property goes wrong – understanding and managing risk 21.10.2026 54m

  A long lease isn't always a safe one, and a headline yield can hide months of vacancy. Victor Kumar says the investors who win in commercial are the ones who know exactly how to manage risk before they buy. Commercial property carries more risk than residential, but not all of it is unavoidable. In part three of the Smart Property Investment Post-Budget Guide to Commercial Property Investing, Phil Tarrant and Victor Kumar of Right Property Group break down what can quietly destroy a commercial investment, and how to protect yourself. Kumar explains why vacancy can run to months or even years rather than weeks, and why the yield is really the price you're paid for carrying risk. They also look at how to size up a tenant, from digging into the lease and the business behind it to checking whether a guarantee is backed by real cash or just a promise. Then there's the fine print. The pair walk through the lease details that can make or break a deal, from "triple net" claims that don't hold up to who pays for fit-outs and make-good clauses, and why Kumar says using your usual residential solicitor on a commercial lease is like treating a fracture with a massage. They also cover economic risk, structural shifts and property-specific traps, including asbestos roofs, contamination and zoning problems. Kumar shares a live example of how he restructured a lease to de-risk a $6 million purchase, and why every investment needs an exit plan.
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  PROPERTY UNFILTERED: Million-dollar results, rat houses, meth houses and now a 'brothel'? | Part 2 21.10.2026 54m

  From rat houses and meth houses to a property nicknamed "The Brothel", we've seen some seriously questionable properties turn into incredible investments. We have so many wild stories and bargain deals to share that one episode just wasn't enough. Part 2 is out now! A trashed house bought for $550,000, now worth $950,000 – 72 per cent growth in just over two years. A desperate vendor slashing $100,000 off a deal after a buyer's finance fell through. Fully renovated properties snapped up at massive discounts in a slowing market.  We're back with Hung Chuy from Strategic Brokers to share how we uncover bargains when others are sitting on the sidelines and why buying below market value can give investors a valuable buffer during a downturn.  The deals get bigger. The stories get better.
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  THE PROPERTY NERDS: Can your broker do this? 20.10.2026 28m

  Investors could be missing new lending opportunities as second- and third-tier lenders ramp up competition, making finance strategy and cash flow more important than ever. On The Property Nerds podcast, Arjun Paliwal speaks with broker Corey Goldby about a post-budget lending shake-up, as second- and third-tier lenders compete harder for investors with more flexible borrowing options. Goldby argues against mapping out a decade of purchases, instead focusing on getting the next deal right, with cash flow, lending policy and available funds shaping each move. The pair discuss investors buying several properties before pausing, selling at a loss to reduce debt and the transaction costs that can erode gains when selling and re-entering the market. They also examine the importance of keeping a cash buffer when releasing equity, aligning finance and accounting advice, and choosing ownership structures that support borrowing and income distribution. For business owners facing tax debt, Goldby points to alternative lending options, including high-LVR and low-documentation loans, while noting the extra interest costs that can come with them.
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  The tax changes haven't hurt them – why 2 former nurses say yield and land are paying off 19.10.2026 47m

  Negative gearing was never part of the plan for Iconic Investing's Aneesh Thomas and John George. They buy for cash flow, land and below-valuation prices, and say price corrections are now opening up even more opportunities. On this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, host Liam Garman speaks with Aneesh Thomas and John George of Iconic Investing, two Brisbane nurses-turned-buyer's agents, to ask: if your strategy never depended on tax breaks, what is there to fear from tax changes? So, how have they stayed the course through the federal budget and shifting interest rate expectations? They target affordable markets between $400,000 and $600,000, tight rental conditions, land of more than 600 square metres and yields of at least 4 per cent. They also reveal what they avoid, from house-and-land packages to markets that have already run hard, and share the mistakes they see most often: emotion tops the list, followed by chasing tax outcomes, "backyard" investing and hotspotting. Thomas tells the story of a friend who bought a $1 million Brisbane property renting for $700 a week and is now working overtime to cover the repayments. Along the way, the pair discuss where they still see value in regional Victoria and NSW, why high rates can mean less competition, and why they believe the best time to buy is whenever you're ready. George also opens up about the commercial property lessons he learned the hard way, including an office that sat vacant for 10 months, and why he says it isn't for everyone. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email editor@smartpropertyinvestment.com.au for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.
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  Which Mortgage: How one 25-year-old is buying an investment property with $0 down: A broker's secret to investing. 17.10.2026 28m

  Brokers know things banks would rather keep quiet. In the debut episode of Which Mortgage, the Finni team starts with one of them: how a 25-year-old on a $100,000 income can buy an investment property without saving a deposit. This isn't another investment property podcast. In the very first episode of Which Mortgage, host Alex Whitlock is joined by Eva Loisance and Costa Arvanitopoulos from Finni to pull back the curtain on the finance tactics brokers know and lenders would rather keep quiet. The trio dive into a real client scenario: a 25-year-old on a $100,000 income with just $20,000 saved, priced out of the market and looking at a Melbourne investment unit. The solution was a family pledge, using her parents' property as security, which can cover up to 105 per cent of the purchase price, costs included, without the parents handing over a cent in cash. But there was a twist: a desktop valuation on the parents' home came back about a million dollars short of a full valuation. Loisance explains why accepting a bank's first number can be a costly mistake. They also unpack how the buffer rates of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) affect borrowing power and share their lenders of the week, including a non-bank offering 40-year loan terms, a newcomer with no lenders mortgage insurance (LMI) up to 85 per cent, and a major bank that gets sharper on pricing at $2 million. Plus, each week, the question every borrower should ask: What don't lenders want you to know?
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  Property Buzz: NSW is $200m short on stamp duty, hosts clash over brokers 16.10.2026 50m

  NSW collected 23 per cent less residential stamp duty in September than a year earlier, and Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman say it's only the start. But when the conversation turns to mortgage brokers, the hosts stop agreeing. On this live episode of Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman dig into the numbers behind a sharp fall in NSW residential stamp duty: $663.7 million collected in September, down from $864.3 million a year earlier. Extrapolated across the country, they put the potential loss at $7.36 billion, a figure that sits inside the $6 billion to $8 billion range they've been predicting for months. The pair also unpack the NSW Labor pledge to let investors restructure trusts hit by the new discretionary trust tax without triggering stamp duty, and Victoria's promise to return its property tax threshold to $50,000. Then there's the data. Brisbane listings are up 40 per cent on last year with a clearance rate of just 20 per cent, unemployment has ticked up to 4.7 per cent, and part-time jobs have dropped by 74,000. Tarrant shares what buyer's agents and brokers are telling him on the street, from tactical finance to banks loosening up, and explains why he says now is the time to have a good broker in your corner. And then it gets heated. Tarrant takes aim at a looming levy hike on brokers while Garman plays devil's advocate – arguing consumer protection is a fair reason for scrutiny. Who wins the argument? You'll have to listen.
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  The $2.5k monthly property holding cost that could fall to $600 16.10.2026 49m

  Investors waiting for the market to turn could miss a buying window, as cash flow, rental yields, and changing financial conditions reshape the cost of holding an investment property. On The Smart Property Investment Show, Liam Garman speaks with Arjun Paliwal of InvestorKit about the cash flow pressures holding investors back and the financial shifts that could make negatively geared properties more manageable. Using a $700,000 property as an example, Paliwal estimates an initial shortfall of $2,400 to $2,800 a month, but says lower interest rates, rent increases, a cash deposit, and potential tax changes could reduce the outlay to about $600 a month, ultimately saving more than $30,000 a year. The pair also examine the psychology keeping buyers on the sidelines, the impact of lower purchase prices on rental yields, and the importance of assessing buffers, borrowing capacity, and diversification before committing to an investment. With listings tightening and many buyers waiting for a clear market signal, Paliwal discusses how seasonal patterns, political changes, and shifting sentiment could shape the next buying window. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email editor@smartpropertyinvestment.com.au for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.
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  SPECIAL SERIES: Property tactics that no longer stack up: What investors need to ditch 14.10.2026 56m

  From warehouses to medical centres and service stations, not every commercial asset is as safe as it looks. Victor Kumar says three simple tests can separate a smart buy from a costly mistake. A long lease looks like security, but when the tenant walks out, you may be struggling to find a replacement. In Part 2 of the Post-Budget Guide to Commercial Property Investing, Phil Tarrant sits down with Victor Kumar, founder and director of Right Property Group, to unpack the hidden risks in "safe" commercial assets, and how to compare very different commercial asset classes. Victor says every asset should pass three tests: how easily it can be re-leased if the tenant leaves, whether the building will still do its job in 15 years, and who pays when major repairs hit. He explains why industrial assets such as warehouses tend to score well on the first test, while specialised assets like childcare centres and fast-food sites can take longer to re-let. From there, the pair break down office, industrial and retail, including why the rent on paper isn't always the same as rent in practice and rate re-leasability risk across sectors, from storage to service stations and childcare. Finally, Victor outlines the sectors he believes face structural pressure post-budget, including CBD offices, childcare and NDIS-related buildings, and why he says residential is "all about sentiment" while commercial is "all about mathematics".
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  THE PROPERTY NERDS: 95% LVR v 85% LVR: Which one is better? 13.10.2026 14m

  Lenders are counting more rental income and expanding high-LVR options, potentially giving investors more buying power just as spring activity picks up. On The Property Nerds podcast, Arjun Paliwal and Jack Fouracre discuss lending changes that could improve investor borrowing capacity and create new opportunities in the spring market. Fouracre explains how some lenders are reducing rental income shading and expanding access to 95 per cent loan-to-value ratios, while Paliwal outlines how the changes could help investors stretch their capital across more purchases. The pair also examine how borrowing power has recovered from post-budget restrictions, alongside options for refinancing and potentially recovering part of lenders mortgage insurance costs as equity builds. With investor enquiries rising in September, Paliwal and Fouracre discuss the role of seasonality, market sentiment, and cash buffers in buying decisions, while weighing the possibility of further rate cuts against the risks of taking on too much debt.
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  Property tactics that no longer stack up: What investors need to ditch 12.10.2026 54m

  Investors may be wasting time and money on property tactics that no longer stack up, as rising costs and changing market conditions force a rethink of how to build wealth. Here is what they need to know to stay ahead. On The Smart Property Investment Show, Liam Garman is joined by Jason Titus, director of Buyers Edge Property, to explore the difference between long-term investment strategy and the tactics needed to achieve it. Drawing on more than 900 property transactions, Titus explains how rising construction costs, longer build times, and lending constraints have changed the numbers behind granny flats, duplexes, and small subdivisions. The pair explore alternative portfolio strategies, including established Melbourne units with stronger rental yields and the importance of assessing each asset against broader financial goals rather than focusing on property type or portfolio size. Titus also discusses Australia's varied market conditions, the risks of conflicting advice and the need to reassess investment plans as income, borrowing capacity, and lifestyle priorities change. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email editor@smartpropertyinvestment.com.au for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.