We hear it all the time—population growth drives property prices. But is that actually true, or just one of the many myths that get thrown around in real estate? In this episode, we sit down with Simon Pressley from Propertyology to break down what really moves property markets. Is it supply and demand? Is it economic conditions? Or are we just looking at all the wrong things?

Simon spent years studying Australian property history, and he’s got some strong opinions—like why people completely misunderstand the impact of population growth and why economic diversity is actually the real game-changer. We also get into the rise of AI in property research. Can data and algorithms actually predict the next boom, or is it just another overhyped tool that doesn’t account for the real drivers of price growth?

If you want to cut through the noise and get a clearer picture of what actually makes property markets move, this episode is for you.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

01:39 - What are some of the big property myths we should debunk?

04:17 - Understanding the real drivers of property markets

08:57 - Is population growth needed for long-term sustainable price growth?

11:10 - The case for regional investing—why some areas outperform capital cities

17:05 - Choosing the right investment property: location, scarcity, and affordability

18:58 - Buy-and-hold vs. selling at the right time—when does it make sense to exit?

27:56 - Have Simon ever advised clients to exit a market due to economic downturns

31:55 - Is Darwin really the next big thing, or is the hype misleading?

33:49 - What drove Hobart’s property boom, and is it still a good investment?

38:08 - The trade-off between diversification and capital growth in property investing

43:47 - Key criteria that make a region unsuitable for investment

46:15 - Lessons learned from getting a property prediction wrong

50:41 - Simon's take on the rise of new buyer’s agents flooding the market

54:41 - AI in property investing—helpful tool or just another gimmick?

58:56 -  Could large-scale investor activity artificially inflate prices in certain markets?

1:05:18 - Simon Pressley’s property dumbo

About Our Guest:

Simon Pressley is the Managing Director and Head of Research at Propertyology, a Hall of Fame inductee of the Real Estate Institute of Australia, and a nationally recognised property market analyst. Known for challenging conventional wisdom, he has a proven track record of accurately forecasting market trends, including being the only expert to predict Australia’s post-COVID property boom. With extensive experience in property investment, finance, and buyer’s advocacy, Simon has helped everyday Australians invest across 23 cities and towns. A sought-after media commentator and keynote speaker, he brings deep insights into the complexities of real estate markets nationwide.

Connect with Simon Pressley:

• Website https://www.propertyology.com.au/
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-pressley-9b936a95/

Resources:

• Visit our website https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
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