Buying near a busy road, train line, school, or powerlines is one of the most common dilemmas buyers face — and the advice online is confusing at best. In this episode, Dion breaks down the real impact these compromises have on property value, future resale, and your day-to-day living.

Using real examples and buyer behaviour insights from the market, Dion explains:

Which compromises are fixable and which ones never change

Why busy roads and train lines usually mean a 5%–20% discount

How these “discounts” work — and why you’ll also sell for less

The biggest red flag of all: buying under powerlines

How buyer psychology shapes demand around schools, roads and transport

When buying a compromised property can be a smart move

When the risk is simply not worth it

If you're considering a home on a main road, near a train line, across from a school, or anywhere close to powerlines, this episode will give you the clarity you need to make the right call.

Choosing what to buy is just as important as choosing where to buy — and yet most buyers get it wrong. In this episode, Dion breaks down asset selection and explains the real differences between houses, townhouses, units, and apartments. Using fresh CoreLogic data and real buyer stories, he ranks these property types based on long-term performance, land value, demand, and risk.

You’ll learn:

Why houses consistently outperform other property types

The difference between a good townhouse/unit and a bad one

Why land value is the number one driver of capital growth

The biggest risks of buying brand-new or off-the-plan

Which types of apartments can perform — and which never do

How lifestyle vs investment goals change what the “best” asset looks like for you

Whether you're a first-home buyer, investor, or upgrading, this episode will help you avoid costly mistakes and choose the property type with the strongest long-term upside.

It looks shiny, brand-new, and full of promise — but buying off-the-plan could be one of the riskiest moves a buyer can make. In this episode, Dion breaks down why most off-the-plan apartments don’t perform, what really drives value in property, and how government incentives can actually mask serious financial risks.

You’ll learn:

Why more than half of Melbourne’s apartments resell for a loss

How developers “bake in” incentives to inflate prices

The danger of buying something that doesn’t yet exist

Why land is the only thing that truly drives long-term value

The few rare cases when buying off-the-plan can still make sense

If you’ve ever been tempted by a brand-new apartment with stamp duty savings, listen to this first — it could save you years of regret.

Overpaying for a property is every buyer’s worst nightmare — but it’s also completely avoidable if you know what signs to look for. In this episode, Dion breaks down exactly how to recognise when a property is overpriced, what data actually matters, and how to separate real value from emotional hype.

You’ll learn:

The red flags that a property is struggling (and overpriced)

How to use average days on market as your biggest pricing clue

Why social proof — the number of buyers inspecting — is more powerful than the price guide

How to read an agent’s confidence and use it to your advantage

Why emotion is the number one reason buyers overpay

This episode gives you a clear, data-driven strategy so you can buy with confidence — not panic — and finally stop worrying about paying too much.

Underquoting is one of the biggest frustrations buyers face — a property is advertised in your budget, only to sell hundreds of thousands above the quoted range. In this episode, Dion and mortgage broker David Pelligra cut through the noise to explain what underquoting really is, how the legislation works (and doesn’t), and why quotes and actual value are often two very different things.

They cover:

The difference between fair, competitive, and underquoting

Why Victorian quoting laws are still so grey and frustrating

The biggest red flags that a property is underquoted

How to do your own research so you don’t fall for false ranges

Why focusing on value, not the quote, is the only way to buy smart

If you’ve ever wasted weekends chasing properties you could never afford, this episode will give you the tools to spot the traps and stay ahead.

Off-market deals have become the buzzword in real estate — buyers think they’re secret bargains, and sellers love the idea of a quiet sale. But are off-markets really the golden ticket everyone makes them out to be?

In this episode, Dion and mortgage broker David Pelligra pull back the curtain on the truth about off-market properties. They cover:

What an off-market property actually is (and isn’t)

The real reasons vendors choose to sell off-market

Why exclusivity can make buyers overpay

The biggest risks and red flags to look out for

How to access genuine off-market opportunities without wasting time

If you’ve ever thought “off-market = cheaper,” this episode will change the way you see these so-called hidden gems.

Should you buy your next home first or sell your current one first? It’s one of the biggest questions homeowners face — and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. In this episode, Dion and mortgage broker David Pelligra break down the pros and cons of each strategy, the risks of bridging finance, and how to structure your settlements so you’re not left stranded between two homes (or two mortgages).

You’ll learn:

Why selling first is usually safer financially

The hidden risks of buying first in a hot market

How bridging finance really works (and why it’s often a last resort)

Smart ways to use long settlements and licence agreements

The biggest mistakes buyers and sellers make when lining up their moves

If you’re upsizing, downsizing, or just planning your next move, this episode will help you make the right call with confidence.

From October 2025, the Australian Government’s Home Guarantee Scheme is being completely overhauled — and it could change the game for first home buyers. No income caps, no place limits, higher price caps, and access with just a 5% deposit. Sounds too good to be true?

In this episode, Dion sits down with mortgage broker David Pelligra to break down what these changes really mean. They cover:

Why the removal of income caps is such a big deal

How higher price caps could affect markets like Melbourne and Sydney

Whether buyers should be worried about a flood of competition

The risks of buying with a 5% deposit (and what lenders don’t tell you)

The biggest mistakes buyers are making right now with the scheme

If you’re a first home buyer, or even thinking about jumping back into the market, this is the guide you need before October.

Buying in a flat or falling market is easy—but what about when prices are climbing, clearance rates are high, and every open feels like a stampede? In this episode, Dion breaks down how to survive (and succeed) in a competitive, upwards market without letting FOMO push you into a bad buy.

You’ll learn:

How to value a property when the market is rising week by week

Why waiting too long to adjust your brief can cost you thousands

The risks of chasing unrealistic vendors in a hot market

Why off-markets aren’t always the golden ticket

How to balance urgency with logic so you don’t buy the wrong home

If you’ve ever thought, “If I don’t act now, I’ll miss out forever,” this episode is your reality check and playbook for buying smarter in a heated market.

So your offer’s been accepted—congratulations! But the journey isn’t over yet. In this episode, Dion breaks down exactly what happens between that exciting “yes” from the agent and the moment you get the keys.

You’ll learn:

The key differences between buying at auction vs private sale

How cooling-off periods work (and when they don’t apply)

Why it’s critical to involve your conveyancer immediately

Common contract clauses—and how to avoid getting caught out

How to prepare for your final inspection so there are no nasty surprises on settlement day

Whether it’s your first property or your fifth, this is the buyer’s roadmap for navigating the post-offer process with confidence and avoiding costly mistakes.