REB Podcast Network

A landmark court case has cracked open a legal grey area around outsourced trust accounting in property sales, while a wave of poor buyer's agent deals is dumping problem properties straight into property managers' laps. This week's episode unpacks what this means for PMs across Australia.

The buyer's agent sector is in the middle of a shake-up, and many PMs are copping the fallout. In this episode of The Property Management Excellence Podcast, REB's Alex Whitlock, Liam Garman, and Emilie Lauer dig into why so many BA-sourced properties are landing on PMs' desks with overvalued rental CMAs.

A last-minute rush to buy through SMSFs ahead of superannuation changes has also flooded the market with suboptimal purchases: properties bought in haste, now needing to be leased in a market that won't necessarily deliver the returns investors were promised.

The trio then unpack a recent legal flashpoint: an NSW court case that has thrown outsourced trust accounting for sales into question, with particular reference to client disclosure.

From rising debt and unemployment to migration, gig workers, and buyer's agents, Australia's economic shifts are creating fresh questions about the strength of the property market and what comes next.

On Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman examine the week's biggest property and economic developments, connecting the dots between policy, jobs, migration, and what they could mean for the market.

The pair discuss Australia's growing debt, pressure on state budgets and a cooling jobs market, questioning what weaker economic conditions could mean for interest rates, house prices, and household wealth.

They also turn to migration and remittances, the gig economy, and rising labour costs, examining how broader policy decisions could flow through to consumers, businesses, and the property market.

The conversation wraps with a look at the buyer's agency sector, including the prospect of consolidation and why investors may need to look beyond bold market predictions when choosing who to trust with their next property move.

With more data at their fingertips than ever, agents who know which numbers matter can gain an edge. From pipeline health and competitor performance to sharper vendor conversations and better decisions, here's how to turn data into a competitive advantage

On the REB Discover podcast, Liam Garman is joined by Damian Merchan, founder and CEO of Sonar AI, to explore how AI and data are changing the way real estate businesses measure performance and compete.

The pair look at why having more data does not necessarily mean better decisions, and which numbers agents should actually be watching: from pipeline health and conversion rates to listing performance.

They examine how competitor data can show agents where they sit in the market, who they are up against, and where there may be opportunities to improve their performance.

The focus then shifts to vendor conversations, with data giving agents stronger evidence when discussing pricing, market shifts, and listing performance rather than relying on instinct alone.

For principals and sales managers, the duo looks at how better data can reveal performance gaps across a team, identify where coaching is needed, and give leaders a clearer picture of what is driving results.

Did you like this episode? Show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (REB Podcast Network) and by liking and following Real Estate Business on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend a voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights.

Property management can be easy to commoditise, but the fastest-growing agencies are finding ways to stand out. From customer experience to culture and systems, the right foundations can change the growth trajectory.

On The Property Management Excellence (PMX) Podcast, Alex Whitlock is joined by Nick Georges from Wingman Group to explore what separates fast-starting property management businesses from the rest.

The pair look at why having a clear customer proposition matters, how agencies can define their X factor, and why landlords need to feel they are getting more than a basic service.

They also discuss the foundations of a high-growth property management business, from hiring the right people and building strong processes to using technology and offshore support without losing the customer focus.

The conversation also explores leadership, proactive communication, and the role of culture in creating a property management operation that can scale.

A government bailout, banks fighting harder for borrowers, and buyer activity falling: Australia's property market is showing cracks as economic pressure starts to build.

On Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman tackle the government's decision to support the Tomago aluminium smelter, questioning whether taxpayer money should be used to rescue struggling businesses.

The conversation then turns to property, including the growing debate around third-party trust accounts and what a recent NSW court case could mean for the industry.

The pair also look at banks ramping up refinancing offers and cashbacks as mortgage volumes soften, while buyer activity and property prices come under pressure across parts of the country.

They then discuss whether a deeper property correction could spill into the broader economy, including household wealth, consumer spending, and the prospect of future rate cuts.

A North Sydney agent brawl, a $1.2 million cyber scam near miss, and a court battle over property deposits: the latest real estate drama goes well beyond the auction floor.

On Real Estate Exposed, Liam Garman and Emilie Lauer examine some of the industry's most contentious stories, from alleged agent misconduct to cyber security threats and the fight over who should hold property deposits.

The pair discuss an alleged altercation involving rival agents on Sydney's Lower North Shore, and what public incidents like this can mean for professional reputations in an increasingly competitive market.

They also look at a near miss involving a $1.2 million settlement redirection scam, highlighting how a sophisticated email fraud was stopped before the funds disappeared and why real estate businesses remain vulnerable to cyber crime.

The conversation then turns to the growing debate around third-party trust accounts and "deposit flicking", following an NSW Supreme Court case that has reignited questions over transparency, consent, and the handling of property deposits.

With regulators reviewing the rules, the episode examines what the case could mean for agencies and the future of third-party arrangements.

Did you like this episode? Show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (REB Podcast Network) and by liking and following Real Estate Business on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend a voice to the show, email [email protected] for more insights.

A month on from "AML Day", most agencies have ticked the visible boxes: enrolled with AUSTRAC, named a compliance officer, and sent staff through initial training. But ticking those boxes isn't the same as running a program that actually holds up and keeps your business safe.

On this REB Business Empowerment Showcase, Liam Garman sits down again with Kaan Yuksel, managing director and founder of Visibl, to explore the gap between compliance on paper and compliance in practice, and how agencies can close it.

Yuksel explains what "paper compliance" really looks like in reality: an AML program written once and left on a shelf, staff who've done the bare minimum training, and a compliance officer who hasn't built the habit of actually engaging with their own program.

The conversation turns practical, covering how agencies can build compliance into everyday workflows, from sending KYC verification alongside listing agreements, to making AML a standing item in team and business meetings, and why encouraging staff to raise red flags, even ones that turn out to be nothing, matters more than getting it right every time.

Garman and Yuksel also revisit the penalties for getting it wrong, from AUSTRAC fines through to the reputational fallout in a trust-based industry, before Yuksel shares his advice for agencies still finding their feet a month into the regime.

Growing a property management business from 50 to more than 1,000 properties takes more than winning rent rolls. It requires systems, specialised teams, and a strategy built to scale. Here is how this Melbourne agency did it.

On The Property Management Excellence (PMX) Podcast, Alex Whitlock sits down with H & B Real Estate's head of property management Tim Oldenburg to reveal how the agency transformed its approach to growth.

Oldenburg shares how H & B Real Estate moved away from the traditional property manager-does-everything model, instead building specialised teams and systems designed to make the business less dependent on individual staff.

The conversation also looks at growth through acquisition, including the due diligence required before taking on a new rent roll and the opportunities that can emerge from improving underperforming portfolios.

Whitlock and Oldenburg discuss the landlord relationship, why understanding the customer proposition matters, and how agencies can build a property management operation that continues to perform as it grows.

With H & B Real Estate targeting further expansion over the next five years, the pair share the lessons behind its growth journey and what other property management businesses can learn from its approach.

Property, politics, and policy collided this week as government funding, SMSF changes, housing affordability, and market narratives fuelled fresh debate. But behind the headlines, what do these shifts actually mean for buyers, sellers, and investors?

On Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman dive into the growing tension between politics, property, and public debate, exploring why housing remains one of Australia's most contested issues.

The pair discuss how market forecasts can often depend on who is delivering them, with selling agents, buyer's agents, and commentators frequently presenting different versions of the same data.

They also look at the impact of government policy on property, including the future of self-managed super fund (SMSF) investment, the shift towards commercial opportunities, and how changing rules could influence investor decisions.

The duo then explores builder incentives, immigration and housing demand, negative equity, and whether current policy settings are addressing the challenges facing the market.

Underquoting crackdowns, a $1 million defamation payout, and another political housing blunder – this week, Real Estate Exposed unpacks the biggest stories shaking the real estate industry and what they mean for agents.

On Real Estate Exposed, Liam Garman and Emilie Lauer break down the biggest headlines shaping Australia's real estate industry.

The pair examine Victoria's latest underquoting crackdown, unpacking the allegations against a major agency, the penalties agents could face, and why regulators are stepping up enforcement across the state.

They also discuss the $1 million defamation case that sent shockwaves through the industry, exploring what it means for agents navigating social media, referrals, and reputation in an increasingly connected market.

The pair then dives into the latest political housing debate, including confusion around negative equity, and why policy decisions continue to create uncertainty for property professionals, investors, and home buyers alike.