REB Podcast Network

Fear of missing out is back in Australia's property market. As thousands of investors rush to beat the SMSF deadline, the biggest risk isn't missing out – it's buying the wrong property in the process.

On Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant is joined by Alex Whitlock to discuss the growing frenzy surrounding self-managed super funds (SMSF) and why investor urgency is creating new risks.

The pair question whether the race to secure finance before the borrowing ban is pushing investors into poor-quality assets, warning against letting marketing hype or tight deadlines dictate long-term investment decisions.

Attention then turns to the mortgage market, with borrowing capacities shrinking and investor activity slowing, raising fresh questions about what the next phase of lending could look like for brokers and borrowers alike.

Finally, Tarrant and Whitlock explain why investors should look beyond buyer's agents alone, arguing that local property managers can often provide some of the strongest insights into rental demand, cash flow, and the long-term fundamentals of a market.

From 1 July, one compliance mistake could cost real estate agencies millions. The problem? Many still don't realise the new rules apply to them.

On the REB Business Empowerment Showcase podcast, Liam Garman sits down with Visibl co-founder Kaan Yüksel to break down the new anti-money laundering (AML) laws now reshaping Australian real estate and why every agency needs to act before regulators come knocking.

The pair explain how Tranche 2 reforms extend AML obligations to selling agents, principals, directors, and buyer's agents, with agencies now required to verify the identities of both buyers and sellers as part of every transaction.

The discussion explores why real estate has become a key target for money laundering, the costly compliance mistakes agencies are most likely to make, and how technology is helping businesses manage the growing administrative burden.

Finally, Garman and Yüksel warn that with penalties of up to $33 million per breach, AML compliance is no longer just another box to tick – it's becoming one of the biggest operational risks facing Australian real estate businesses.

The agencies winning more landlords aren't just managing properties anymore. They're helping investors build wealth, and it's changing what clients expect from property managers.

On The Property Management Excellence (PMX) Podcast, Alex Whitlock and buyer's agent Ross Le Quesne break down the shift reshaping property management – and why the winners are becoming trusted advisers, not just rent collectors.

Le Quesne argues the best agencies are moving beyond maintenance and compliance, helping investors improve cash flow, unlock value, and make smarter long-term decisions about their assets.

The pair also reveals the costly mistakes many landlords make, from underestimating ownership costs to overlooking simple upgrades that can significantly boost rental returns.

Finally, Whitlock and Le Quesne explain why agencies that educate investors, communicate proactively, and think beyond day-to-day property management will be the ones that attract more landlords – and keep them.

Tax changes may have stolen the headlines, but Australia's property market is increasingly being shaped by immigration, housing supply, and political decisions that investors can't afford to ignore.

On Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant is joined by Steve Kuper to connect the dots between politics, geopolitics, and property, revealing how government decisions, immigration policy, and global uncertainty are beginning to reshape Australia's housing market.

The duo examines the rush of investors scrambling to buy residential property through self-managed super funds before the borrowing ban takes effect, questioning whether urgency is driving sound investment decisions or expensive mistakes.

Attention then turns to Canberra, where the fallout from recent tax reforms continues to divide investors, raising fresh questions about housing affordability, fairness, and whether government policy is solving the problem or creating new ones.

The discussion also explores Australia's immigration settings, revealing why a growing mismatch between skilled migration and construction labour is adding further pressure to an already constrained housing market.

Finally, Tarrant and Kuper look beyond Australia's borders, discussing why geopolitical tensions are no longer just a foreign affairs issue and how global instability could increasingly influence property markets, investor confidence, and the nation's economic outlook.

In today's market, growth isn't just about growing a rent roll. It's about becoming the agency that landlords, talent, and clients actively choose and actually want to be part of.

On The Property Management Excellence (PMX) Podcast, Alex Whitlock is joined by Phil Tarrant and Michael Magee to discuss the shift from simply growing rent rolls to building businesses that attract top talent, loyal clients, and long-term growth.

The trio pull back the curtain on what goes into creating one of Australia's biggest property management events, and explain why industry recognition has become a genuine commercial advantage rather than just another trophy.

Attention then turns to the focus of this year's PMX Conference, building an attraction business, with the conversation highlighting the agencies investing in culture, leadership, and client experience to stand out in an increasingly competitive market.

As the profession evolves, Whitlock, Tarrant, and Magee agree that the future belongs to agencies that can clearly articulate their value, embrace innovation, and build businesses people genuinely want to work with and work for.

Everyone wants to know why housing has become so unaffordable. But what if the policies designed to fix the crisis are actually making it worse? On Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman question whether recent tax reforms, lending changes, and housing policies could have unintended consequences for investors, developers, and first home buyers alike.

From the crackdown on investor taxes to broader housing reforms, the pair examine whether the government's approach will genuinely improve affordability or simply reduce housing supply and place even more pressure on the market.

They also explore Australia's increasingly fragmented property landscape, where Sydney and Melbourne continue to soften while Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth tell a very different story, proving there is no such thing as a single Australian property market.

The conversation then shifts to the broader economy, examining how higher interest rates, persistent inflation, and growing employment uncertainty could shape borrowing power, property values, and investor confidence in the months ahead.

Finally, the duo assess the potential fallout from changes to self-managed super funds, posing one critical question: if individual investors are gradually pushed out of the market, who will fund Australia's next generation of housing?

Australia's buyer's agent sector is under pressure. But while many see uncertainty, forward-thinking property managers have a rare opportunity to become the trusted advisers investors are searching for.

In this episode of The Property Management Excellence (PMX) Podcast, REB's Alex Whitlock and Liam Garman unpack the buyer's agent sector under mounting pressure. They explore how ongoing policy shifts and industry instability are widening the property advice gap, and why property managers are uniquely positioned to step into that space.

The pair discuss how the collapse of Dashdot exposed deeper issues within the largely unregulated buyer's agent industry, raising questions around business models and the long-term sustainability of the sector.

Whitlock argues that investors are now looking for trusted professionals who understand the full investment journey, creating an opportunity for property managers to evolve from rent collectors into strategic advisers who help clients navigate an increasingly complex market.

They also examine how changes to negative gearing, capital gains tax, and SMSF property investment are reshaping investor behaviour, and why agencies that align their sales and property management teams will be best placed to build stronger client relationships and capture the next wave of investment business.

Everyone says Australia's property market is cooling. The problem? The headlines are telling only half the story, and investors buying into the panic could be looking in all the wrong places.

On Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman rip into the biggest myths driving Australia's property market, arguing that the country's housing story is becoming more divided than ever, with winners and losers emerging simultaneously.

The duo reveals why Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth continue to push ahead while Sydney and Melbourne slow, exposing how relying on national headlines could lead investors to make costly decisions.

Attention then turns to the federal government's latest property reforms, with Tarrant warning they could backfire spectacularly by squeezing housing supply, making development harder and creating the very affordability problems they were meant to solve.

The episode finishes with one of the industry's biggest controversies, as Tarrant and Garman question whether some high-volume buyer agencies are manufacturing competition, inflating demand and putting business growth ahead of their clients.

Most new agents think real estate success comes from branding, social media, and technology, but REB's New Agent Academy made one thing clear: the agents who win are still the ones who master the basics.

On the REB Podcast, deputy editor Emilie Lauer reports live from the New Agent Academy, capturing the key lessons, conversations, and takeaways from an event designed to help the next generation of agents build successful, sustainable careers.

The episode explores why relationships remain the foundation of the industry, with speakers stressing that trust, communication, and consistency still matter more than any tool, platform, or shortcut.

Attention then turns to resilience, as the Academy highlighted the reality of rejection, slow starts, and the discipline required to keep prospecting when results are not immediate.

The speakers also examine the role of technology, noting that while digital tools can help new agents move faster, they cannot replace the fundamentals of speaking to more people, building networks and staying visible in the market.

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Most agencies are chasing scale, acquisitions, and bigger rent rolls, but some of the fastest-growing businesses are doing the exact opposite: staying small, staying personal, and winning clients through service.

On The Property Management Excellence (PMX) Podcast, Alex Whitlock sat down with Ashby Farrell, director of WHITEARCH, to explore why boutique property management is making a comeback and how a one-man operation evolved into a thriving Perth agency.

Farrell shares how frustration with the disconnect between sales and property management pushed him to build an agency focused on long-term relationships, accountability, and a level of service he felt was missing elsewhere in the industry.

Rather than pursuing aggressive growth, Farrell said that WHITEARCH has prioritised quality over quantity, maintaining direct contact with landlords and taking a hands-on approach that many larger agencies have abandoned.

The conversation also examines the changing Perth market, where increasing consolidation among major agencies is creating opportunities for smaller operators to differentiate themselves through personalised service and stronger client relationships.