REB Podcast Network

Following the collapse of leading Australian buyer's agency Dashdot, questions are emerging about the quality and transparency of property advice being offered to investors. As confidence wavers, investors are left asking how to properly conduct due diligence and what the evolving property landscape will mean for future decisions. In this episode of Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman unpack the wave of disruption sweeping through Australian real estate, including a close examination of the liquidator's report into the Dashdot collapse. With $16.5 million in liabilities, 695 creditors, and $10.5 million tied up in "prepaid services & refunds", Tarrant questions whether the numbers fully stack up, suggesting the sector may be heading into a period of overdue rationalisation. The discussion then turns to the broader advisory landscape, with the pair questioning whether the traditional dominance of buyer's agents will give way to more tailored, locally grounded insights from property managers who hold long-term, on-the-ground experience in asset performance and tenant demand. They also examine Canberra's recent tax backflips, unpacking the policy shifts and mathematical blind spots that continue to shape housing affordability and influence property prices.

AI is rapidly changing the way real estate agents market properties, generate leads, and manage their businesses. But while the technology is more accessible than ever, many agents are still unsure how to use it effectively.

Ahead of the REB Innovation Summit, Properti's Craig Deveson joins Liam Garman to explore how AI and automation are transforming the Australian real estate industry, and why the agents who embrace these tools now will be best positioned for long-term success.

Want to see how you can harness the latest tech to scale your agency? Secure your place at the REB Innovation Summit here.

Drawing on years of experience helping agencies leverage technology, Deveson explains why AI should be viewed as a tool to enhance agent performance, not replace it.

From automating repetitive marketing tasks to improving visibility across digital channels, he shares how agents can use technology to create more opportunities while spending more time where it matters most: with clients.

The discussion explores:

• How AI and automation are reshaping real estate marketing.
• Why the most successful agents use technology to amplify, not replace, personal relationships.
• The common mistakes agents make when adopting new digital tools.
• Why trusted advisers will become even more valuable in an AI-driven market.

Enjoy the podcast.

Most agents walk into an appraisal armed with pages of statistics, market reports, and sales figures. But the best agents walk in with a story.

Ahead of the second annual REB Innovation Summit, Property Analytics founder Andrew Stone joins Liam Garman to unpack why data alone doesn't win listings, and how agents can use market insights to build trust, demonstrate expertise, and convert more vendors.

Want to see how you can harness the latest tech to scale your agency? Secure your place at the REB Innovation Summit here.

Drawing on more than 15 years in property analytics, Stone explains why many agents either overwhelm vendors with information or fail to provide enough context to make data meaningful.

Instead, he argues that successful agents are those who can connect the numbers to outcomes that matter.

The discussion explores:

• The common appraisal mistakes costing agents listings.
• How leading agents use data to tell compelling stories.
• Why credibility and trust will become even more important in an AI-driven industry.
• The simple shift that can improve conversion rates immediately.

Enjoy the podcast.

Most property managers think their job ends at chasing rent and fixing leaky taps, but the truth is far bigger – the real opportunity in the industry right now might be turning investors into wealthier clients, not just managing their properties.

On The Property Management Excellence (PMX) Podcast, Alex Whitlock sits down with Phil Tarrant to expose why property managers may be sitting on the most valuable seat at an investor's table, and why so many agencies are failing to take advantage of it.

Rather than simply delivering bad news about repairs, compliance, and lease renewals, Whitlock and Tarrant argue that property managers should be leading broader conversations around portfolio performance, market trends, and long-term wealth creation.

The pair point to a major advantage that most advisers spend years building: property managers already have direct access to investors and long-established relationships.

However, many agencies remain trapped in transactional business models, and the duo break down what needs to change if property managers want to strengthen client loyalty, justify higher fees, and accelerate growth.

As buyer's agents now face growing scrutiny and disruption, the duo argues that property managers have a unique opportunity to claim a larger role in helping investors grow and protect their wealth.

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.

Buyer's agents are coming under increasing scrutiny over financial advice in the wake of the Dashdot collapse. But it's not all bad news for investors, with backlash building against the government's tax reforms and rate cuts looming on the horizon.

After a challenging few weeks for the real estate industry, this episode of Property Buzz, hosted by Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman, explores whether relief could be emerging as yields return to focus and Australia's major banks flag potential rate cuts.

The pair discuss how quarantining losses can provide longer-term tax relief for investors, alongside the shifting political landscape shaping property sentiment.

They also turn to the property advice ecosystem, including growing scrutiny around unlicensed financial advice and the standards expected of buyer's agents operating in an increasingly complex environment. The discussion continues around the fallout from the Dashdot collapse, and what it signals for the ongoing professionalisation of the buyer's agent industry.

Renters are facing record-low vacancy rates, while property managers are under growing pressure as workloads and expectations intensify. Against this backdrop, tenant education is emerging as a potential reset for how the industry supports long-term stability, benefiting both renters and property managers alike.

In this episode of the REB Podcast, host Liam Garman speaks with Paul Tommasini, chief executive officer of inCommunity and the Tenancy Skills Institute, about how structured education pathways for tenants could deliver better outcomes across the rental ecosystem – covering budgeting, maintenance and responsibilities.

The discussion explores how stable tenancies are becoming increasingly critical in a tight rental market, and how education-led programs are helping tenants build the skills needed to sustain long-term rental relationships while easing pressure on property managers.

Tommasini shares how the Tenancy Skills Institute has evolved from supporting young people experiencing homelessness into a broader national initiative, with more than 27,000 participants completing its tenancy education programs.

The conversation also examines how early intervention tools like PM Assist are helping property managers identify issues sooner, connect tenants with support services, and reduce the likelihood of disputes escalating to the tribunal.

Finally, the discussion challenges common misconceptions around tenancy breakdowns, highlighting the complex mix of financial stress, communication issues and knowledge gaps that often sit beneath rental disputes.

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.

Most property managers focus on rent collection and compliance, but the agencies growing the fastest are helping investors increase returns, build wealth, and uncover value most landlords don't even realise they're missing.

On The Property Management Excellence (PMX) podcast, Alex Whitlock sits down with Bradley Beer, CEO of BMT Tax Depreciation, to explore one of the most overlooked opportunities in property management and why helping investors grow wealth could be the industry's biggest competitive advantage.

Beer argues that property managers and investors share the same goal: building wealth. Yet many agencies still struggle to demonstrate value beyond managing tenancies.

The duo highlights how simple conversations around tax depreciation, rental strategy, maintenance planning, and portfolio performance can strengthen client relationships.

Beer reveals that many property investors are still leaving thousands of dollars on the table every year by failing to claim depreciation, despite the average first-year deduction from BMT schedules sitting around $12,000.

The pair also discuss the growing pressure on fees and why agencies that position themselves as wealth partners rather than rent collectors are far more likely to defend their pricing, improve retention, and grow their rent rolls.

Investors are reeling from the sudden liquidation of a prominent buyer's agency, but the real fallout will come from the regulatory reckoning it triggers, not just the immediate financial losses. On the Property Buzz podcast, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman from Momentum Media cut through the noise around the collapse of Dashdot and the wave of speculation hitting the property advice sector.

The pair warn that the biggest issue right now isn't just the failed business itself, but the broader rise of industry gimmicks and high-pressure sales tactics that leave everyday consumers incredibly vulnerable.

They explore how a controversial offshore share transfer to the British Virgin Islands complicates recovery for stranded creditors, while also raising critical questions about the ethics of demanding 100 per cent upfront fees and offering unbacked performance guarantees.

The discussion also highlights how the industry is already reacting behind the scenes, with the sudden promotion of sub-scale, unvetted operators to take over affected clients highlighting a severe lack of professional standards.

But despite the noise, the message is consistent. The duo warn that until formal regulatory guardrails and licensing requirements are established, the smartest move for property investors is to stick to "boring", proven professionals and avoid being lured in by social media hype.

While most of the country worries about slowing markets and policy uncertainty, Perth's fundamentals continue to suggest the boom is far from being over.

In a special crossover podcast episode of Smart Property Investment and Real Estate Business, Liam Garman sits down with Ashby Farrell from WHTEARCH to explore why Perth continues to outperform while Sydney and Melbourne lose momentum.

Farrell explains that Perth's growth is being driven by genuine owner-occupier demand rather than investor speculation, creating a level of resilience rarely seen in other capital cities.

The discussion highlights how rising construction costs, labour shortages, and supply constraints are making established homes increasingly attractive, with many properties now impossible to replace at their current market value.

The episode also explores the potential impact of proposed changes to negative gearing, capital gains tax, and rental legislation, and why Perth may be better positioned than most markets to absorb any policy shocks.

Farrell argues that despite ongoing uncertainty, the fundamentals supporting Perth remain firmly intact, with affordability, population growth, and lifestyle appeal continuing to drive demand.

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.

Most property management businesses never break through the growth ceiling, but this agency scaled from a garage to 3,500 properties in just seven years. Here is how they did it.

On The Property Management Excellence (PMX) Podcast, Alex Whitlock sits down with Housemark CEO Natalie South to share the systems, structure, and leadership model behind one of Australia's fastest-growing property management businesses.

South said that while traditional models often fail to scale, Housemark's focus on relationships, specialised roles, and operational structure has enabled the business to grow rapidly without sacrificing service.

The duo highlights the importance of direct communication with landlords, team development, and the creation of clear career pathways to attract and retain top talent.

The episode also explores Housemark's expansion into Victoria, where legislative complexity and lower management fees are creating both challenges and opportunities for growth.

South shares how technology can improve efficiency and customer experience, but warns that systems alone are not enough without the right people and processes behind them.

The duo emphasises that building a property management powerhouse isn't about managing more properties; it's about building a business designed to scale.