Talking Property with CBRE

Australia may be heading for a weaker economy, yet global property capital is still lining up to invest here.

Recorded after the annual Property Council of Australia Congress in Brisbane, this episode of Talking Property features Charter Hall Managing Director and Group CEO David Harrison in conversation with host Kathryn House, examining why Australia still screens and what could erode that advantage.

David explains why he calls Australia the Steven Bradbury of Asia Pacific, why investors should judge property on an unlevered basis rather than today's cost of debt, and how recent tax changes could redirect private capital towards commercial sectors.

He also shares why newer alternative sectors need to price in a higher return than core assets, where he stands on data centres, what AI and automation could mean for office demand.

The conversation also explores the push to bring workers back, and what it would take for capital to return to Victoria.

As rates reshape markets, resilient demand and constrained supply continue to support Australia's commercial property outlook.

In the final edition of the House View for 2026, CBRE's Australia & New Zealand CEO Phil Rowland and Head of Research Sameer Chopra examine the forces shaping property markets as the year draws to a close. They explore the implications of higher interest rates, evolving tax settings and rising bond yields, while assessing why occupier demand, rental growth and investment activity have remained more resilient than many expected.

The discussion also looks at AI's growing influence on office demand and data centre development, the demographic trends supporting residential and senior living sectors, and the impact of tightening future supply across multiple asset classes. With fundamentals holding firm despite a more challenging backdrop, Phil and Sameer share their outlook for 2027 and the markets they expect to deliver the strongest performance.

Australia's senior living sector is attracting growing investor attention as demographic trends, housing supply pressures and increased institutional capital reshape the market.

In this episode of Talking Property with CBRE, host Kathryn House is joined by Daniel Mrsnik from Aware Super and Paul Martin, Acting CEO of Keyton, to discuss why retirement living is emerging as one of Australia's most compelling real estate opportunities.

Key discussion points:

• Australia's senior living sector remains one of the country's least institutionalised real estate sectors.

• Investors are increasingly focused on scale, consolidation opportunities and platform ownership in retirement living.

• How demographic tailwinds and limited new supply are creating long-term growth opportunities for operators and investors.

• Why more established retirement living models in the US, including rental and active lifestyle offerings, could provide a roadmap for future innovation in Australia.

Recent changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax have prompted many Australian property investors to reassess how they build and protect wealth. But are investors turning away from residential property altogether, or simply broadening their horizons?

In this episode of Talking Property, Ingrid Filmer, Head of CBRE Capital Markets, Private Wealth, and Phillip Almeida, co-founder and Director of Strategic Partnerships at Performance Property, unpack how sophisticated investors are responding to shifting policy settings, higher interest rates and renewed market uncertainty.

The conversation explores what is changing in the residential investment playbook, why private capital is showing interest in commercial property, what separates a sound investment from simply chasing yield and the role of unconventional property opportunities in long-term wealth creation.

The episode also explores the results from CBRE's latest Residential Valuer Survey.

As younger generations redefine success, purpose and growth at work, are organisations evolving quickly enough to keep pace?

In this episode of Talking Property, host Kathryn House sits down with two emerging industry voices whose standout talks at the recent CoreNet Australia Conference challenged delegates to rethink the future of work through a more human lens.

Marco Gritti explores what younger employees are really looking for from employers, arguing that opportunities for growth, autonomy and belonging matter more than many leaders realise. Meanwhile, workplace designer Carmen Paech tackles one of the biggest questions facing organisations in the age of AI: what is a human worth?

Together, they discuss why human connection remains critical in a technology-driven world, how organisations can create cultures that encourage learning and curiosity, and why creativity, empathy and imagination will become even more valuable as AI takes on routine tasks.

From attracting and retaining talent to designing workplaces that foster collaboration and innovation, this conversation offers fresh perspectives on how organisations can help people thrive in the future of work.

Australia's office market is evolving rapidly, driven by strong demand for premium workplaces, constrained future supply and changing occupier expectations.

In Part 2 of our special Office Reset series, host Kathryn House is joined by Andy Collins, Executive General Manager, Office at Dexus, and Matthew Brown, Head of Office at the GPT Group.

They discuss where the biggest opportunities are emerging, why quality assets continue to outperform, the future of rents and incentives, and how landlords are rethinking everything from office fitouts to tenant experience. The conversation also explores major developments such as Atlassian Central, the growing role of AI, and why innovation, sustainability and service will be critical to the next chapter of Australia's office sector.

You can also tune into Part 1 of our Office Reset series here: The Office Reset: Part 1 | CBRE Australia

Australia's office sector is entering a new phase, with strong demand for premium workplaces, evolving occupier expectations and growing pressure on future supply.

In Part 1 of our special office series, host Kathryn House sits down with Amanda Steele, Head of Property at IFM Investors, and Fiona Denison, Head of Asset Management, Office at Charter Hall, to explore the forces reshaping the market.

Together, they discuss why high-quality office assets are outperforming, how AI is influencing workplace strategy, the growing importance of sustainability and electrification, and why the office has become a destination designed around experience, wellbeing and collaboration.

In this third edition of The House View for 2026, Phil Rowland and Sameer Chopra revisit the Australian real estate outlook after a volatile first half shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, sticky inflation, higher interest rates and the Federal Budget.

Despite these headwinds, the Q2 data points to a more resilient market than many expected. Investment activity rebounded, leasing demand remained strong in key office markets, cap rates were broadly stable, and rent growth continued to surprise on the upside - particularly for prime, well-located assets.

Phil and Sameer explore why fundamentals such as supply and demand continue to matter most, how a constrained development pipeline is supporting rent growth, and what the Federal Budget could mean for private capital flows into commercial real estate. They also discuss the impact of AI on office demand, the outlook for construction costs and economic rents, and why access to quality stock in quality locations remains a defining theme for occupiers and investors.

The episode closes with Sameer’s key predictions for the second half of 2026.

In this special edition of Talking Property, the first to be recorded in front of a live audience, CBRE's Global Head of Research, Dr Henry Chin, explores the forces reshaping global real estate.

From the outlook for global capital flows and investor sentiment to the growing influence of AI, data centres and productivity challenges, Henry shares his perspective on where the biggest opportunities and risks are emerging. The conversation also revisits Henry's well-known comment that Australia was in "La La Land" two years ago when it came to asset repricing, and whether his view has changed amid shifting market conditions. 

Tune in for insights on supply and demand dynamics, the global flight to quality, return-to-office trends, and what investors, occupiers and developers should be watching over the next 6–12 months. 

Large Format Retail (LFR) has come a long way from its early “big box” beginnings. Once considered a more volatile, discretionary retail asset class, the sector is now attracting stronger attention from investors, landlords and retailers - supported by resilient consumer demand, low vacancy, constrained new supply and more than $100 billion in annual retail sales. 

CBRE’s National Director of LFR Leasing, Shane Cook, and CBRE’s Pacific Head of Retail Property Management, Sheree Griff, unpack what’s driving the sector’s momentum in this latest episode of Talking Property.

They discuss why LFR is increasingly becoming a convenience and lifestyle story, how tenant demand is evolving across wellness, pet, entertainment and home categories, and why new concepts such as Kmart Home and Restoration Hardware point to the next phase of growth.

They also explore the sector’s investment appeal, the impact of planning and supply constraints, and why physical retail remains highly relevant in categories where consumers still want to see, touch, compare and experience products in person.

If you want to know more, you can read CBRE’s new Large Format Retail Outlook report.