The Elephant In The Room Property Podcast | Inside Australian Real Estate

There’s a side of the property market most Australians never see — where listings don’t make headlines, and deals happen behind closed doors.

In this episode, we step into that world of discretion and discovery with William Laing, Co-Founder and CEO of Quiet List, to explore how off-market sales are quietly reshaping the real estate landscape.

With nearly one in five Sydney homes now trading off-market, William reveals how private listings are redefining demand and changing how agents, buyers, and sellers connect. From price-testing vendors and privacy-driven sellers to the rise of buyer’s agents and agent-only platforms, this hidden layer of the market is rewriting the rules of access and advantage.

Together, we unpack what truly counts as an off-market listing, why so many sellers are choosing to go quiet, and what this shift means for transparency in Australian property. It’s a conversation that cuts through the hype to reveal the data, dynamics, and ethics shaping the industry’s most exclusive corner.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens before a listing goes live, or why some of the best opportunities never make it online, this episode gives you a rare glimpse into the quiet art of deal-making in today’s property market.

00:00 – Introduction

01:16 – Guest Introduction: William Lang of Quiet List

01:48 – Understanding Off-Market Listings

03:40 – Challenges in Off-Market Transactions

08:27 – Quiet List: The Business Model

08:40 – Appreciating the Role of Buyer's Agents

18:03 – Privacy and Transparency Issues of Off-Market Deals

26:18 – Real Estate Platforms

28:05 – Challenges and Changes in Agent Processes

28:45 – Advantages of Centralized Briefs

31:03 – Off-Market Deals and Relationships

32:23 – Platform Features and Future Directions

41:53 – Real Estate Market Dynamics and AI

42:33 – Property Dumbo

William Laing is the Co-Founder and CEO of Quiet List, Australia’s first agent-only property platform transforming how real estate professionals connect qualified demand with quiet supply.

With more than a decade in luxury residential real estate — including roles with Kay & Burton, Knight Frank, Savills, and The Agency — William built his career around discretion, trust, and deal-making. His experience handling high-end, off-market transactions inspired Quiet List: a platform that helps agents capture the 20% of property deals that happen behind closed doors.

Today, William is helping agents nationwide turn “quiet listings” into smarter, more transparent transactions — bringing structure, security, and speed to a part of the market that’s always operated in whispers.

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1. Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
2. If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:
3. The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - [email protected]
4. Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
5. Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
6. Looking for a Mortgage Broker? alcove.com.au
7. Work with Chris: [email protected]

Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word, and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!

1. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast
2. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719
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If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

See you on the inside,

Veronica & Chris

Australia’s strata system was once a clever solution to urban living — a way to share land, lift homeownership, and build communities in growing cities. But decades later, that same framework is struggling to keep up with modern life.

What once worked for small, low-rise communities now governs the high-density towers that house millions of Australians. The result? Costs have climbed, decision-making has grown more complex, and owners often find themselves footing bills for problems they didn’t create

In this episode, Prof. Cathy Sherry — Professor at Macquarie Law School and Executive Member of Smart Green Cities — explains how Australia’s outdated strata laws are now out of step with the country’s housing and sustainability goals. A leading international expert in land law and high-density development, Prof. Sherry unpacks how laws written in the 1960s for small walk-ups can’t handle the complexity of modern cities, locking owners into costly contracts, rising levies, and embedded energy networks that limit both choice and progress.

From the hidden costs buried in off-the-plan sales to the barriers stopping apartments from going solar, Cathy reveals how a system designed to help Australians share space has instead made it harder to live well, live green, and live fairly.

Listen now to learn why reforming strata isn’t just a legal fix — it’s key to building a fairer, more sustainable housing future for everyone.

00:00 – Introduction

01:16 — Meet Prof. Cathy Sherry: Australia’s Leading Expert on Strata Law

01:50 — How Shared Living Became Complex: The Challenge of Strata Ownership

03:15 — Strata Levies, Legal Layers, and Why Collective Ownership Is Tricky

06:37 — The Hidden Dangers of Buying Off-the-Plan Apartments in Australia

11:09 — Embedded Networks Explained: The Hidden Costs of Strata Energy Deals

20:18 — Can the Law Catch Up? Why Strata Reform Is Urgent for Modern Cities

26:00 — Stratum Lots and Mixed-Use Buildings: Understanding Shared Land Titles

26:48 — What Strata Management Statements Mean for Building Governance

27:32 — Why Prof. Cathy Sherry Advocates for Fairer and Smarter Housing Laws

28:54 — High-Density Housing Challenges: When Bigger Doesn’t Mean Better

30:11 — Why Home Ownership Still Matters for Stability and Social Equality

31:51 — Where Strata Schemes Fail: Issues With Governance and Accountability

35:23 — How Investor Incentives Have Shaped Australia’s Housing Market

43:27 — Smart Green Cities: Connecting Strata Reform to Sustainability Goals

44:42 — Property Dumbo: A Real-World Example of Strata Mismanagement

46:20 — Final Reflections and Where to Learn More From Prof. Cathy Sherry

• Article: Embedded networks in high-density and master-planned housing

Cathy Sherry is a Professor in Macquarie Law School and Executive Member of Smart Green Cities. She is a leading international expert in land law, with a particular focus on high density development. Her book Strata Title Property Rights: Private governance of multi-owned properties (Routledge, 2017) is the first academic monograph on Australian strata title. It has been cited by the Privy Council and the New South Wales Court of Appeal. Professor Sherry's research focuses on the complex legal, economic and social relationships created by collectively owned land. 

Professor Sherry regularly advises governments, domestically and internationally, on the laws governing multi-owned properties. She was a member of the United Kingdom Law Commission Technical Committee for the Reform of Commonhold from 2018-2020, and was engaged by the International Finance Corporation (World Bank Group) to reform the Fijian Unit Titles Act 1985 in 2021. She has advised governments in Asia, the Pacific and Middle East. In 2012, Professor Sherry was employed by the Administration of Norfolk Island to write a White Paper on the introduction of strata title to the Island, leading to the Community Title Act 2015 (NI).

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• Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
• If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:
• The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - [email protected]
• Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
• Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
• Looking for a Mortgage Broker? alcove.com.au
• Work with Chris: [email protected] 

Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word, and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!

• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719
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If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

See you on the inside,

Veronica & Chris

Australia’s housing shortage isn’t just about planning approvals or red tape — it’s about money. 

In this episode, commercial finance expert Jean-Pierre Gortan, Joint Founder of Simplicity Loans & Advisory, joins Veronica Morgan and Chris Bates to unpack the financial bottlenecks preventing new homes from being built, even in areas crying out for supply.

Jean-Pierre draws on more than two decades of experience structuring complex, multi-lender deals to explain why so many developments are stuck in limbo. From Parramatta to Penrith, he reveals how post-COVID construction cost blowouts, tighter lending standards, and broken feasibility models have made many projects impossible to fund — even with demand at record highs.

They discuss how non-bank lenders are filling the void left by traditional banks, why build-to-rent projects still struggle to stack up in high-cost cities like Sydney, and what state governments are doing through rezoning, TOD corridors, and density incentives to unlock supply. Jean-Pierre also shares insights into how the market differs between NSW, Victoria, and Queensland, and what policy shifts could finally make housing delivery viable again.

This is a candid, ground-level look at the economics of housing supply — and a reminder that Australia’s housing crisis won’t be solved by planning reforms alone, but by rethinking how development is financed.

00:00 – Introduction

02:12 — How COVID Cost Blowouts Crushed Feasibility

03:51 — When Projects Don’t Stack Up Financially

05:22 — Why Government Fixes Aren’t Solving Supply

15:38 — Non-Bank Lenders: Who’s Funding Projects Now

18:02 — Developers Adapting to a Tougher Market

21:32 — How Finance Shapes Future Housing Supply

25:53 — Residential vs Commercial: Shared Challenges

26:27 — Why Banks Pulled Back from Construction Loans

28:18 — Can Government Programs Reignite Building?

29:48 — Pre-Sales Pressure: A Hidden Project Killer

31:10 — Quality, Oversight, and Building Regulation Costs

32:39 — Red Tape and Rezoning: The Slow Path to Supply

36:40 –  Transport Oriented Development (TOD) and LMR Zones

43:08 — Property Dumbo: Overconfidence in Feasibility

44:45 — Final Thoughts: Funding and the Road Ahead

• Jean-Pierre Gortan (website bio)
• LMR Viewer

Jean-Pierre Gortan is the Joint Founder of Simplicity Loans & Advisory and one of Australia’s most respected figures in commercial finance. A back-to-back winner of the Australian Broker of the Year Award by MPA Magazine, Jean-Pierre has built a national reputation for solving some of the country’s most complex funding challenges with creativity, precision, and integrity.

With more than two decades of experience across property, business, and development finance, he has been instrumental in steering Simplicity’s growth into one of Australia’s leading independent advisory firms. His expertise lies in structuring sophisticated, multi-lender transactions — from nine-figure refinances to bespoke development facilities — all with a focus on delivering exceptional client outcomes.

Beyond finance, Jean-Pierre is a passionate advocate for community causes, having raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through initiatives such as the Larapinta Stage Race, the CEO Sleepout, and his ongoing support for the Women’s Resilience Centre. A proud father of two daughters, he believes true success lies in creating meaningful impact — for clients, colleagues, and the wider community — and in using business as a force for good.

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• Simplicity Loans and Advisory (Website)

• Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
• If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:
• The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - [email protected]
• Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
• Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
• Looking for a Mortgage Broker? alcove.com.au
• Work with Chris: [email protected] 

Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word, and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!

• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

See you on the inside,

Veronica & Chris

Property decisions today hinge on interest rates, inflation, and housing demand — but what if the traditional signals we’ve all relied on no longer give the full picture?

In this episode, we sit down with Alan Oster, former Chief Economist of NAB and one of Australia’s most respected economic voices, to unpack what really matters in a housing market under stress.

Alan explains why GDP, unemployment, and even consumer surveys can mislead investors, and why real-time banking data has changed the game. He shares stories from decades of forecasting — including times when the “headline” numbers pointed in the wrong direction — and highlights the three signals he believes are most useful for understanding where housing is headed.

From the rental crisis to the impact of migration and state government land taxes, Alan dives into the structural pressures reshaping demand. He also addresses productivity stagnation, the future role of AI in jobs and housing, and why policy missteps continue to ripple through Australia’s economy.

Whether you’re a property investor, policymaker, or simply trying to understand what’s next for interest rates and housing demand, Alan offers candid insights you won’t hear in the headlines. This episode is a rare chance to learn from the economist who has shaped Australia’s forecasting for over three decades.

00:00 – Introduction

00:22 – Meet Alan Oster: NAB’s Former Chief Economist

02:01 – Global Headwinds: US Politics, Tariffs & Trade

03:01 – Economics as Psychology: Market Reactions Explained

04:11 – Real-Time Banking Data Changes Forecasting

05:12 – COVID Lessons: Spending Falls by Postcode

06:30 – Hidden Stress: Households, Jobs & Policy Gaps

13:49 – Australia’s Productivity Problem Unpacked

15:35 – AI, Migration & the Future of Work

23:36 – Property Choices: Wealth, Debt & Investor Behaviour

26:10 – Land Taxes and Why Investors Are Selling

27:05 – Migration, Housing Supply & the Rental Crunch

28:22 – State Outlooks: Victoria, Adelaide, NSW & QLD

29:05 – How Banks View Mortgages & Housing Risk

31:45 – Productivity Growth Slows in Australia

33:55 – Policy Fixes: Tax Reform & Build-to-Rent

36:04 – Housing Market Costs, Supply & Gov’t Guarantees

37:34 – Lessons from Past Crises & Recessions

44:04 – Property Dumbo: Alan’s Downsizing Story

Alan Oster is one of Australia’s most trusted economic forecasters, best known for his 33 years as Chief Economist at NAB. During his tenure, he built NAB’s influential Monthly Business Survey and pioneered the use of real-time banking data to track household and business behaviour — insights now shared with the RBA, ABS, and Treasury.

Before joining NAB in 1992, Alan spent 15 years at Commonwealth Treasury, including four years in Paris as Australia’s representative at the OECD. Recognised as an authority on economic forecasting, monetary policy, and housing demand, he is a sought-after commentator in both public and private circles.

Alan retired from NAB in 2025 but continues to share his expertise, offering a rare blend of sharp economic analysis and practical insights for policymakers, businesses, and property investors alike.

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• Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
• If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:
• The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - [email protected]
• Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
• Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
• Looking for a Mortgage Broker? alcove.com.au
• Work with Chris: [email protected] 

Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word, and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!

• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

See you on the inside,

Veronica & Chris

What’s really driving property investors in 2025? The latest PIPA Investor Sentiment Survey lays it bare — and the results matter for every investor, renter, and policymaker in Australia.

In this episode, we’re joined by Lachlan Vidler, Chair of the Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA), to unpack the top findings. The survey shows investors are selling under pressure—with debt reduction, compliance costs, and land tax topping the list of reasons. But here’s the kicker: when those properties are sold, only 42% stay in the rental pool, shrinking rental supply and pushing rents higher.

Policy risk looms large too. More than half of investors said they’d exit if negative gearing was altered, while others flagged land tax, compliance, and rental caps as breaking points. Yet in the same breath, nearly 60% of investors still believe it’s a good time to buy. That fragile optimism is keeping the market alive even as costs bite.

Finally, the survey reveals who investors actually turn to for advice—mostly mortgage brokers and accountants, not property specialists. Why does that matter? Because it explains why investor behaviour often swings between optimism and panic, shaping rental markets and property prices in ways that affect us all.

This episode is packed with insights every property investor needs to hear—because the decisions you and your peers make today are reshaping Australia’s housing market for tomorrow.

00:00 – Introduction

02:04 – Why the Rental Market Is Being Reshaped

03:11 – Top Reasons Investors Are Selling Properties

04:39 – How Rising Costs Erode Investor Confidence

07:08 – Pain in Melbourne, Gains in Brisbane

08:15 – Federal Reforms Driving Investor Uncertainty

12:02 – The Rental Pool Is Shrinking—What It Means

14:29 – Supply, Demand, and Speculative Investment

22:34 – Why Industry and Government Clash on Reform

26:17 – How Politics Shapes Investor Outcomes

28:40 – Lobbying, Legislation, and Investor Reaction

31:06 – Who Investors Really Trust for Property Advice

34:15 – Why Investors Need Holistic Property Guidance

38:29 – Fragile Optimism: 60% Still Say It’s Time to Buy

47:39 – Property Dumbo: Signing Contracts Too Soon

50:01 – Wrap-Up and Where to Find PIPA Resources

• Rental crisis worsens as more investors exit the market – 2025 PIPA Investor Survey

Lachlan Vidler is the Chair of the Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA), the peak body advocating for higher standards and transparency across the property industry. With deep experience as a property advisor and investor, Lachlan brings unique insight into the data and psychology behind investor behaviour.

At PIPA, he works to raise professional standards, educate investors, and shape better policy outcomes for the housing sector. His leadership positions him at the centre of Australia’s most pressing conversations on affordability, rental supply, and the future of property investment.

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• Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
• If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:
• The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - [email protected]
• Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
• Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
• Looking for a Mortgage Broker? alcove.com.au
• Work with Chris: [email protected] 

Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word, and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!

• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

See you on the inside,

Veronica & Chris

Short-term rentals have faced caps, levies, and rising costs. Investors are asking the big question: Does the short-stay model still work?

In this episode, Quirin Schwaighofer, co-founder and co-CEO of MadeComfy, joins us to unpack the state of the short-stay market in 2025. We talk about how regulations like NSW’s 180-day cap and Byron Bay’s 60-day limits are reshaping operations, where demand is shifting post-COVID, and why distribution has moved far beyond Airbnb.

We also dive into when mid-term furnished rentals can outperform, what investors should track weekly to stay ahead, and the pitfalls that even seasoned owners fall into.

If you’re weighing short-term vs mid-term or wondering how to keep income resilient under new rules, this episode is for you.

00:00 – Introduction

01:15 – Meet Quirin Schwaighofer: MadeComfy's Journey

01:51 – Acquisition by Prism: A New Chapter

04:06 – Post-COVID: a tougher, smarter short-stay market

07:11 – NSW rules, caps, and what they really mean

11:15 – How other markets handle short-stay caps

14:14 – Demand shifts and investor behaviour in 2025

19:21 – Strategies for short-term rental success

25:04 – Where short-stays still shine (and struggle)

26:03 – What MadeComfy actually does for owners

27:02 – Beyond Airbnb: competing channels and share

28:26 – Common short-stay pitfalls (and fixes)

31:36 – Supply, yield, and the housing market picture

32:58 – Byron Bay: balancing tourism and housing

39:16 – What government should fix—and how

44:17 – Closing advice for owners and investors

Quirin Schwaighofer is the Co-CEO & Co-Founder of MadeComfy, the Australian accommodation innovator helping real estate professionals and investors enter and scale in short-term and mid-term rentals with tech-driven operations and a trusted consumer brand. Since 2015, he’s raised $20M+ in growth capital, won multiple Shortyz awards, and led MadeComfy to recognition in AFR BOSS’s Best Places to Work and the AFR Fast 100.

In 2025, MadeComfy reached a major milestone with its acquisition by global hospitality platform OYO, marking Australia’s second-largest short-term rental industry exit after Stayz. Prior to MadeComfy, Quirin co-founded a mobile workforce platform (HiKey Resources), led large-scale projects at BHP Billiton Iron Ore, and even launched a hospitality venue while completing a Master in Industrial Engineering and an Executive MBA (AGSM @ UNSW). A German-born entrepreneur and dad of three, he blends strategic vision with hands-on ops across sales, marketing, and market expansion.

• Website (MadeComfy): https://www.madecomfy.com.au/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quirin-schwaighofer/

• Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
• If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:
• The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - [email protected]
• Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
• Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
• Looking for a Mortgage Broker? alcove.com.au
• Work with Chris: [email protected] 

Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word, and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!

• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

See you on the inside,

Veronica & Chris

Property management in Australia has been facing challenges for years — tenants feel ignored, landlords are frustrated, and managers are burning out. The question is: is the entire model broken beyond repair?

In this episode, we sit down with Scott Bateman, strategist, innovator, and founder of property management platform Kolmeo, to unpack what’s gone wrong and what the future could look like. Scott brings unique insights from running Australia’s largest property management business, where outdated systems, legislative overload, and high staff turnover made clear that incremental fixes weren’t enough.

We explore why property management has long been treated as a poor cousin to sales, why one in three managers leave the industry within 11 months, and how fragmented tech solutions have created more problems than they solve. Scott also explains how AI and structured processes could standardise quality, reduce burnout, and make renting a dignified experience rather than a second-class one.

Along the way, we tackle the unintended consequences of well-meaning legislation, why institutional investment won’t solve the rental crisis, and whether property managers could evolve into strategic advisors rather than administrators. This conversation isn’t just about real estate — it’s about reimagining an industry at a crossroads.

00:00 – Introduction: Is Property Management Broken?

01:41 – Why the Current Property Management Model Fails

05:25 – Tech: Part of the Problem or the Solution?

15:52 – Why the Industry Struggles to Embrace Change

17:20 – Market Shifts Reshaping Property Management

19:52 – How Tenant Behavior Is Changing the Market

21:36 – The Future of Property Management Technology

22:22 – Shifting Perspectives on Offshoring and Technology

23:20 – AI and the Promise of Radical Efficiency

25:08 – Challenges in Property Management Compliance

25:59 – Tenant Data, Bias, and the Rental Dilemma

31:26 – Can Property Managers Become Advisors?

36:26 – Balancing the Landlord-Tenant-Manager Triangle

41:42 – Why Scaling Property Management Is So Hard

42:19 – Lessons Learned: Rethinking the Industry

Scott Bateman has firmly cemented himself as one of Australian real estate’s most influential voices on organisational strategy, technology, and innovation. With a career spanning banking, insurance, and property, Scott spent more than a decade at Westpac and IAG before leading the growth and transformation of Australia’s largest property management business.

In 2020, he launched Kolmeo, a game-changing property management platform now embraced by some of the country’s most innovative agencies, including Nelson Alexander, Xceed, Melbourne Real Estate, and Marshall White. Educated at Harvard Business School, Scott blends rigorous academic research with real-world practice, offering a unique perspective on how strategy and technology can reshape industries.

• Website (Kolmeo): https://kolmeo.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/batemanscott/
• X: https://x.com/batemanscott

• Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
• If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:
• The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - [email protected]
• Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
• Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
• Looking for a Mortgage Broker? alcove.com.au
• Work with Chris: [email protected] 

Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word, and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!

• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

See you on the inside,

Veronica & Chris

Australia’s housing market has been facing growing pressures in recent years.

Homeowners often sit on millions in equity but can’t easily access it, while aspiring buyers without the “Bank of Mum and Dad” struggle to get into the market. At the same time, investors chase capital growth but face the costly, stressful reality of being landlords.

In this episode, we sit down with Evan Thornley, CEO of LongView, to explore a smarter alternative: a residential property fund that unlocks equity for homeowners and delivers strong returns for investors. Through products like HomeFlex and Buying Boost, LongView’s fund allows existing owners to access cash without selling, while helping buyers bridge the deposit gap. For investors, the fund offers exposure to capital growth across a diversified pool of quality homes — without the headaches of tenants, maintenance, or leverage.

Evan explains how LongView uses data science and on-the-ground expertise to identify “RODWELLs” (Robust Older Dwellings on Well Located Land), ensuring the fund consistently outperforms the market. We also hear real-world stories: families who avoided selling during divorce, homeowners funding life-changing renovations, and younger buyers who gained a foothold in the market sooner.

If you’re a homeowner looking to unlock equity, or an investor seeking a lower-risk, higher-return alternative to landlordism, this conversation reveals why LongView’s fund might be the future of property investing in Australia.

00:00 – Introduction

01:37 – Innovative Property Ownership Models

04:02 – HomeFlex: Unlocking Home Equity

06:26 – Predicting Capital Growth in Property

13:44 – Investment Strategies and Market Insights

17:09 – Client and Investor Perspectives

26:36 – Diversification and Risk Management

28:26 – Portfolio Distribution Across Cities

28:46 – Future Fund Plans and Social Purpose

30:18 – Challenges in Setting Up Funds

31:23 – Clarifying Equity vs. Growth

33:23 – Investor Appeal and Market Potential

36:07 – Buying Boost and Shared Equity

38:03 – Client Success Stories

44:26 – Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Evan Thornley is the co-founder and CEO of LongView, a recognised leader in residential property buying and management that is pioneering funds management in Australia’s existing dwelling asset class. A technology and social entrepreneur, Evan has been a property investor for more than 30 years across Australia and the US.

Before turning his focus to housing, Evan co-founded LookSmart Ltd, one of the first Australian tech companies to list on NASDAQ, reaching a peak market value of AUD $14.2 billion and returning its investors 100x. He also co-founded GoodStart, Australia’s largest social venture and the world’s largest early childhood education provider. His career has spanned entrepreneurship, social impact, and public policy — including serving as Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation under Premier Steve Bracks, co-founding the think tank Per Capita, and helping launch activist network GetUp!

For the past eight years, Evan has been consumed with finding solutions to Australia’s housing challenges. Through LongView, he has built a platform that blends data science, deep property expertise, and innovative financial structures. His mission: to unlock housing wealth in ways that deliver both strong investor returns and better outcomes for Australian homeowners and buyers.

• Website: https://LongView.com.au/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evan.thornley/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanthornley/

• Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
• If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:
• The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - [email protected]
• Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
• Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
• Looking for a Mortgage Broker? alcove.com.au
• Work with Chris: [email protected] 

Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word, and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!

• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

See you on the inside,

Veronica & Chris

Australia’s housing crisis isn’t just a social problem — it’s an economic one.

In this episode, Robert Pradolin, founder of Housing All Australians, argues that secure, affordable housing must be treated as essential infrastructure for the nation’s prosperity. With over 40 years in residential development, Robert brings both insider knowledge and bold solutions to a system that has been failing for decades.

We dig into how the private sector can mobilise unused buildings as “pop-up shelters,” why compassionate capitalism is redefining the role of developers, and how innovative construction methods like lightweight timber can cut costs and carbon emissions. Robert also lays out the staggering numbers behind the crisis: a $290 billion shortfall in social and affordable housing, and the economic risks of inaction — including the threat of civil unrest.

The conversation challenges the myth that profit and purpose are mutually exclusive, showing instead how private capital, community land, and government policy could combine to unlock large-scale solutions. We also explore global models like inclusionary zoning, what Australia can learn from them, and the need for a national pipeline of prefabricated housing.

If you’ve ever wondered why governments keep stalling, what’s holding back institutional investment, and what it will really take to solve this crisis, this episode is essential listening. The message is clear: housing for all isn’t optional — it’s the foundation of a stable, productive, and fair society.

00:00 – Introduction

01:51 – The Journey and Motivation Behind Housing All Australians

03:04 – Compassionate Capitalism and Private Sector Involvement

04:10 – Strategies and Initiatives for Affordable Housing

05:52 – Success Stories and Case Studies

09:51 – Challenges and Economic Imperatives

21:23 – Comparing Global Approaches to Affordable Housing

26:21 – Innovative Construction Techniques and The Green Project

27:57 – The Cost of Urban Growth and Housing Diversity

28:51 – Timber Construction and Its Benefits

30:43 – Innovations in Construction Techniques

33:15 – The Role of Government and Private Sector in Housing

35:18 – Addressing Homelessness and Housing Affordability

37:30 – Unlocking Empty Bedrooms for Key Workers

43:11 – Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Robert Pradolin is the founder of Housing All Australians, a national for-purpose organisation working to harness the resources of the private sector to deliver housing solutions for vulnerable Australians. With a 40-year career spanning greenfield subdivisions to high-rise towers, Robert has held senior roles in some of the country’s largest property companies.

His journey from mainstream development to housing advocacy was sparked by a confronting realisation: while the industry was serving those who could afford it, government had abandoned its responsibility to house society’s most vulnerable. Since then, Robert has become one of the most vocal advocates for treating housing as essential economic infrastructure, not just social welfare.

Through Housing All Australians, he has spearheaded projects repurposing vacant buildings into temporary shelter, advanced economic research on the cost-benefit of social housing, and promoted innovative construction methods to reduce costs and emissions. His vision of “compassionate capitalism” challenges the perception of developers as greedy profiteers and instead calls for a business-led response to one of Australia’s most urgent crises.

• Website: https://housingallaustralians.org.au/about-us/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-pradolin/

• Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
• If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:
• The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - [email protected]
• Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
• Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
• Looking for a Mortgage Broker? alcove.com.au
• Work with Chris: [email protected] 

Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word, and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!

• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

See you on the inside,

Veronica & Chris

NIMBY vs YIMBY? Is saying “no” to change protecting community character — or blocking the homes our cities desperately need?

In this episode, we sit down with Jonathan O’Brien, lead organizer of YIMBY Melbourne, to unpack what’s at stake when communities resist — or embrace — change.

We dig into whether opposing development is simply selfish or a legitimate defense of lifestyle and character, and whether YIMBY optimism sometimes overlooks practical realities. From heritage streetscapes and leafy suburbs to missing-middle density and downsizer demand, this is a frank look at the trade-offs that come with growth.

Jonathan also explores the politics of planning: why local councils resist, why states override, and why those locked out of housing are the most under-represented stakeholders in the debate. We tackle sensitive questions about fairness: who pays when new homes aren’t built, and who loses when change does come?

If you’ve ever wondered why housing reform feels so stuck, and why both sides of the NIMBY/YIMBY divide can be right and wrong at the same time, this episode will challenge assumptions and reframe the conversation.

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Welcome

01:14 – Jonathan O'Brien's and YIMBY Melbourne

01:48 – Progress and Challenges in Melbourne's Housing Policy

03:21 – Success Stories and Comparisons with Sydney

04:44 – Docklands: A Controversial Development

07:39 – The Missing Middle and Medium Density Housing

22:06 – Balancing Heritage and Development

28:39 – Planning Regulation Challenges

30:01 – Developer Strategies and Urban Planning

31:39 – Heritage and Housing Density

32:47 – Quality Concerns in New Developments

35:07 – Zoning and Urban Planning Dynamics

38:27 – Economic and Social Impacts of Rezoning

41:53 – Balancing Development and Community Needs

50:13 – State vs. Local Control in Urban Planning

52:05 – Conclusion and Final Thoughts

About the Guest

Jonathan O’Brien is the lead organizer of YIMBY Melbourne, an advocate for smarter housing policy, and an award-winning writer and publisher. A passionate voice for effective altruism and urban reform, he works to shift the conversation around density, planning, and affordability toward more equitable outcomes.

With a background in community organizing and a commitment to evidence-based change, Jonathan brings both sharp analysis and lived experience to the often polarizing debate between NIMBYs and YIMBYs. His mission: to help shape cities that are inclusive, adaptable, and built for the next generation.

Connect with Jonathan

• Website: https://jonobri.com/
• YIMBY Melbourne website: https://www.yimby.melbourne/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonobridotcom/
• X: https://x.com/jonobri
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonobri/

Resources

• Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
• If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:
• The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - [email protected]


• Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
• Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
• Looking for a Mortgage Broker? alcove.com.au
• Work with Chris: [email protected] 

Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word, and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!

• Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719
• Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

See you on the inside,

Veronica & Chris

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