The Property Couch

Ben Kingsley sits down with Senator Andrew Bragg, Liberal Senator and Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness, for a wide-ranging conversation on the future of housing, tax reform, productivity and Australia’s economic direction.

In this special interview, they unpack the proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, the growing challenge of housing affordability, construction bottlenecks, energy policy, lending restrictions and what all of this could mean for everyday Australians trying to build wealth through property.

They also explore whether Australia’s housing crisis is really a supply issue, how productivity and red tape are impacting new home construction, and why borrowing capacity rules may be creating unintended consequences across the property market. 

Plus, Ben asks the big question many investors are wondering right now:
 Will the proposed tax reforms actually improve affordability… or could they create a two-tier property market? 

If you want a deeper understanding of the policy debate shaping Australia’s property market, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 

Free Stuff Mentioned

Register for our upcoming webinar: Property Prices After Tax Reform: Fact vs Fiction 👇

https://thepropertycouch.com.au/registernow

 Timestamps 

• 00:00 – Introducing Senator Andrew Bragg
• 00:59 – Early life, money lessons and investing
• 03:30 – What Did the Budget Get Right?
• 04:16 – Shovel-ready housing and infrastructure
• 05:19 – Housing supply, migration and skills shortages
• 06:45 – Redistribution vs aspiration
• 08:31 – Productivity and building more homes
• 11:15 – Could a Simpler Building Code Help Build More Homes?
• 13:52 – Modular homes, tiny homes and cheaper builds
• 16:10 – Will banks finance alternative housing?
• 17:58 – Lending rules, APRA and borrowing capacity
• 18:31 – Investors competing with first home buyers
• 22:20 – How Do We Fix Australia’s Energy Problem?
• 25:09 – AI, data centres and economic growth
• 26:46 – Negative gearing and CGT changes
• 28:38 – Will the reforms help first home buyers?
• 30:40 – Could this create a two-tier property market?
• 31:04 – Housing fairness or revenue raising?
• 33:20 – Negative gearing as a “moment in time”
• 34:14 – Who really gets locked out?
• 36:19 – Capital gains tax and younger Australians
• 39:55 – Quick-fire housing questions
• 40:50 – One housing reform to pass immediately
• 42:06 – Ben’s final reflections
• 43:45 – Upcoming webinar: Property Prices After Tax Reform

LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
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In this Friday Fundamentals episode, Ben is joined by Evan Lucas to unpack a bold policy idea for first home buyers.

Evan’s hill to die on?

Australia should use a super-like system to help people save for their first home deposit.

Instead of relying on grants, 5% deposit schemes, or capped first home buyer programmes, he argues that the super infrastructure already exists and could be used much more effectively to help people build real deposit savings from the moment they enter the workforce.

The conversation explores how the model could work, why saving a deposit remains one of the biggest barriers to home ownership, and the pros and cons of linking long-term retirement savings with first home access.

It’s a big idea — and one that’s guaranteed to spark opinions.

What do you think? Got your own hill to die on? Send it through here: https://thepropertycouch.com.au/topics/

LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
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The 2026 Federal Budget just changed the property landscape... and not in the ways most people expected.

Recorded the day after the announcement, this special emergency episode brings Bryce back to the couch with Ben for an unfiltered, fast-thinking breakdown of what actually happened and what it means for property investors.

Negative gearing has changed. CGT treatment has shifted. Regional markets are exposed. And as Bryce puts it: "Location now does 90% of the heavy lifting."

In this episode, they unpack:

• The unintended consequences already taking shape
• What these changes actually mean for investors (beyond the headlines)
• Whether affordability for first-home buyers will genuinely improve
• Why rents could rise further (not fall)
• Which markets are most at risk right now
• And the clear-headed question every investor should be asking: what do I do next?

This is just the start of our Budget analysis. Deeper economic unpacking is coming in future episodes but if you want to understand the lay of the land before the dust settles, start here.

FREE STUFF MENTIONED

• (FREE WEBINAR) Property Prices After Tax Reform: Fact vs Fiction
  The Federal Budget has landed… and with it, major changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, but what does this actually mean for property investors? In this LIVE webinar, Ben uncovers what this means for property prices, investors, first-home buyers and renters across Australia.
   🗓 Tuesday, 26th May
   ⏰ 7:30pm AEST
  👉 Register Free Here
  
  
• How To Retire On $3K A Week 📘
  The evergreen investing framework Ben & Bryce reference throughout this episode. Learn the long-term principles behind building financial peace through property and money management.
  👉 Get Your Free Copy Today
  
  

LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
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TPC Gold has a new name… say hello to Throwback Tuesdays 👋

Same timeless property investing insights from the archives, just with a fresh new label. 

In this one, former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss explains why silence creates uncertainty… and uncertainty creates anxiety.

Bryce, Ben and Chris unpack how regular communication builds trust, why even “there’s no update yet” can be reassuring, and how these lessons apply to property, business and everyday negotiations.

For the original episode, tune in here: Episode 457 | FBI Hostage Negotiation Masterclass on Why You Should Never Split the Difference.

LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Youtube

Welcome back to The Hill I’ll Die On, our Friday mini-series where we unpack big questions from the community.

This week, Shane and Luke tackle a topic that sparks plenty of debate:

Is it actually harder for young people to buy property today — and is it someone else’s responsibility to fix it?

They explore the gap between income and property prices, the impact of changing economic conditions, and why expectations around first home ownership may need to shift.

At the same time, they discuss the importance of starting somewhere, making compromises, and focusing on what’s achievable rather than ideal.

It’s a balanced, honest conversation that cuts through the noise and gets to the heart of what matters for first home buyers today.

Content mentioned in this episode here 👉 593 | How to Buy a Home (The Right Way) - Part 1

Got a question or a “hill” you want us to unpack? Send it through here 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/topics/

LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Youtube

What if the biggest property mistake isn’t what you buy… but what you do next?

In our latest Q&A episode, Ben K is joined by Couch Crew Polly & Ben T (Fellow QPIAs) to unpack three real investor dilemmas that don’t have easy answers:

🏡 A regional property surges 60%… do you cash out or stay in?
💰 Sell an investment to eliminate your home loan… or keep building wealth?
👯 Combine forces to buy better… or go solo and keep control? 

This episode breaks down:

• The difference between market value vs fair value
• Why timing matters more in regional markets
• The hidden costs most investors overlook (insurance, tax, friction)
• And the question that matters most:
• What job is this property actually doing for you?

Because in the end… The best decision isn’t the one that looks smartest on paper, it’s the one that aligns with your life. Listen now!

P.S. 🚨 Bryce is BACK next week!
The Federal Budget is dropping… and Ben & Bryce will be back on the couch together for a special edition episode to unpack the BIG changes impacting property owners, investors and your money. 💥

FREE STUFF MENTIONED

• 💸 Mortgage Hacks Video Series
  Cashflow feeling tight? Ben's got 6 short videos packed with practical mortgage hacks that could put hundreds of dollars back in your pocket every month. 👉 Listen now! 
• 📱 The Moorr App: Free to Download
  We're closing in on 100,000 downloads and we're now the #1 rated money management & budgeting app on iOS.  Asset tracking, automated transactions, property research; and did we mention it's free?
  👉 Harness the latest money management tools and systems
• 🎙️ Regional Property Webinar.
  We've got a follow-up webinar dropping post-Federal Budget. Watch this space...

LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
- Instagram
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- Youtube

The RBA just hiked again... and this time it wasn't even close. Eight members voted to raise the cash rate to 4.35%. Only one dissented. 

Ben Kingsley and economist Evan Lucas break down what the 8-1 vote really signals, why the RBA's own forecasts should worry you, and what Ben means when he says "winter is coming for the Australian economy." 

💡 Thinking about refinancing or adjusting your loan strategy? Let our team help you review your options. 

LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Youtube

What if one simple move could put an extra $662 back in your pocket every month… and potentially boost your borrowing power by up to $100,000?

In this Friday Fundamentals episode of The Property Couch, Ben Kingsley sits down with tax specialist Danish Ahmed to unpack a time-sensitive HECS/HELP strategy that many Australians don’t even realise exists.

With indexation approaching on June 1, this episode walks through a real-life scenario showing how paying down your HECS debt early could help you avoid extra charges, unlock a tax refund, improve your monthly cash flow, and significantly increase your borrowing capacity if you’re planning to buy property.

But timing is everything — and missing this window could mean leaving money on the table.

If you’ve got a HECS or HELP debt, this is one episode you don’t want to scroll past.

Want us to cover your scenario? Submit your question here: https://thepropertycouch.com.au/topics/

⏱️TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – The $662/month HECS hack explained
00:28 – Why this strategy is time-sensitive
00:56 – Real example: $120K income + HECS debt
02:51 – How indexation impacts your debt
04:09 – Unlocking $662 in monthly cash flow
05:00 – Boosting borrowing power by $80K–$100K
06:08 – Why you must act before June 1
07:39 – Key takeaways and next steps

#ThePropertyCouch #HECS #HELPDebt #BorrowingPower #PropertyInvesting #MoneyManagement #PersonalFinance #AussieProperty

LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Youtube

A $700 inspection could save you $70,000.

In Part 2 of our How to Buy a Home series, Ben is joined by leading building inspectors Paul Baker and Miles Clark to unpack one of the most overlooked and financially risky parts of buying property: building and pest inspections.

You’ll learn:

✔️ What a good inspection should (and shouldn’t) cover
✔️ How to interpret “major defects” without panicking
✔️ The red flags inspectors look for in older homes
✔️ How to choose the right inspector (and avoid costly mistakes)
✔️ Why Victoria’s proposed pre-purchase inspection reforms could have unintended consequences for buyers=

Plus, we unpack a controversial proposal that could make vendor-supplied building reports mandatory… and why many in the industry are sounding the alarm.

🎧 Listen now.

FREE STUFF MENTIONED

• Catch Up On Part 1 of the Buying a Home Series 🎧
  Missed Episode 593 on borrowing, search strategy and buying decisions? Start there.
• Victorian Petition on Rental Reform ✍ (CLOSES 1 MAY)
  Support the petition discussed in the episode: 
  • Victorian Parliament Petition (VIC residents only)
  • Change.org Petition (open to all)
• Find a Qualified Building Inspector 🔍
  Learn more about credentials and due diligence through the Victorian Association of Home Inspectors and trusted inspection providers.
•  Find out more about Paul & Myles: 
  • 👉 Inside Out Property Inspections (Paul Baker)
  • 👉 Aus Property Reports (Myles Clark)
• Read the REIV's "A Blueprint for Marketing of Residential Real Estate in Victoria” (what kickstarted Victoria’s new inspection proposal) 

LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Youtube

🔥 THE HILL I’LL DIE ON 🔥 

Welcome back to The Hill I’ll Die On, our Friday mini-series where industry experts share the one belief they stand firmly behind.

This week, Ben is joined by Nerida Conisbee, Chief Economist at Ray White, to unpack a key issue in today’s housing debate:

Investors provide rental housing.

Nerida explains why this often-overlooked reality plays a critical role in the property market — and what happens when investor participation declines.

The conversation explores rental supply, affordability pressures, policy impacts, and the importance of maintaining a steady pipeline of rental accommodation.

If you’re trying to make sense of rising rents and the broader housing conversation, this episode provides valuable context.

Got a question or a “hill” you want us to unpack? Send it through here 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/topics/

LISTEN TO THE FIRST 20 EPISODES HERE >>

MOORR MONEY MANAGEMENT APP:
👉 Apple: https://apple.co/3ioICGW
👉 Google Play: https://bit.ly/3OT86bW
👉 Web platform:  https://www.moorr.com.au/     

FREE MASTERCLASS:
- How to Build a Property Portfolio and Retire on $2,000 a week >>

FREE BEST-SELLING BOOKS:
- The Armchair Guide to Property Investing
- Make Money Simple Again

FIND US HERE:
- Website
- Instagram
- Facebook
- Youtube