This week we sat down with friend of the pod Emma to discuss how 548,000 arrivals in the 12 months to September 2023 is affecting the property and rental markets, sending vacancy rates to record lows, and property prices to record highs. But it's not all about new arrivals - a lot of this was seeded during the pandemic!

This week Dom and Haz spoke with Peter Munckton, fresh after the March RBA decision to hold the cash rate, on what's going on at the central bank and why the 'last mile' inflation fight isn't over.

Plus we spoke with resident finance journalist Brooke Cooper on one glaring issue with the government's help to buy scheme, plus all the latest news.

00:00 – 02:12 – Intro

02:12 – 05:07 – WA $250 handout

05:07 -  11:05 - New report on mortgage struggles

11:05 – 14:05 - Cheaper homes increasing In value fastest, Perth leading the way

14:05 – 24:07 -  Brooke Cooper on Help to Buy

24:07 – 37:56 – Peter Munckton BOQ

37:56 – 39:15 – Outro

Unsurprisingly, the RBA in March elected to keep the cash rate on hold. Here to discuss the ins and outs and the whys and hows is Peter Munckton, the chief economist at Bank of Queensland. Good chat!

The government's Help to Buy scheme, which provides up to 40% of the home's value for first home buyers, looks like a clear winner. However - on top of philosophical debates about government intervention - there's one glaring issue our finance journalist Brooke Cooper has pointed out: income caps. They have the potential of keeping you in a low income trap, otherwise the government could withdraw its support because you got a pay rise!

This week, with Haz back in the hotseat with Dom, we were joined by Anthony to talk about the latest developments in the life insurance space, including some of NobleOak's latest survey findings. The insurer found some interesting trend changes since Covid!

Plus we were joined by Emma Duffy, who you all know by now, to discuss the latest movements in the property investment sector.

And all the latest titillating news.

00:00 – 02:38: Intro

02:38 – 06:05: Bankwest closing all branches

06:05 – 11:02: Some milquetoast GDP figures

11:02 – 13:44: Tariffs on certain imports cut

13:44 – 19:49: Investor lending up, with Emma Duffy

19:49 – 29:34: New life insurance findings, with Anthony Brown

29:34 – 31:38: Outro

This week Emma ran us through some ABS figures that indicated investors could be coming back into the market, or at least taking out more home loans. This goes against the grain of rental reforms and taxes supposedly scaring them off.

This week, with Haz back in the hotseat with Dom, we were joined by Anthony to talk about the latest developments in the life insurance space, including some of NobleOak's latest survey findings. The insurer found some interest trend changes since Covid!

Mortgage broker and finance educator Max Phelps joins Dom and Em to chat about his recently published book - Spending Fast and Slow. If you've ever wondered how all your hard-earned money seems to disappear so quickly, this episode is for you.

Savings journalist Denise Raward joins Dom and Em for part two of their discussion on the rental crisis after new figures revealed the national rental vacancy hit another new low of 0.7%.

This week, Dom and Em spoke with Max Phelps, who dives deep into the strategies he outlines in his book "Spending Fast and Slow", including how to overcome spending challenges and build better financial habits.

Next, we're joined by Savings journalist Denise Raward for part two of our discussion of the rental crisis after new figures revealed vacancy figures have hit another depressing new low.

Plus, all the latest finance and property news.