Year
2023 Articles
104 property investment articles published by PremiumRea in 2023. Melbourne market analysis, suburb deep-dives, and case studies.
- 28 December 202311 min read·Investment Strategy
Two Free Websites That Show You Which Australian Suburbs Are Actually Affordable
A $500,000 house is not necessarily more affordable than an $800,000 house. I know that sounds like something a salesperson would say to justify a higher price. It is not. It is a mathematical fact, a
- 25 December 202314 min read·Finance & Tax
10 Money Truths Nobody in Australian Property Will Tell You
Put down every property podcast and guru prediction for five minutes. These are the 10 rules our team extracted from over 350 real transactions worth nine figures across Melbourne. Most of them will m
- 21 December 202311 min read·Suburb Analysis
You Are 100 Offers Away from Becoming a Negotiation Expert. Here Is the Roadmap.
I have submitted over one thousand offers on residential property. Not hypothetical offers. Real numbers, attached to real contracts, sent to real agents who sometimes laughed and sometimes called bac
- 18 December 202311 min read·Guides
The Investment Four Quadrants — Why Going Against the Crowd Actually Works in Property
Most Chinese-Australian buyers pile into the same suburbs everyone else targets. The four-quadrant framework from Ray Dalio's Principles explains exactly why that strategy caps your returns — and what
- 14 December 202311 min read·Renovation & Development
Australia Spent $80 Billion on Housing. Zero New Homes Were Built.
The federal government committed $80 billion to fix the housing crisis. Senate records show zero new dwellings were constructed. Here is what the numbers actually reveal and why demand-side property f
- 11 December 202310 min read·Property Management
Why Working Harder Won't Make You Richer: A Property Investor's Guide to Mental Energy
I used to think the gap between successful investors and everyone else was work ethic. After managing 350-plus properties and watching hundreds of clients build portfolios, I can tell you it is not ab
- 7 December 202313 min read·Market Analysis
Why the Smartest Property Investors in Australia Never Repay Their Mortgage
A 30-year-old client walked into our office with 15 properties, $10M in mortgage debt, and zero intention of ever repaying a single dollar of principal. He wasn't reckless. He was doing the maths corr
- 4 December 202312 min read·Scam / Warning
The Six-Year CGT Rule: I Found the ATO Bug That Lets You Pay Zero Capital Gains Tax (And Three Traps That Kill It)
In Australia, the amount your property grows in value matters far less than how much of that growth you actually keep after tax. The six-year rule is the single most powerful tax exemption available t
- 30 November 202312 min read·Investment Strategy
Why Business Owners Are Actually Poor — and How Property Assets Change Everything
You might turn over $2M a year and still be poor. The distinction between active income and passive assets is the single biggest blind spot for successful entrepreneurs — and property is the vehicle t
- 27 November 202312 min read·Finance & Tax
She Knew Nothing About Property. Her House Grew 25% in One Year.
Our most inexperienced client bought a corner-block weatherboard with structural issues for $625,000. Twelve months later, RPData valued it at $780,000. Sometimes knowing less means buying better.
- 23 November 20239 min read·Suburb Analysis
6,500 Jobs Cut Every Day. Your Name Might Already Be on the List.
Two months into 2021 and over 400,000 workers globally have been made redundant. That is 6,557 people every single day receiving that email. If you think your job is safe, I have some uncomfortable da
- 20 November 202312 min read·Guides
Crime Rates and Property Investment: What Actually Matters and What Doesn't
A suburb with 500 total crimes might be safer for your investment than one with 100 — it depends entirely on which crimes. Most investors compare headline numbers and draw the wrong conclusion. Here's
- 16 November 202311 min read·Renovation & Development
Australia Spends $527 Billion on NDIS. I Turned Down Every SDA Housing Deal That Came My Way. Here Is Why.
Every month, someone slides into my inbox pitching NDIS disability housing as the next goldmine. Eight to fifteen percent returns. Government-guaranteed rent. Recession-proof income. I have said no to
- 13 November 202311 min read·Property Management
Six Ways to Turn Your Owner-Occupied Home into an Investment That Pays You Back
Housing is most people's single largest expense. But your home doesn't have to be a dead asset sitting there costing you money every month. Here are six proven methods to make your property work for y
- 9 November 202310 min read·Market Analysis
Four Things Selling Agents Say That Should Make You Walk Away
Selling agents are professionally trained to extract the highest possible price from buyers. After 350-plus transactions on the buying side, I have catalogued the four phrases that consistently signal
- 6 November 202313 min read·Investment Strategy
Tasmania Property Is Speculation, Not Investment. Here's the Difference.
Everyone who made money in Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide is now pointing at Tasmania and saying 'I told you so.' But most of them couldn't distinguish investment from speculation if you drew them a di
- 2 November 202311 min read·Finance & Tax
An $800K House Renting for $1,200 a Week. I Walked Through It. Here Are the Real Numbers.
I bought over 150 properties. But this one — this particular conversion in Narre Warren — is the deal I keep coming back to. Because it answers the question I get asked more than any other: can you ac
- 30 October 202310 min read·Suburb Analysis
Melbourne Tipped to Lead the 2026 Property Boom — What the KPMG Report Actually Means
KPMG named Melbourne as Australia's top-performing capital for 2026, with house prices expected to rise 6.6%. But the growth won't be evenly distributed. Here's where the gains will actually land.
- 26 October 202310 min read·Guides
Social Media Is Destroying the Logic of Street-Front Retail. Here Is What That Means for Investors.
The traditional logic of commercial retail property, pay more for higher foot traffic, is being dismantled by social media. When a single influencer post can fill a restaurant for twelve months, the p
- 23 October 20239 min read·Renovation & Development
The 30-30-30 Formula That Stops Home Upgrades From Destroying Your Finances
Are you considering upgrading your family home for the school zone, the extra bedroom, or just because you have outgrown the current place? Before you sign anything, I need to share a formula that has
- 19 October 202312 min read·Property Management
Canada's Housing Market Collapsed. Here's Why Australia Won't Follow.
Same immigration obsession. Same property-dependent economy. Same declining productivity. So why did Canada's housing market implode while Australia's kept climbing? Four structural differences that m
- 16 October 202310 min read·Market Analysis
Our AI Found a $100K Undervalued Property in One Hour. It Took Me Three Days to Believe It.
I have been buying property professionally for years. I have built my career on knowing Melbourne's streets better than Google Maps. And last month, a piece of software found a deal in sixty minutes t
- 12 October 202310 min read·Scam / Warning
Stop Obsessing Over Online Property Valuations — They're Making You Worse at Investing
I've watched clients refresh Domain and CoreLogic valuations daily like checking a stock ticker. The emotional rollercoaster is real — and it's making them worse investors. Here's why those numbers ar
- 9 October 202311 min read·Investment Strategy
The Impossible Triangle of Property Management: Why Your PM Is Failing You
The Australian property management industry is structurally broken. When one manager oversees 170 properties, something has to give: speed, quality, or cost. Most agencies sacrifice all three. Here is
- 5 October 20239 min read·Finance & Tax
Melbourne Property Taxes and Legal Requirements: What Every Investor Must Know Before Settlement
Let me clear something up straight away. Melbourne's land tax is not the highest in Australia, regardless of which bracket you fall into. That narrative is pure media spin. Here is what the actual num
- 2 October 202311 min read·Suburb Analysis
Stop Converting Your Home into an Investment Property. Sell It Instead.
You know why some people on average salaries own five properties while high-income earners get rejected for their second? Because high-income earners keep converting their home into an investment prop
- 28 September 202310 min read·Guides
Australia Has a Financial Kill Line. It Does Not Target the Poor. It Targets These Two Groups.
Australia's financial system is not designed to make you wealthy. It is designed to filter out people who cannot control their spending. The kill line does not come for the poorest Australians — they
- 25 September 202310 min read·Renovation & Development
Three Counter-Moves When a Real Estate Agent Says 'Someone Offered More'
The agent calls. 'We've got a higher offer — can you increase yours?' That single sentence has cost Australian buyers millions in overpayment. Here are three counter-moves I've refined across hundreds
- 21 September 202310 min read·Property Management
I Used AI to Merge 10 Government Databases Into One Property Risk Map. Here Is What I Found.
Australian government databases contain every risk that could affect your property purchase: flood zones, bushfire overlays, high-voltage lines, heritage restrictions. The problem is they are scattere
- 18 September 20239 min read·Market Analysis
The Free REA Feature That Lets You Monitor Every Property on Your Street
Whether you own property in Australia or not, there is a free feature inside the REA app that most people have never heard of. It will alert you the moment a property on your street — or any street yo
- 14 September 202312 min read·Scam / Warning
7 First Home Buyer Mistakes That Cost Melburnians $50,000+ (I've Seen Every One)
I've watched first-home buyers lose $50,000 or more through entirely preventable mistakes. Missing the stamp duty exemption threshold by $10K. Skipping building inspections to save $600. Signing contr
- 11 September 202311 min read·Investment Strategy
How I Helped a Couple Earning $120K Buy Three Investment Houses in Two Years (Same Deposit, Three Times)
The question I get asked most is not about which suburb to buy in. It is this: how do other people your age already own three or four properties when I am still saving for my first? Today I am going t
- 7 September 202310 min read·Finance & Tax
The One Interview Follow-Up That Guarantees You the Offer — and What It Teaches About Property Negotiation
I've interviewed over 500 people in my career. Exactly one person did the follow-up I'm about to describe. They got the job immediately. The same principle applies to every property negotiation I've e
- 4 September 202311 min read·Suburb Analysis
AI Can Be Tricked Into Recommending Bad Suburbs. Here Is How the Scam Works.
China's 315 consumer protection investigation exposed how AI training data can be deliberately poisoned. As an IT professional turned buyer's agent, I recognised immediately how the same technique cou
- 31 August 202310 min read·Guides
We Bought 131 Houses This Year. Here Is Exactly How They Performed.
At the start of 2020, I was the first person publicly saying to go all-in on Melbourne. Twelve months later, it is time to open the books. 131 houses purchased, all on 500-plus square metres of land,
- 28 August 202311 min read·Renovation & Development
When to Sell Your Investment Property: The One Rule I Actually Follow
People ask me all the time whether they should sell after prices go up 30%. Others want to know if they should cut losses. Both questions miss the point entirely.
- 24 August 202312 min read·Renovation & Development
Mining Town Property: 12% Yield, 66% Price Crash. Choose Wisely.
Port Hedland: $900-$1,200 per week rent on a $500K house. Sounds like a dream. Until you realise the same houses sold for $1.5M in 2012 and lost two-thirds of their value in three years. Mining town p
- 21 August 202312 min read·Property Management
My House Doubled in Value. My Neighbour's Didn't. Here's Why.
Picking the right city and the right suburb is only half the battle. Two houses 200 metres apart can deliver wildly different returns over a decade — and the reasons are invisible to untrained eyes.
- 17 August 202310 min read·Property Management
The Fastest Way to Make Money in Property Is Not Learning. It Is Copying.
Somewhere in Melbourne right now, there is a property investor making $1,300 a week in rent from a single site. And somewhere else, there is a first-timer watching their fourteenth YouTube video about
- 14 August 202311 min read·Market Analysis
Two Hidden Bombs That Will Reshape Australian Property — Construction Costs and Tax Reform
High interest rates aren't the worst thing facing Australian property. Two hidden bombs — runaway construction costs and looming tax reform — are compounding to create a supply crisis that will lock i
- 10 August 202311 min read·Market Analysis
I'm Middle Class in Australia. Apparently That Makes Me an Idiot.
Everywhere I look online, someone's mocking the middle class for wanting a better life. Upgrade your house? Irresponsible. Partner stays home? Reckless. Private school? You deserve what's coming. Sinc
- 7 August 202311 min read·Scam / Warning
The Refinance Trick That Property Investors Use to Never Save Another Deposit
Have you ever wondered how some people keep buying properties one after another while you're still scraping together your next deposit? The answer sits in a contradiction between how the tax office an
- 3 August 202311 min read·Scam / Warning
My Entire Investment Philosophy Is Two Words: Never Sell.
My investment philosophy comes down to two words: never sell. It sounds absurd until you understand compound growth, equity extraction, and capital gains tax avoidance. After years of practice, I can
- 31 July 20239 min read·Investment Strategy
Three Property Decisions That Turn Smart People Into Financial Labourers
I have watched hundreds of intelligent, hardworking people make three specific property decisions that condemned them to decades of unnecessary financial struggle. Every single one of these mistakes i
- 27 July 202311 min read·Investment Strategy
The Australian Prime Minister Just Sold His Investment Property. Should You Panic?
Politicians selling property at a loss. Li Ka-shing exiting markets years before crashes. When the people with the best information start selling, the rest of us should pay attention — but not necessa
- 24 July 202311 min read·Finance & Tax
A9 Assets but Can't Afford Dinner: The Property Investor's Cash Flow Problem
Some investors own properties worth millions and still stress about restaurant bills. If you can't eat capital growth, what's the point of having it? The answer changes how you should think about buil
- 20 July 202311 min read·Finance & Tax
How AI Is Changing Property Search in Australia (And What It Still Can't Do)
AI can now analyse a suburb faster than any human buyer's agent. It can pull crime data, rental yields, infrastructure timelines, and school rankings in seconds. But it still can't walk through a hous
- 17 July 202311 min read·Suburb Analysis
The Mistakes 99% of Property Investors Make (And How to Buy at Genuine Depth)
Most property investors buy at market price, skip the exit plan, and then try to renovate the property themselves over eight months. Every one of those decisions costs them real money. Here's the play
- 13 July 202310 min read·Suburb Analysis
APRA Just Capped Lending at 6x Your Income. Last Time This Happened, Property Dropped 15%.
Pay attention to what is happening with Australian lending rules right now, because the last time a regulator tightened mortgage restrictions like this, we saw the biggest property price correction in
- 10 July 202311 min read·Guides
Two Types of People Who Should Genuinely Never Buy Investment Property
I'm not going to sugarcoat this. Some personality types are genuinely incompatible with property investing. If either of these descriptions sounds like you, please read carefully before committing to
- 6 July 202311 min read·Guides
How to Buy Commercial Property in Australia — The Complete Process in Plain English
Commercial property isn't just retail shopfronts. It's warehouses, offices, medical suites, childcare centres, aged care facilities — anything that hosts a business and generates rental income. Here's
- 3 July 202310 min read·Renovation & Development
The Six-Year Tax Clock Hidden Inside Your Home. Most Owners Have No Idea It Exists.
There is a rule in Australian tax law that can save property owners hundreds of thousands of dollars. The six-year CGT exemption lets you rent out your former home while keeping your main residence ex
- 29 June 202311 min read·Renovation & Development
Why Your First Property Strategy Will Destroy Your Fifth
You bought your first property through hustle, courage, and maybe some lucky timing. Congrats. Now please stop doing everything the same way, because the approach that worked at zero will kill you at
- 26 June 202310 min read·Property Management
Why I Won't Buy a Low-Lying House Without Crawling Under It First
A property sitting below street level might look private and sheltered. It might also be collecting every drop of water from three neighbouring blocks. Here's how to tell the difference before you han
- 22 June 20239 min read·Property Management
The Three Financial Traps Designed Specifically to Keep Gen Z Broke
Capital used to trap Millennials with mortgages and car loans. The playbook for Gen Z is far more sophisticated. If you have kids born after 2000, or if you are under 25 yourself, these three traps ar
- 19 June 202311 min read·Market Analysis
Three Legitimate Reasons to Sell Your Investment Property (And the Golden Rule Behind All of Them)
Knowing when to buy makes you money. Knowing when to sell keeps it. Here are the only three scenarios where selling your investment property actually makes sense — and the one metric that trumps them
- 15 June 202311 min read·Market Analysis
Why Paying Cash for Investment Property Is the Most Expensive Mistake You Can Make
I have clients who can afford to pay cash for investment property. And I talk every single one of them out of it. Not because borrowing is fun. Because the maths makes paying cash genuinely irrational
- 12 June 202310 min read·Scam / Warning
Victoria Just Updated Its Rental Laws (868 Pages). Here's What Actually Changed.
When I saw the new version of Victoria's rental legislation drop, my heart rate went up. Then my team spent two weeks reading all 868 pages. Turns out — false alarm. But there are things landlords nee
- 8 June 202311 min read·Scam / Warning
Wake Up. If You Are Paying Money to Hold Your Investment Property, You Are Doing It Wrong.
We manage close to two hundred properties in Melbourne. And I can count on one hand the number that require the owner to put money in every month. So when people tell me that subsidising an investment
- 5 June 202311 min read·Investment Strategy
Point Cook Property at $930K: I Ran the Numbers. Here's Why I'd Pass.
A subscriber asked me to analyse a Point Cook property — 620 square metres, four bedrooms, $930K. On the surface, it looks solid. Beneath the surface, the numbers tell a different story.
- 1 June 202311 min read·Investment Strategy
High Net Worth Melbourne Strategy — Why Spreading Across Mid-Tier Suburbs Beats One Trophy Property
Wealthy buyers default to one expensive property in a premium suburb. The data shows the opposite strategy — two or three mid-tier properties, renovated for maximum yield — beats the trophy approach o
- 29 May 202310 min read·Finance & Tax
Trump's Tariffs and Australian Property: Why I'm Not Losing Sleep (And Neither Should You)
Every time Trump tweets about tariffs, my inbox fills up with panicked clients asking if property prices are about to crash. The short answer: no. The long answer involves some maths that most comment
- 25 May 202311 min read·Finance & Tax
I Earned $300K in Passive Income Last Year. Here Are the Bank Screenshots.
I pulled up my bank statements and recorded the screen. $300,000 in passive rental income last year. No tricks, no cherry-picking. Here is exactly how the portfolio works and what it costs to maintain
- 22 May 202311 min read·Suburb Analysis
Your Parents' House Is Killing Your Future (And It's Not Their Fault)
The generation that bought houses for $40K now sits on $2 million of property wealth. Most of it won't reach the next generation. If you're waiting for an inheritance to fund your property journey, yo
- 18 May 202311 min read·Guides
We Bought 100 Properties in Melbourne This Year. These Three Rules Made Them All Profitable.
A hundred properties in twelve months. Not one was negatively geared. Not one was in Sydney or Brisbane. Every single one was in Melbourne — and every single one was cash flow positive from the first
- 15 May 202312 min read·Guides
5 High Cash Flow Property Types in Melbourne, Ranked by a Team That's Done All of Them
Melbourne, 600sqm house, 6.3% rental yield. We did it. Repeatedly. Here are the five property types that generate positive cash flow in Melbourne, ranked by the team that's actually executed every sin
- 11 May 202311 min read·Renovation & Development
Corio Property at $580K (13% Over Guide): I'd Still Buy It. Here's Why.
A subscriber asked about a Corio property that sold $130K over the guide. My initial reaction was 'overpaid.' Then I ran the numbers. The land ratio, the vacancy, and the coastal Airbnb angle changed
- 8 May 202310 min read·Renovation & Development
I Would Bet $50,000 That Australian Property Will Crash. And That Bet Would Make Me Rich.
Every property investor I know believes Australian real estate will keep going up. Most of them are probably right — for now. But the ones who survive the eventual crash will not be the optimists. The
- 4 May 202310 min read·Property Management
What My 30-Year-Old Self Would Tell My 20-Year-Old Self About Money, Career, and Property
At 20, I thought hustle was the answer to everything. At 30, I realised that three or four decisions — not 10,000 hours of grinding — determined my entire trajectory. Here's what I wish I'd known soon
- 1 May 202310 min read·Property Management
Skip the Listing Sites. Contact Agents Directly. Here's How Off-Market Deals Actually Happen.
The best investment properties don't have glossy photos on Domain. They don't have Saturday open inspections. They sell quietly, quickly, and at prices that make you wonder what everyone else is doing
- 27 April 202311 min read·Market Analysis
The Property Kill Line: What Happens When Prices Drop 20%. Two Australian Cities Found Out.
When property prices drop 20 per cent from their peak, most leveraged investors lose their entire equity buffer. I call it the kill line. Two Australian cities have crossed it. Here is what the data r
- 24 April 202311 min read·Market Analysis
Over 100 Five-Star Reviews Later, Here's Exactly What We Do Differently
People keep asking what makes our buyer's agency different. After helping 350+ clients build property portfolios across Melbourne, I figured it was time to write it all down in one place. No fluff. Ju
- 20 April 202311 min read·Scam / Warning
The Off-Market Property Trick That Agents Don't Want You to Know
Everyone talks about off-market properties like they're some exclusive club. They're not. There's a free website that lets you find the top-selling agents in any suburb and contact them directly. I'll
- 17 April 20239 min read·Scam / Warning
My Clients Average 15.7% Annual Growth. Ask Your Buyer's Agent for Their Number.
My last video reached nearly 20,000 views. Today I am sharing something even more uncomfortable for the industry: the actual performance data behind our 200-plus client acquisitions in Melbourne. Aver
- 13 April 202311 min read·Investment Strategy
Tasmania's Houses Grew Less Than Melbourne's Apartments. Yes, Really.
I've been warning people about Melbourne apartments for years. Then I pulled the ten-year data on Tasmania and nearly fell off my chair. The houses — not units, not apartments, houses — in Tasmania gr
- 10 April 202311 min read·Investment Strategy
I Left a $300K Actuary Career for Property. Here's the Maths Behind That 'Crazy' Decision.
Everyone said I was mad. A qualified actuary with a clear path to $300K per year, walking away to become a buyer's agent with no base salary and no guaranteed income. But I'd read Taleb, I'd run the p
- 6 April 202312 min read·Finance & Tax
Buying Five Investment Properties? Here's the Tax Structure That Saves You $200K
Most investors buy their first two properties in personal names without thinking twice. By the time they reach property three, they've locked themselves into a tax structure that will cost them six fi
- 3 April 202310 min read·Finance & Tax
The $18,200 Tax-Free Threshold Has Not Changed in 13 Years. The ATO Is Quietly Destroying the Middle Class.
Let me show you something that should make you angry. Australia's tax-free threshold — the amount you can earn before the government starts taking a cut — has been $18,200 since the 2012-13 financial
- 30 March 202311 min read·Suburb Analysis
Short-Term Rental vs Long-Term Lease in Melbourne — Which Actually Makes More Money?
The Airbnb dream: $350/night, booked solid, money rolling in. The reality: 60% occupancy, $200/turnover cleaning, accelerated wear, council restrictions, and income that swings wildly season to season
- 27 March 202311 min read·Suburb Analysis
A $600K House That Grew $100K in One Year. Here's How I Picked the Suburb.
Not in Perth. Not in Brisbane. In Melbourne. A $600,000 house that gained $100,000 in capital value within twelve months — and rents for $850 per week. I'm going to teach you the exact three-metric fr
- 23 March 202310 min read·Guides
I Was Overthinking Every Decision. One Habit Change Eliminated 99% of It.
I finally figured out why I always felt low on energy. I was thinking too much. Not analysing, just looping. Since I changed one habit, my decision-making speed and quality have transformed. Here is w
- 20 March 202311 min read·Guides
I Started Property Investing at 42. Here's What I'd Tell Every Late Starter.
You've got kids, a mortgage, maybe some super that's not where you'd like it to be. And you're wondering if the property investment train has left the station. It hasn't. But the strategy you need at
- 16 March 202310 min read·Renovation & Development
The Property Market Has a Wind at Its Back. Here's How Long the Window Stays Open.
In business and in property, timing matters. Not in the 'pick the exact bottom' sense — nobody can do that. But in the 'recognise structural tailwinds and ride them hard' sense. Right now, Melbourne's
- 13 March 202310 min read·Renovation & Development
I Turned Down a Beach Holiday Salary at 25. Here Is Why That Decision Built My Portfolio.
At 25, I had two offers on the table. One was a six-figure salary in Thailand with five-star hotels and zero pressure. The other was a gruelling AI project in Melbourne with uncertain outcomes. I chos
- 9 March 202311 min read·Property Management
We Bought 4,000sqm for $1.6M, Sold Half, and Kept 2,000sqm for $400K. Real Numbers Inside.
A client came to us with experience in Sydney property and a taste for unconventional plays. What we delivered blew even my expectations: 2,000 square metres of land in a Melbourne middle-ring suburb
- 6 March 202310 min read·Market Analysis
Still Picking Suburbs by Distance to the CBD? You're a Decade Behind.
I keep hearing the same outdated advice: 'Buy close to the city and you can't go wrong.' It was true in 1990. It's not true in 2020. Only half of Melbourne's workforce even commutes to the CBD — and m
- 2 March 202310 min read·Scam / Warning
Thinking About Buying in a Regional Town? Read This Warning First.
The rental yield looks incredible. Six percent, sometimes seven. The entry price is low enough that your deposit covers it. And some YouTuber is telling you it's the next big thing. Before you wire th
- 27 February 202310 min read·Investment Strategy
Australia Just Banned Foreign Buyers. Here's Who Actually Benefits (Hint: Not You).
The headlines scream 'housing crisis solved' every time the government announces restrictions on foreign buyers. But foreign purchasers account for just 2% of Australian property transactions. So who
- 23 February 202310 min read·Finance & Tax
Five Months Ago They Called St Albans Garbage. The Data Just Proved Them Wrong.
Five months ago, a competitor publicly called my suburb recommendation garbage. 'Poor area, bad safety, won't grow,' they said. I said nothing. I waited for the data. The data is in now. And it's abso
- 20 February 202310 min read·Suburb Analysis
How Public Housing Drags Property Values Down by 10-20% (And How to Check Before You Buy)
Nobody talks about this at open inspections. The agent won't mention it. The vendor's statement won't flag it. But if more than 18% of the housing stock in your target suburb is social housing, your p
- 16 February 202310 min read·Guides
This Free Website Shows You More Property Data Than Your Agent Ever Will
Your real estate agent shows you photos and a floor plan. SQM Research shows you vacancy rates, clearance rates, asking price trends, and stock on market. One of these helps you make better investment
- 13 February 202311 min read·Renovation & Development
Should You Buy a 600sqm House in Box Hill? I Ran the Numbers. It's Complicated.
A subscriber asked me to analyse a Box Hill listing — 600 square metres, five bedrooms, three bathrooms, double-storey, dual kitchen. On paper it looks like a dream investment. I ran every metric we u
- 9 February 202310 min read·Property Management
Four Free Websites Every Parent Must Check Before Buying a Family Home
School rankings. Crime rates. School zone boundaries. And a website that shows you something nobody wants to talk about. If you're buying a home for your family, these four free tools will tell you th
- 6 February 202311 min read·Market Analysis
Frankston at $740K on 550sqm: I Analysed Every Angle. Here's the Verdict.
Frankston is having a moment. A rezone in March, a billion-dollar hospital, and median prices still under $800K. A subscriber asked me to analyse a 550-square-metre listing at $740K. The numbers are g
- 2 February 202311 min read·Scam / Warning
We Built a Granny Flat for a Client. The Bank Added $75K to the Valuation in Under a Year.
I'm going to walk you through a real granny flat build we completed for a client. The purchase price was $635,000. The bank revalued at $710,000 in under twelve months. I'll show you the build specs,
- 30 January 202311 min read·Investment Strategy
Is a $1.25M House in Bulleen Worth It? I Ran the Numbers.
A follower sent me this listing last Tuesday. Bulleen, northern suburbs, 580 square metres, four bedrooms, three bathrooms. Listed at $1.25 million. My first reaction was that the land-to-price ratio
- 26 January 202311 min read·Finance & Tax
Doncaster, 850 Square Metres, RGZ Zoning. Should You Invest?
Another DM, another Chinese suburb, another familiar conversation. Doncaster, 850 square metres, and the question is always the same: is it worth the money? I pulled up the data and the answer is more
- 23 January 202312 min read·Suburb Analysis
The Software Buyers Agents Use to Pick Suburbs. I Am Showing You For Free.
I am genuinely tired of watching buyers agents charge $20,000 to sit at a desk and click through a piece of software. So I am going to show you exactly how they do it. Every filter. Every metric. Ever
- 19 January 202311 min read·Guides
Five Melbourne Suburbs I Would Never Buy In. The Data Is Ugly.
Every buyers agent has a list of suburbs they love. Nobody talks about the suburbs they hate. Today I am talking about the suburbs I hate. With data.
- 16 January 202311 min read·Renovation & Development
Wheelers Hill, Corner Block, 87% Owner-Occupiers. But the Yield Is 2.4%.
Wheelers Hill keeps landing in my inbox. Beautiful streets, strong schools, high owner-occupier rates. But every time I run the numbers for an investor, the yield makes me wince. So let me do this pro
- 12 January 202310 min read·Property Management
Inflation Dropped to 2.7%. So Why Are Interest Rates Not Falling?
The ABS published the latest inflation number last week. 2.7 per cent. Every content creator on the internet immediately declared that rate cuts were imminent. Most of them are wrong, and I am going t
- 9 January 202311 min read·Market Analysis
Mount Waverley, Heritage Overlay, $1.5 Million. Here Is What Most Buyers Miss.
Mount Waverley is one of those suburbs that photographs well, schools well, and prices terribly for investors. But this particular property has a wrinkle that most people will either miss entirely or
- 5 January 202311 min read·Scam / Warning
Five Insider Tactics for Winning in a Competitive Property Market
You found the property. You inspected it. You fell in love with it. Then someone else bought it before you even submitted an offer. Sound familiar? I watch this happen every week, and the reason is al
- 2 January 202312 min read·Investment Strategy
One Property, Two Rent Cheques: The Monaro Crescent Granny Flat Build
I drove past the site last week. The landscaping is in, the tenants have moved into the granny flat, and the first rent payment has landed. This is the point where the spreadsheet becomes reality and