In today's show, Ken Raiss and I discuss the intricacies of wealth building and legacy planning. We explore the importance of careful planning to avoid common pitfalls, the role of trusts in estate planning, and the implications of superannuation on wealth transfer. The conversation also covers strategies for gifting wealth, the benefits of investm…

If you spend five minutes talking to a Gen Z, you could walk away feeling pretty gloomy. They'll tell you the world is burning, wars are endless, work is meaningless, and of course, that housing is forever out of reach. And on the surface, they've got a point — affordability is at record lows, and the property ladder feels further away than ever. B…

Let's be honest — if our politicians really wanted housing to be affordable, it would be by now. They've had decades to fix it. There have been inquiries, commissions, roundtables, and billions thrown at so-called "affordability schemes." And yet, what do we have? Record house prices, record rents, and a generation of young Aussies wondering if the…

If you've been wondering whether Australia's housing boom still has legs, or if we've already hit the peak of this cycle, then today's episode will give you the clarity you've been looking for. Because, according to Dr Andrew Wilson, home prices across our capital cities accelerated again in October — marking the strongest monthly growth in nearly …

Are you in your 20s and just starting out, in your 40s and hitting your peak earning years, or in your 50s and wondering how to secure your financial future? No matter where you are in life, your property investment strategy needs to evolve with you. Too many investors treat property as a one-size-fits-all game – and that's why half of all new prop…

Have you ever felt like the classic Aussie dream - you know, owning your home, maybe a few investment properties, and creating a secure future for your family - is getting harder to reach? You're not alone. Today, I'm joined by Mark Matson – a renowned American entrepreneur, wealth educator, and author of Experiencing the American Dream. Now, befor…

In today's show, Simon Küstenmacher and I discuss the dynamics of our property markets, with a particular focus on the trend of downsizing among baby boomers. We examine the emotional and financial factors that influence this demographic's decision-making, the impact of government policies on the housing market, and the implications for younger gen…

Today I'm joined by Stuart Wemyss, a highly respected financial advisor and author who recently distilled everything he's learned about property creation through wealth into what he calls the 4 Golden Rules of property investing. If you've been paying attention to the property market lately, you'll know there's no shortage of advice out there – som…

Let me ask you something—are you in your 40s, 50s, or 60s and wondering, "Is this it?" Maybe you're juggling ageing parents, adult kids, and still trying to figure out where you fit in this next chapter of your life. Well, midlife isn't a meltdown—it's a moment of truth. And in today's conversation with Louise Bedford, we explore how you can turn t…

Today, Simon Kuestenmacher and I discuss a topic that's at the heart of the "Great Australian Dream": homeownership. For over a century, owning your own home was not just a rite of passage—it was an expectation. But that dream is slipping further out of reach for millions of Australians, particularly younger generations. We discuss the evolving lan…

If you've ever tried running a business—or even building a property portfolio—with your partner, you'll know it can be both incredibly rewarding and, at times, incredibly stressful. The kitchen table becomes a boardroom, the bedroom becomes an office, and before you know it, every day feels like Groundhog Day. But it doesn't have to be that way. To…

Three rate cuts this year have clearly lit a fire under our property markets. Affordability has improved, confidence is back, and the spring selling season is heating up. It's not just houses making gains - unit prices have now risen for eight straight months. Brisbane and Adelaide are leading the charge, while Melbourne is quietly staging a comeba…

Australia's housing market is at a crossroads. For first-home buyers, the dream of ownership has never felt further away – with deposits taking more than 8 years to save and mortgage repayments eating up over half of disposable incomes. Yet, at the same time, buyer demand is powering ahead, clearance rates are hitting multi-year highs, and spring i…

Everyone was banking on another interest rate cut this year – but what if it never comes? In this month' Big Picture Podcast, Ken Raiss and I will unpack why the economy is running hotter than expected, and what that means for rates, housing, and your mortgage. We also explain how the Bank of Mum and Dad is helping nearly 1 in 5 first-home buyers w…

In today's podcast, we are going to do something a little different. You see, one of the common questions I get asked is, "Michael, what's your net worth?" It's a question people are curious about—and I get why. However, rather than simply providing you with a number, I want to take you behind the scenes and share the principles, strategies, and mi…

What if I told you that a $1 million property today could be worth $8 million in 30 years? Sounds unbelievable, right? It's the kind of projection that makes people question whether Australia's property market can really keep growing the way it has for the past 45 years. After all, with housing affordability constantly in the headlines and talk of …

Have you ever wondered why some property investors seem to build multi-million-dollar portfolios while others never get past their first property—or worse, sell up within five years? It's not about luck. It's not about earning six figures. And it's definitely not about being born into money. In today's podcast, I explore the common myths surroundin…

In today's show, Ken Raiss and I discuss the evolving landscape of retirement planning, emphasising that retirement is not an end but a new chapter that requires strategic investment and financial planning. We look at what it means to keep your money working in retirement, how property investors should adjust — not stop — their strategy, and what y…

In today's show Simon Kuestenmacher and I discuss the significant shift of millennials from urban living to suburban areas. We highlight how millennials are reshaping suburban culture while still valuing aspects of their urban lifestyles. This is a generation that once embraced city skylines, inner-city cafes, and the hustle of urban living, but is…

Australia's housing market is under pressure from many directions, but one of the most overlooked barriers is stamp duty. Once a relatively modest transaction cost, stamp duty has ballooned into one of the biggest financial hurdles for homebuyers. Just to give you an idea – in Sydney, stamp duty on a median-priced house has gone from around 45% of …

This winter has shaped up as the strongest property market we've seen in a long time, with strong buyer activity and rising confidence cutting through the usual seasonal slowdown. In today's show Dr. Andrew Wilson and I discuss how results have been far from uniform – Sydney is surging ahead with particularly strong performance, while conditions ac…

Today I'm joined by Ross Elli, a respected urban thinker and commentator, and we discuss something most politicians and planners are ignoring: the danger of concentrating 70% of Australia's population into just eight capital cities, and doing it without a real plan. We explore the challenges of infrastructure, the concept of the missing middle in h…

Have you ever looked at a tired old property and thought, "There's potential there," but weren't quite sure what to do with it? Well, today's show could be the spark you need. Because we're talking about one of the most powerful – and underutilised – strategies for building wealth through property: strategic renovation. In a world where constructio…

Imagine inviting thousands of people to a party… but forgetting to organise enough food, chairs, or bathrooms. That's essentially what Australia is doing by ramping up migration while failing to plan for the housing and infrastructure to support it. Today, Simon Kuestenmacher and I discuss why we can't keep separating housing policy from migration …

In today's Macro Insights Podcast, Ken Raiss and I examine who really pays tax in Australia, and the results may surprise you. We also share what the average wage and superannuation balance in Australia is, and I bet these figures will surprise you. We also discuss the latest statement from APRA about its 3% mortgage assessment buffer we will tell …

What happens when the Great Australian Dream becomes a financial nightmare? In 2025, buying your first home in Australia has become less of a rite of passage and more of a high-stakes gamble. Record-high deposits, sky-high property prices, and mortgage repayments eating up more than 30% of many buyers' income - it's no wonder almost half of all fir…

There's a lot of noise out there right now — the media, politicians, and even Sunday BBQ conversations seem to revolve around one central villain: the property investor. Apparently, we're to blame for housing unaffordability, rising rents, and locking young people out of the market. But is that really fair? Because when you scratch below the surfac…

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to effortlessly build wealth through real estate while others spend their entire lives working hard, only to end up financially stuck? The truth is that most Australians won't ever achieve genuine financial independence. Sure, they'll retire... eventually. But for many, that just means swapping full-time …

Have you noticed how Australia's property market seems to have roared back to life recently? After a sluggish 2024, Domain's latest House Price Report shows all eight capital cities recorded house price growth in the June quarter – for the first time in four years. And it's not just houses. Unit prices are surging too, often outpacing houses as buy…

Australia's housing markets just keep marching forward – and the latest numbers are in! Today I'm joined by Dr. Andrew Wilson, Chief Economist of My Housing Market, to break down July's House Price Report – and it's full of good news for homeowners and property investors alike. House prices rose in every single capital city over the month – that's …

Today Ken Raiss and I are diving into a crucial topic for anyone looking to purchase property in Australia: choosing the right property ownership structure. So whether you're a first-time investor, a seasoned buyer, or even planning a family purchase — this episode is for you. We discuss various ownership options, including trusts and companies, an…

If you're interested in property you've probably noticed it's a confusing time out there . Interest rates are falling, but there are mixed messages about how many rate cuts we are going to get. Population growth is surging, but we're not building enough homes. The media is full of mixed messages, and many would-be investors are paralysed by uncerta…

In this Macro Insights Podcast, Ken Raiss and I examine the big picture and share our perspective on how this may impact our housing markets in Australia, as well as what, if anything, you should do as a property investor. We discuss what's ahead for interest rates, and clues in the news about economic indicators and consumer behaviour. We examine …

What if I told you that right now, quietly but powerfully, one of the biggest investment opportunities in Australian property is unfolding in plain sight? While most people are focused on the day-to-day news cycle, savvy investors are looking a few years ahead, to 2032, when Brisbane will step onto the global stage to host the Olympic and Paralympi…

We're now on the brink of what could be the biggest shake-up to the Australian tax system since the GST was introduced back in 2000. Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers has signalled that tax reform is not just on the agenda - it's a priority. But what kind of reform are we really talking about here? If you dig beneath the headlines, this isn't just abo…

Today, women live longer than men, but retire with far less money. And despite all the progress we've made, Australia's gender wealth gap remains stubbornly wide. Today I'm joined by Sarah Megginson, money expert and Head of Editorial at Finder, to unpack the insights from their 2025 State of Women's Wealth Report. We explore why women continue to …

The Australian property market has been anything but predictable in recent years - booms, corrections, interest rate hikes, and a housing supply crisis have kept everyone on their toes. But what lies ahead? In today's episode I'm joined by Dr Nicola Powell, Chief of Research and Economics at Domain, to unpack their latest Price Forecast Report for …

We've all heard the phrase "rent money is dead money," right? But is it really? As property prices surge and affordability challenges mount—especially for younger Australians—a growing number of people are turning to an alternative path: rentvesting. That's where you rent the home you live in and invest in a property elsewhere. Is this just a cleve…

Did you know that for the first 15 years of your mortgage, you're working mostly for the taxman, not your future wealth? It's a startling claim, but one backed by data from the Housing Industry Association — and it sheds new light on why housing affordability is getting worse, not better. Today, I'm joined by Tim Reardon, Chief Economist at the HIA…

If you're a property investor, I have an important question for you… When was the last time you thought seriously about your property manager? If you think their main job is collecting the rent and organising tradies when something breaks, I've got news for you—things have changed dramatically. In fact, the world of residential property management …

If you've ever felt like you're playing a game of property monopoly in Australia, but someone else got to pass "Go" decades before you and now owns half the board, you're not imagining it. That "someone else"? It's the Baby Boomers. They've won the property game in Australia. Not just because they got in early, but because the rules of the game hav…

Today, I want to talk about something that's really flying under the radar—but it shouldn't be. Imagine being taxed on money you haven't actually earned. Not on rent you've received, not on a capital gain you've banked, but just on the increase in value of an asset you still hold. Sounds crazy, right? Well, that's exactly what the federal governmen…

Have you ever wondered if property development could be your next big wealth accelerator? You've probably heard the success stories – investors who've turned modest sites into multimillion-dollar assets by building just two townhouses. But what you don't often hear about are the sleepless nights, the missteps, the cost overruns, the unexpected coun…

Imagine this… You've got a strong property portfolio, you're working hard, and the market is looking good. Then – boom – life throws you a curveball. Maybe it's a job loss, a health issue, or a tenant stops paying rent for months. What now? Most investors panic. But the savvy ones? They just lean on their financial buffer – a quiet little fund sitt…

While most of us want to become rich and successful, it's really not as easy as many suggest on social media. In today's show Tom Corley and I explain why building wealth is a two-step process and the requirements to not only build wealth, but retain wealth. Takeaways The easiest way to grow wealth in Australia is through residential real estate. B…

Are Melbourne apartments the most underrated investment opportunity for 2025? For years now, investors and homebuyers alike have steered clear of Melbourne apartments—especially those in high-density towers—fearing oversupply, poor quality builds, and lacklustre capital growth. But what if that narrative is outdated? What if the very segment that's…

Imagine a Melbourne the size of New York City. Yes, really.That's the trajectory we're on. By 2050, Melbourne's population is projected to swell to 9 million people, making it not just Australia's biggest city by population, but potentially one of the most dynamic urban economies in the world. This isn't some abstract urban planning fantasy—it's ba…

Interest rates are falling again. After years of rate hikes, mortgage stress, and a cooling economy, the RBA has now dropped interest rates for the second time this cycle and there are more rate cuts to come. But what does this actually mean? Is the worst behind us—or is this a sign of deeper cracks in the economy? In today's Big Picture episode, I…

With tax season just around the corner and property investors constantly navigating a shifting taxation landscape, it's never been more important to stay one step ahead of the taxman. Whether you're a seasoned investor with a sizable portfolio or just starting out with your first rental, the rules are changing—and some of these changes are flying u…

The election already feels like old news. The campaign ads are off the air, the polling booths are packed away, and the headlines have moved on to the next big story. But make no mistake—what happened at the ballot box is going to shape our property markets for years to come. In this episode of the Michael Yardney Podcast, we unpack exactly what th…