What Most Property Investors Get Wrong About Hotspots: Terry Ryder

What is hotspotting, really? In this episode, we sit down with Terry Ryder, the founder of Hotspotting, to explore what the term means and what it should mean for property investors. Terry has spent over four decades researching and writing about Australian residential property, and he’s here to share why chasing short-term predictions is not the way to go.

Terry walks us through his approach to identifying true hotspots—places with economic diversity, infrastructure investment, and long-term growth potential. He’s upfront about how the name “hotspotting” can sometimes create misconceptions, with people thinking it’s about quick, short-term wins.

As Terry explains, that’s the opposite of his philosophy. For him, it’s all about looking ahead and finding what he calls “second wind markets”—those overlooked locations that are set to thrive over time.

We also dive into the challenges of going against the herd mentality. Terry believes most investors make mistakes by following the crowd or reacting to media noise instead of having a solid, long-term strategy. He even shares personal stories about lessons learned from his own investments, including the times he wishes he hadn’t sold too soon.

This conversation is packed with Terry’s trademark honesty, practical insights, and a refreshing take on property investing. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to fine-tune your strategy, this episode is a must-listen.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

00:56 - Who is Terry Ryder?

01:52 - Terry’s thoughts on the popularity of the term “hotspotting” among buyers’ agents

03:42 - How frequently Terry addresses the misbelief that ‘hotspotting’ is about quick returns

05:07 - Determining time frames and benchmarks for market outperformance

14:30 - What Terry would do if he had to rebuild his portfolio from scratch

16:52 - The role of sales activity in Terry's investment methodology

19:40 - Can fair value outweigh location quality in long-term property investments?

22:06 - Is location more important than property details in your analysis?

28:45 - Are we seeing a shift toward apartments in high-growth locations?

31:03 - Do Terry’s previous hotspots align with market performance?

34:43 - Reports that get the most clicks on Hotspotting

36:19 - What Terry thinks about the rise of data-driven buyers’ agencies

37:39 - What happens after buyers get Terry's top suburb recommendations

44:04 - Terry Ryder’s property dumbo

About Our Guest:

Terry Ryder is a seasoned researcher and writer with over four decades of expertise in Australian residential property. He began his career as Property Editor at The Courier Mail in 1982, later holding roles at the Australian Financial Review. For 20 years, he ran Ryder Property Consulting, offering research and writing services to industry professionals, and authored four books on real estate. In 2006, he launched hotspotting.com.au, a platform providing insights for property investors on future high-performing markets. Terry has been a columnist for The Australian, Property Observer, Money Magazine, and Canstar, and is widely recognized for his expert commentary on TV, radio, and at industry events. His content, including broadcasts and podcasts, is followed by tens of thousands across Australia.

Connect with Terry Ryder:

• Website https://www.hotspotting.com.au/
• LinkedIn https://au.linkedin.com/in/terryryder

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 questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au
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