The Property Nerds

In this episode of The Property Nerds, co-hosts Arjun Paliwal, founder and CEO of InvestorKit, and Jack Fouracre, partnership manager at Fouracre Financial, discuss the three key traits of a booming property market in Australia. According to the co-hosts, smart investors who want to grow their portfolio must understand the property markets and recognise the three key factors that allow them to make data-driven decisions. Arjun and Jack said that the primary key criterion is the number of days a property stays on the market (DOM), with a reduction in DOM indicating a hot market where properties sell quickly, enhancing buyer urgency and seller confidence. The second trait is tight rental markets, as shown by low vacancy rates, which indicate strong demand and drive up property values. Finally, the third trait is inverse growth rates, where markets that underperformed in the past, like Sydney and Perth, are poised for a rebound. Using Townsville as an example, the co-hosts share strategies on identifying the three key factors that signal a growth cycle and a good property investment.

In this episode of The Property Nerds, co-hosts Arjun Paliwal, founder and CEO of InvestorKit, and Jack Fouracre, partnership manager at Fouracre Financial, explore the growing role of self-managed super funds (SMSF) in property investment in Australia. The duo discuss the increasing popularity of SMSF, which they believe is driven by investors reaching borrowing limits outside superannuation and seeking new avenues for property investment. Jack explains how SMSF borrowing differs from traditional loans, focusing on super contributions and rental income instead of personal income, which creates a separate borrowing capacity for property purchases. The co-host also shares how younger investors can benefit from going through SMSF to build their portfolio, starting with residential properties before transitioning to commercial properties. Additionally, they delve into the diversification that SMSF offers, including shares, cash, or business premises, supporting both retirement savings and business needs.

The interest rate cut announcement sparked a flurry of activity among investors, pushing them to review borrowing capacities, market dynamics, and future financial strategies. In this episode of The Property Nerds, co-hosts Arjun Paliwal from InvestorKit and Jack Fouracre from Fouracre Financial discuss the latest RBA rate cut announcement and its impact on the property market. While modest in its immediate financial impact, the rate cut is expected to influence consumer sentiment and open new opportunities for property investors, with the duo pointing out the importance of having a clear strategy to navigate the upcoming changes in the market. The conversation also touches on the broader implications of the rate cut for investors with substantial debt, and how lenders’ flexibility in assessing income has increased, allowing more self-employed investors to secure a loan. The co-hosts said that while further cuts could increase investment, borrowers must remain cautious and not rely solely on rate cuts for financial relief.

As the first Reserve Bank of Australia meeting draws to a close, the anticipated rate cut is forecast to impact the real estate market across the country, giving investors more opportunities to build their portfolios. In this episode of The Property Nerds, co-hosts Arjun Paliwal from InvestorKit and Jack Fouracre from Fouracre Financial discuss the ever-changing landscape of interest rates and its impact on the property market. The duo discuss misconceptions about interest rate cuts and borrowing capacity, various borrowing strategies, and the pitfalls of cross-securitisation, in which multiple properties are used as collateral for a single loan. Arjun and Jack then emphasise the importance of timing in property purchases, stressing that savvy investors should act before interest rates drop rather than wait for a cut to make a move. Artwork

In this episode of The Property Nerds, co-hosts Arjun Paliwal from InvestorKit and Jack Fouracre from Fouracre Financial discuss the key trends shaping the 2025 Australian property market. Drawing from their latest research report, 7 Trends That Shape Australia’s Property Market for 2025, Arjun and Jack highlight the key factors influencing the property landscape. The first major trend concerns the anticipated decline in interest rates, which the pair said is expected to boost consumer sentiment significantly. The co-hosts then discuss housing affordability and demand before moving towards supply shortages, which continue to drive price growth nationwide. The podcast also touches on broader issues, such as tax policies and population distribution.

The beginning of the year is the perfect time to reset your investment strategies, refocus, learn from the past, set new goals, and work out a fresh budget. In this episode of The Property Nerds, co-hosts Arjun Paliwal from InvestorKit and Jack Fouracre from Fouracre Financial share strategies for improving borrowing power and paying down debt sooner. The duo discuss the importance of examining monthly spending on private health insurance, income protection, life insurance, credit card debt and personal loans, which can limit borrowing capacity and potentially curb spending habits. The co-hosts emphasise the need to be financially ready to invest, as the upcoming interest rate cuts will prompt more buyers to enter the market.

In this episode of The Property Nerds, co-hosts Arjun Paliwal from InvestorKit and Jack Fouracre from Fouracre Financial discuss recent research into the most undersupplied housing markets in Australia, and what this might mean for investors. They begin the podcast reflecting on the success of their businesses throughout 2024, following the launch of Fouracre Financial and the ongoing success of Investigate Buyers Agency which has been recognised as Australia’s Buyers Agency of the Year for two consecutive years. They then discuss a research paper that examines Australia’s most undersupplied housing markets, identifying 25 regions with significant supply shortages. The podcast delves into the methodology behind the Supply Shortage Score (SSS), a metric developed to assess housing supply conditions. This score considers various factors, including future supply, established supply, price pressure, rental pressure, housing availability, and people movement. The pair then wrap up looking at some of the challenges facing housing affordability, from transaction costs such as stamp duty and capital gains tax, through to problems facing the building sector, including construction costs and labour shortages.

While new investors often think they need more properties to maximise their future incomes, Arjun and Jack urge them first to clarify their vision of financial freedom and invest in properties that align with their long-term goals. In this episode of The Property Nerds, co-hosts Arjun Paliwal from InvestorKit and Jack Fouracre from Fouracre Financial discuss the importance of strategy planning rather than simply buying more and more properties when building a portfolio. While he knows that thinking ahead can be daunting, Arjun advocates for a 20-plus-year strategy to ensure investors have a portfolio that will suit their retirement spending. This includes the need to understand one’s retirement needs and planning ahead. The duo then shift towards “trading up” assets, which involves moving from residential to commercial properties to maximise the rental yields and, subsequently, the investors’ income potential.

While more and more Australians are jumping onto the SMSF train to boost their property portfolio, many remain reluctant to make the switch. In this episode of The Property Nerds, co-hosts Arjun Paliwal from InvestorKit and Jack Fouracre from Fouracre Financial explore the ins and outs of SMSF, as well as its role in property investment and financial freedom. Supported by the research paper, titled The Evolution of SMSF Property Investing, the duo examine the changing landscape of SMSF in Australia when it comes to property investing, superannuation contributions, and the impact of SMSFs on retirement planning. The co-hosts also discuss the rising enthusiasm for SMSF – which appears to give more flexibility, autonomy and greater borrowing capacity for investors – its limitations, including why some people are still reluctant to switch their super funds, and the importance of building a trusted financial team. They then unpack the differences between residential and commercial property investments within an SMSF, and how your next property should be aligned with your long-term goals.

While negative gearing makes the headlines, positive cash flow seems like a dream scenario leaving extra cash in your pockets, but is it really achievable? On this episode of The Property Nerds, InvestorKit’s Arjun Paliwal and Fouracre Financial’s Jack Fouracre are flipping the script on negative gearing to positive cash flow, giving listeners all the knowledge they need to understand how to reach the “holy grail” of investment. During the podcast, the duo gives the big picture of positive cash flow as well as more details on the allure, the pitfalls, and the real impact on investors’ lending capacity and investment strategy. Through real-world examples and recent data, Arjun and Jack explain how positive cash flow should be viewed as a part of a broader investment strategy rather than the sole objective, and that it is important to remain patient when it comes to building a healthy portfolio.