Property Investment Podcast Network

In this episode of The Property Nerds, hosts Arjun Paliwal, Adrian Lee, and Jack Fouracre explore the complex financial roadblocks experienced investors face and how strategic planning can unlock new avenues for growth. The hosts start the conversation by reframing tax as a sign of financial progress, not a burden, by spotlighting a standout client case in which a maxed-out investor unlocked additional borrowing capacity by moving a commercial property into a self-managed super fund (SMSF). The shift freed up debt and transformed a stalled $3 million portfolio into one capable of adding a further $2 million commercial asset. The hosts also tackle the psychological hurdles many investors face, especially the reluctance to sell assets without understanding their true after-tax position. Another scenario reveals how transitioning from a large residential base into commercial assets can better support long-term passive income goals. They further highlight the limitations of relying solely on banks, arguing that brokers and strategic advisers can restructure portfolios through tools like trusts and SMSFs to unlock opportunities that traditional lending channels overlook.

In the second part of the Smart Property Investment roundtable, Phil Tarrant speaks with InvestorKit's Arjun Paliwal and Chris Huxter to unpack the evolving landscape of Australia's commercial property market, regulatory shifts, and investment strategies. Paliwal explains how Macquarie Bank's halt on lending to trusts and companies is reshaping investor approaches, highlighting the importance of staying adaptable amid regulatory changes. He stresses that commercial property isn't just a step up from residential but a long-term strategy suited to life stage, business needs, and borrowing capacity. Huxter outlines his "three M's" framework: Market, Money, and Management, showing how careful selection and oversight mitigate risk. The trio also discusses the emergence of industrial properties as standout performers due to tight supply and strong demand, with retail expected to remain resilient in the years ahead. Office assets are flagged as high-risk, particularly in Melbourne, where vacancy rates are elevated, and tenant stability is uncertain. Themes of macroeconomic trends, industry shifts, market cycles, and tenant demand thread through the discussion, providing a lens for investors to make informed, strategic decisions. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email editor@smartpropertyinvestment.com.au for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.

In a recent exclusive investor roundtable hosted by Smart Property Investment, Phil Tarrant speaks with InvestorKit's Arjun Paliwal and Chris Huxter to unpack real-world strategies, journeys, and lessons from the coalface of the property market. The trio underscores the value of having a community where investors can speak openly about money, yields, and strategies without fear or favour, turning what is often a lonely journey into a shared one. Paliwal reveals how he moved from banking into a data-led buyer's agency model that puts numbers ahead of aesthetics, helping thousands of investors outperform the national average. Huxter then details his shift from data centres to managing a $2.2 billion shopping centre fund and into the commercial buyer's agency space, reflecting the rising appetite for commercial assets. Around the table, investors discuss building multi-million-dollar portfolios, rapid property accumulation, and blending residential and commercial holdings for growth and income, showing how people from all walks of life are using real estate as a vehicle for long-term wealth. Themes of diversification, data-driven decision-making, evolving buyer's agency models, and the influence of family history and personal goals on investment choices threaded through the conversation. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email editor@smartpropertyinvestment.com.au for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.

In this episode of Property Investing Insights with Right Property Group, Victor and Reshmi Kumar join Phil Tarrant to unpack how a new shopping centre planned across the road from a local development is igniting real estate buzz and reshaping investor expectations in an evolving Australian market. The discussion explores how the strategically located, five-acre site on a main road – with Landcom interest and experienced management oversight – is positioned to boost convenience, demand, and long-term property values. They walk through the project's risk-managed framework, including an unsecured second mortgage and caveat, noting that even if projections were off by 50 per cent, the numbers suggest the development still stacks up as a profitable play with a construction certificate of around $1.8 million. The conversation then widens to the importance of strategic planning and risk management in property investment, highlighting how thorough due diligence can uncover minimal downside in well-chosen projects. The team also draws on insights from nine years of podcasting, observing that while there's more information than ever, many investors still make poor financial decisions without reliable guidance and a clear strategy. They examine key market headwinds, including the increasing scrutiny from the Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA) of high debt-to-income loans, the surge in investor lending, and the unintended consequences of the 5 per cent deposit scheme on affordability and household debt. The rising influence of buyer's agents and investor-focused services is also dissected, with a warning that misplaced trust or herd behaviour could cause financial damage over the next five to ten years. As the outlook for 2026 remains uncertain, the trio underscores that successful investors will be those who balance growth and cash flow, respect regulatory shifts, and treat location, timing, and risk management as non-negotiables in their portfolio strategy.

In this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, Phil Tarrant is joined by Annie Kane, managing editor of mortgages, and Liam Garman, managing editor of real estate. The host and the Momentum Media editors explore the complexities of the current Australian property market. They examine how government schemes, including the expanded 5% Deposit Scheme, are driving demand but causing delays as lenders struggle to keep up. Kane highlights that brokers are the main channel for the scheme, but overwhelming demand has led some lenders to pause pre-approvals. Tarrant raises concerns that the scheme could encourage unsustainable debt levels among first-time buyers. Investor lending is also on the rise, with the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) monitoring trends and considering measures to curb high debt-to-income ratios and rapid investor lending. Garman points to supply-demand pressures exacerbated by migration and infrastructure, warning of potential negative equity for some buyers. The discussion also covers the role of buyer's agents, emphasising the importance of choosing licensed professionals to avoid costly advice missteps. As the market evolves, the trio notes that navigating government interventions, lending practices, and ongoing supply-demand imbalances will be critical for both investors and home buyers. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email editor@smartpropertyinvestment.com.au for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.

In this episode of Inside Residential Property, host Liam Garman sits down with Rethink Financing Director and award-winning mortgage strategist Son Pham to unpack one of the biggest blockers in today's investing landscape – the belief that serviceability is capped. Together, they reveal why many investors feel "tapped out" and why, from a broker's perspective, there is almost always more borrowing power available when you know how to navigate lender policy. They're joined by investor Danny, who walks listeners through his decade-long portfolio journey, starting with an off-the-plan townhouse in Glenmore Park before expanding into high-performing regional and interstate markets. Danny shares the wins, mistakes, and philosophy that shaped his strategy – from audit-proofing his team with an accountant and broker, to reframing debt as leverage and prioritising long-term freedom over short-term comfort. Son breaks down Danny's lending position live on air, exploring how banks actually calculate serviceability, why "the buffer" traps so many investors, and how non-bank lenders, trust structures and policy nuances can dramatically change borrowing outcomes. The trio dissect valuation strategy, equity releases, credit file traps, and when investors should consider selling to accelerate their next move – all with the goal of reducing time spent on the sidelines and keeping the portfolio compounding. Listeners will gain insights into: How lenders really assess income, rental shading, and buffers, and why policy is more powerful than interest rates. Why serviceability "walls" are often illusions, and the specific lender types that can shift borrowing power. When (and when not) to use trust structures for residential portfolios. How to think about selling – identifying assets that have "done their job" vs. those with more growth runway. The mindset shift needed to scale: debt as leverage, action over perfection, and buying well even at higher rates. This episode offers an unfiltered, highly practical breakdown of what it really takes to keep growing when the banks say no – empowering investors to unlock smarter pathways, accelerate their next move, and avoid spending years stuck at a standstill.

In this episode of The Property Nerds, hosts Arjun Paliwal and Adrian Lee from InvestorKit and Jack Fouracre from Fouracre Financial speak with Aman Sethi about how he has strategically built an $11 million property portfolio across eight properties in just five years. The conversation explores how his journey began with a focus on property value over quantity, allowing him to prioritise high-return assets rather than chasing numbers. A pivotal part of his strategy was rapidly expanding from two to eight properties, leveraging strong equity and robust income amid the COVID-19 pandemic property boom. His business, JICS Australia, provided financial stability during this period, enabling him to pursue aggressive investment opportunities. Sethi's portfolio spans executive homes in middle-ring suburbs with unique features, delivering strong rental yields and significant capital growth, including a standout Adelaide property that nearly doubled in value. Even properties that presented challenges offered valuable lessons, helping him refine his approach and work effectively with tenants and advisory partners. Money management, long-term planning, and removing emotion from investment decisions have been central to his success.

In this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Costa Arvanitopoulos from Finni Mortgages to unpack Macquarie Bank's retreat from trust and company lending and the rising role of self-managed super funds (SMSFs) in property investment. They explain that Macquarie's move, driven by tighter anti-money laundering (AML) scrutiny and concerns over spruikers using trusts to dodge serviceability rules, signals a broader shift in how lenders view complex structures. While this may disrupt investors who use trusts for tax and asset protection, borrowing in personal names remains available, and other lenders are expected to fill the gap. Against this backdrop, Tarrant and Arvanitopoulos highlight SMSFs as a more mainstream and increasingly popular vehicle for property investment. Arvanitopoulos notes that SMSFs let investors use their super to buy property without impacting personal borrowing capacity, which is particularly useful for those already maxed out in their own names. He explains that SMSF lending focuses on fund contributions, rental income and, for business owners, company financials to prove serviceability. The duo also flag the limitations and tax settings around SMSFs, including no equity release, no major renovations, and higher tax rates on very large balances. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email editor@smartpropertyinvestment.com.au for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.

In a recent episode of the How I Met My Broker podcast, hosts Liam Garman and Hung Chuy sit down with Steve Maroun, director at Lanevick, to unpack the realities of stepping from investing into property development. Maroun shares how his journey began after his family lost everything but their home during the global financial crisis (GFC), which pushed him to abandon a law degree and learn property development from the ground up. By knocking on doors, taking on hands-on jobs like painting fences and renovating kitchens, and eventually buying the house next door as his first project, he effectively created his own "degree" in development. Throughout the episode, Maroun and Chuy stress that development is not for the faint-hearted, demanding resilience, adaptability, and the ability to tackle projects "one bite at a time". They explain that successful developers need to master four key pillars – finance, construction, sales, and town planning/design – to identify a site's highest and best use and navigate regulations. A key theme is the power of complementary partnerships, illustrated by Maroun's design and construction expertise, combining with Chuy's financial strategy to unlock value on a complex Western Sydney site. For aspiring developers, they emphasise education, understanding the end buyer and council objectives, building a strong expert team, embracing innovations such as prefab and 3D printing, and honestly assessing whether development suits one's life stage and risk appetite.

In this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Future Proof Property Advisory co-founder Dawn Fouhy to help investors cut through the noise of the Melbourne market and gain clarity amid a crowded field of opinions. Together, they unpack how analysis paralysis can stall progress, particularly in fast-changing markets like Melbourne and regional Victoria, and why investors need to align with advisors and strategies that genuinely resonate. Fouhy explains what makes a property truly future-proof, urging investors to buy with future buyers in mind, avoid investor-saturated pockets, and target areas with scarcity and low building approvals. She shines a spotlight on Melbourne's renewed appeal, noting that while oversupply is a risk in some locations, suburbs such as Williams Landing, Point Cook, and Hoppers Crossing are underpinned by strong owner-occupier demand and constrained supply. The duo also explore Geelong's rise as Australia's top relocation hotspot, with Fouhy pointing to suburbs like Hamlyn Heights and Belmont as examples of locations where economic strength, lifestyle appeal, and solid fundamentals support long-term capital growth. Revisiting the capital growth versus cash flow debate, Tarrant and Fouhy emphasise that while cash flow is crucial for managing holding costs, it is capital growth that ultimately drives meaningful wealth creation. For those eyeing the Melbourne and Victorian markets in 2026 and beyond, Fouhy recommends starting with a realistic budget, then targeting townhouses or units in established, high-demand areas that offer both affordability and advantages. If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. If you would like to get in touch with our team, email editor@smartpropertyinvestment.com.au for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.