

The Elephant In The Room Property Podcast | Inside Australian Real Estate
Chris Bates
Who's really in control when you buy a property?
The Elephant In The Room is where the things that no one wants to talk about, actually get talked about.
Veronica Morgan, real estate agent, buyers agent and co-host of Foxtel’s Location Location Location Australia & Chris Bates, financial planner, mortgage broker and wealth coach have joined forces to find out what’s really going on in the world of real estate.
Veronica and Chris talk to property owners and buyers every day in their respective lines of business. They’ve observed a wide spectrum of confidence in people’s decision making ability when buying and selling property, often to the detriment of the individuals concerned. They are both fascinated by consumer behaviour and together they’re going to uncover who’s really making the decisions when you buy a property.
In each episode they get into the psyche of buyers, agents, auctioneers and other industry experts to learn the truth about how buyers are influenced and why they do the things they do. In every episode you’ll learn from the mistakes of a “property dumbo” as well as Chris & Veronica’s “elephant rider bootcamp” training session.
The plan? This property podcast has been created to help us all make better property decisions!
The Elephant In The Room is where the things that no one wants to talk about, actually get talked about.
Veronica Morgan, real estate agent, buyers agent and co-host of Foxtel’s Location Location Location Australia & Chris Bates, financial planner, mortgage broker and wealth coach have joined forces to find out what’s really going on in the world of real estate.
Veronica and Chris talk to property owners and buyers every day in their respective lines of business. They’ve observed a wide spectrum of confidence in people’s decision making ability when buying and selling property, often to the detriment of the individuals concerned. They are both fascinated by consumer behaviour and together they’re going to uncover who’s really making the decisions when you buy a property.
In each episode they get into the psyche of buyers, agents, auctioneers and other industry experts to learn the truth about how buyers are influenced and why they do the things they do. In every episode you’ll learn from the mistakes of a “property dumbo” as well as Chris & Veronica’s “elephant rider bootcamp” training session.
The plan? This property podcast has been created to help us all make better property decisions!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 22, 2023 • 59min
Is Brisbane Now In The Same League As Sydney And Melbourne?
How has the Brisbane property market changed in the wake of Covid? Can we now count it as one of the big guns, along side Sydney and Melbourne? Or is the recent boom set to be short lived? In today's episode, we are joined by Melinda Jennison, who is possibly the only buyer's agent with a PHD. Which means she brings a research lens to strategy development and advice. Melinda shares what has been happening in the Brisbane property market, what makes it tick… and what potentially could be expected for 2023. Discover if Brisbane really is now in the same league as Sydney and Melbourne. Let's find out. See you in the episode! About our guest: Melinda Jennison is a Brisbane Buyer's Agent or Advocate, she works with time poor professionals who are looking to find their ideal home, an investment property that will deliver on capital growth or rental yield requirements and small development opportunities in the Brisbane real estate market. Link to Melinda’s website: https://streamlineproperty.com.au/ Episode Highlights: How has the Brisbane property market changed in the wake of Covid? [00:00] Introduction To The Elephant In The Room [00:10] Introduction To Melinda Jennison [00:51] Stagnant Activity [02:24] Surge Of Buyers Unexpectedly [03:33] Low Listing Environment [05:17] Pressure On The Rental Market [08:01] What’s happened in Greater Brisbane since the start of Covid. [08:24] Is Brisbane becoming a big grown-up city not a regional town anymore? [14:26] What would people want in Brisbane? [18:11] South facing is the most desirable orientation in Queensland. [33:58] What’s happening to the investment side of the market? [40:40] Are investors running for the hills in these markets? [44:49] Why we go nowhere near these types of agents [53:07] Who’s going to buy the property if you have to sell it? [56:54] Connect with Us: Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? www.gooddeeds.com.au Work with Veronica: www.veronicamorgan.com.au Looking for a Mortgage Broker? www.wealthful.com.au Work with Chris: hello@wealthful.com.au Send in your questions to: questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au Find this episode on our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au/podcasts/264 If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 15, 2023 • 48min
Vendor Advocacy Is On The Rise… But What Is It?
A vendor's advocate represents you in the sale of your home or any investment property. Their work is to give you peace of mind and confidence by ensuring your selling agent is actually working for you and doing everything possible to achieve the highest price for your property. In today's episode, we are joined by Fiona Martin, owner and director of Golden Alliance. Fiona has been in the industry for nearly 15 years now and we're thrilled to have her on the show to educate us more on Vendor Advocacy. Tune in as we elaborate further on what a Vendor Advocacy does, how do they create a positive impact in the property investment community and so much more! See you in the episode! About our guest: Fiona Martin is the owner and director of Golden Alliance - a licensed real estate agent who has been in the industry for nearly 15 years. Fiona is one of only a handful of agents who only do the end vendor advocacy, nothing else. Link to Fiona’s website: https://goldenalliance.com.au/ Episode Highlights: 00:00 What Is A Vendor Advocate? 00:19 Introduction To The Elephant In The Room 01:00 Introduction To Fiona Martin4. 03:35 It’s A Collaboration Between The Agent, Vendor and, Vendor’s Advocate 05:03 How Do You Know If An Agent Is Doing Their Job? 06:30 Not Needing To Check Up During Campaigns 10:04 Good Vendor Advocacy 13:59 How Did You Feel About The Recent Boom In Property Selling? 25:27 Beginner Experience As A Property Seller 27:41 Buyer’s Agent Lack Of Experience 33:52 Agents Common Mistakes In Selling 41:08 Real Estate Matters More Than Ever 45:23 Market Catch Up Connect with Us: Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? www.gooddeeds.com.au Work with Veronica: www.veronicamorgan.com.au Looking for a Mortgage Broker? www.wealthful.com.au Work with Chris: hello@wealthful.com.au Send in your questions to: questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy5458Q5ObYFeQ8UJJchaRQ Find this episode on our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au/podcasts/263 If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 8, 2023 • 1h 6min
How To Not Become “Just Another Buyers Agent”
Many Buyers Agents work hard to attain their qualification... only to find themselves feeling unequipped to actually do their job well, and advocate for what might be the biggest decision of their client's lives. No career is easy, and the role of Buyers Agent is no exception. Long hours, constant property hunting, uncertain income, endless research... the list goes on. In an industry full of lone rangers and micro-businesses with limited resources, it's hard for people starting off to find employment and learn from experienced practitioners. This episode is for you, whether you're currently working as a Buyers Agent, thinking of becoming one or considering hiring one. We discuss the difference between those who learn purely through trial and error and those who benefit from being mentored. See you in the episode! Episode Highlights: 00:21 Welcome to the Elephant in the room (Introduction) 00:39 Chris Bates introduction 01:39 Chris Working As A Buyer's Agent 06:39 Lack of knowledge from a buyer's agent 10:38 Having A Buyer's Agent Just Saves You More Time 15:20 Buyer's agents choosing buyers 17:22 Short term measures in properties 20:42 Doing the extra mile for clients 24:11 Learnings of a buyer's agent 33:18 The capability of one buyer's agent - by the book 39:39 What to look for in an agent? Here's a tip for you! 41:54 Limitations in the property business 46:59 Motivation and mentality 47:32 What I want, I bargain and I get it. 56:37 Your guide in buying a property Connect with Us: Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? www.gooddeeds.com.au Work with Veronica: www.veronicamorgan.com.au Looking for a Mortgage Broker? www.wealthful.com.au Work with Chris: hello@wealthful.com.au Send in your questions to: questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au Find this episode on our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au/podcasts/262 If you’ve enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, rate and subscribe for more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 1, 2023 • 1h 6min
An Honest Real Estate Agent... No, Really!
Truthful and honest real estate agents are a rare commodity in the property market. Finding agents willing to call a property what it is, for the sake of the people involved, and not just about the potential commissions one could make is quite challenging. And so we’ve brought in David Murphy, a genuine career agent who has captured our attention through his weekly newsletters that cut through the crap, to join us in our episode today. We talk about his very matter-of-fact approach as a real estate agent, his sharp and honest perspective on the behaviours displayed by buyers and sellers alike, and why people are at the heart of real estate (not houses). If you enjoyed the show, do like, rate, subscribe, and share us on social media and if you have your own questions you need clarity on, email us at questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au! See you in the episode! Episode Highlights: Welcome to The Elephant In The Room [00:00] Truth and honesty are what people want in agents [2:10] How sellers can pick the right agent [6:46] Dealing with property issues with the seller [10:33] Unrealistic expectations during the buying and selling journey [15:15] Agents using fear during a market that turns down [16:35] Understanding the power of established markets [21:30] Frustrating buyer behaviour [24:36] What if agents show preference over buyers [27:52] The bigger picture of real estate [33:06] What is really frustrating with vendors [37:02] Buyer’s agents [43:07] Is every property a good property? [46:19] The drive behind David’s resilience to stay independent [52:13] Access to people makes a real estate agent’s job worth it [57:13] About our Guest: David Murphy’s passion for property saw him join a successful local agency at just 19, where he was trained and mentored by one of the area’s leading real estate identities and received numerous sales awards. David’s drive to make his mark on the industry saw him start his own agency in 2007, bringing his honed sales expertise and intimate local knowledge to his network of clients. Since then he has proudly nurtured a close-knit team who are known for championing an exceptional client experience in addition to achieving market-leading results. David now regularly rates among the most recommended agents and agencies in Mosman according to ratemyagent.com.au. Both the agency’s sales business and the property management department that followed have grown organically over time, driven by a corporate culture that is encouraging, progressive and client centric. Achieving his goal of becoming the leading independent agency in Mosman, David is dedicated to giving back to the local community that has been so supportive of the agency. A lifelong Lower North Shore local, he thrives on building relationships and relishes the challenges of negotiations, aiming to position himself as a trusted long-term real estate advisor to his clients. Connect with Us: Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? www.gooddeeds.com.au Work with Veronica: https://linktr.ee/veronicamorgan Looking for a Mortgage Broker? www.wealthful.com.au Work with Chris: hello@wealthful.com.au Send in your questions to: questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au Find this episode on our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au/podcasts/261 If you’ve enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, rate and subscribe for more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 25, 2022 • 56min
How the Flying Taxi Market Will Revolutionize Urban Transportation
We may soon be able to hop in an air taxi and cross the city in a fraction of the time it takes to cross congested roads thanks to driverless cars and drone deliveries. How will this affect our airways? Does it affect the view, the noise, or the privacy? Or safety? What effect will this have on property values? In this episode, The CEO of Skyportz, Clem Newton-Brown, discussed the possibility of air taxis revolutionizing aviation transportation within the next ten to thirty years. He also shared that the idea of air taxis has been in development since 2015, when Uber introduced the concept and many more. If you enjoyed the show, do like, rate, subscribe, and share us on social media and if you have your own questions you need clarity on, email us at questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au! See you in the episode! Episode Highlights: Air Taxi Revolution Becoming Mainstream [02:21] Convey Commercially Certified Type Passengers [08:26] The Frontrunners are Already Flying [14:01] The Game Changing Cost [18:18] Federal Governments Interested in Regional Connectivity [20:24] This Aerial Revolution Will Change Tourism [25:17] Building Charging Stations To Be Ready for Electronic Aviation [30:12] Breaking the Annexes Between Aviation and Airport [37:19] Juggling with the Great Unknowns [49:56] The Big Hold-Up are the Regulators [52:50] About our Guest: Clem Newton-Brown is the CEO of Skyportz. He has undertaken a new era of advanced aerial mobility in Australia and now in Asia is identifying suitable landing sites that could help establish the initial landing infrastructure. He was Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne Member of Victorian Parliament, and barrister specialising in planning and property development. These experiences puts him at the forefront of the emerging aerial mobility industry.Visit the Skyportz to learn more: https://skyportz.com/. Connect with Us: Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? www.gooddeeds.com.au Work with Veronica: https://linktr.ee/veronicamorgan Looking for a Mortgage Broker? www.wealthful.com.au Work with Chris: hello@wealthful.com.au Send in your questions to: questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au Find this episode on our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au/podcasts/259 If you’ve enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, rate and subscribe for more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 18, 2022 • 1h 3min
The Differences Between American and Australian Property Markets | David Sidoni, How to Buy a Home Podcast
Property bears who predict that the Australian property prices will nosedive to 40% will often refer to what happened to the American property market in the mid 2000s… Is this basis reliable? Are the circumstances in both property markets similar to encounter the same outcome? In this episode, we are joined by David Sidoni, the host of How to Buy a Home Podcast, to do a comparative analysis on the Australian and American property market. We discuss the government’s control over property prices, home loan rates, drivers of property prices, buyer’s agents and more! If you enjoyed the show, do like, rate, subscribe, and share us on social media and if you have your own questions you need clarity on, email us at questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au! See you in the episode! Episode Highlights: The Great Financial Crisis [02:29] Mortgage rates in the U.S. [11:29] Economic slowdown amid inflation [19:14] The Airbnb space [23:24] The role of the buyer’s agent in US [24:46] Government manipulation of interest rates [32:18] What is the 1031 Exchange? [34:54] Closing costs, explained [41:12] What caused the Great Recession? [43:45] “Rent back”: the natural process of a sale [50:00] David’s property Dumbo [52:57] About our Guest: David Sidoni began his real estate career in 2005 and after serving hundreds of first time home buyers in southern California, in 2019 he decided he was sick and tired of seeing first time home buyers being treated like garbage by the real estate industry. He kept seeing them passed over by the experienced Realtors and used as gunnie pigs for brand new agents to “get their feet wet” and learn how to be Realtors. Well, he didn’t have time to retrain an entire industry, so he decided to start the How to Buy a Home podcast and peel back the curtain for first time buyers and let them know the insider secrets on how to find the rare professionals that would give them the service they deserve. Now with almost 800,000 downloads and hours of free education and videos at www.HowtoBuyaHome.com the revolution has begun and first timers all over the US and Canada are getting empowered with real expertise from a true advocate for all frustrated renters seeking real, quality information and guidance Links from the show: How to Buy a Home https://www.howtobuyahome.com/ Connect with Us: Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? www.gooddeeds.com.au Work with Veronica: https://linktr.ee/veronicamorgan Looking for a Mortgage Broker? www.wealthful.com.au Work with Chris: hello@wealthful.com.au Send in your questions to: questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au Find this episode on our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au/podcasts/259 If you’ve enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, rate and subscribe for more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 11, 2022 • 57min
From Rental to Regional Property Prices… What Else for 2023? | Paul Ryan, REA
Regional Australia outperforming the capital cities in both sale and rental price growth remains to be one of the major phenomena of the country’s great property boom in 2021. However, property prices in regional markets are showing signs of a nosedive. Additionally, the return of immigration might worsen the already severe rental crisis soon… In this episode, we are joined by Paul Ryan, an economist at REA, to talk about what else we can expect in the Australian housing market in 2023. We discuss measuring rental prices, rent inflation, regional versus capital markets, regional sale prices and more! If you enjoyed the show, do like, rate, subscribe, and share us on social media and if you have your own questions you need clarity on, email us at questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au! See you in the episode! Episode Highlights: The effects of remote work on housing prices [04:16] The demographic change in regional areas and capital cities [13:08] Current buyer behaviour in auctions [21:08] Seller intentions: checking property valuations [26:40] Why it’s taking longer to sell homes [30:25] Interest rate targeting of inflation [34:53] Measuring rental prices [39:54] Conversion rate of appraisals [34:45] A period of uncertainty in the property market [47:49] Paul’s Property Dumbo [53:05] About our Guest: Paul is an economist at REA, specialising in housing finance, market forecasting and big data analysis. Before joining REA in December 2020, Paul spent a decade at the Reserve Bank of Australia conducting research on the Australian economy, focusing on housing markets, lending risks and regulatory effects on property markets. Paul is based in Sydney. Links from the show: https://www.realestate.com.au/insights/what-rent-inflation-isnt-telling-you-about-the-extent-of-the-rental-crunch/ https://www.realestate.com.au/insights/five-ways-covid-changed-the-property-market/ Connect with Us: Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? www.gooddeeds.com.au Work with Veronica: https://linktr.ee/veronicamorgan Looking for a Mortgage Broker? www.wealthful.com.au Work with Chris: hello@wealthful.com.au Send in your questions to: questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au Find this episode on our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au/podcasts/258 If you’ve enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, rate and subscribe for more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 4, 2022 • 1h 1min
Inflationary Pressures and Rising Cost of Living: How Vulnerable are We? | Belinda Allen, CBA
Interest rates have been rising every month since early this year… To make matters worse, inflation is also yet to be under control. How vulnerable are homeowners and investors in a high inflationary environment and what do we need to be most worried about? Senior Economist at the Commonwealth Bank Belinda Allen joins us today to talk about Australia’s current economic landscape… How can we measure the impact of rising interest rates on household spending, mortgage arrears and the erosion of our buffers? We discuss the lag effect of interest rate rises, household spending intentions, inflationary pressures and more! If you enjoyed the show, do like, rate, subscribe, and share us on social media and if you have your own questions you need clarity on, email us at questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au! See you in the episode! Episode Highlights: Belinda Allen’s overall observation on 2022 [01:44] The fundamental drivers of inflation [07:04] Limiting household spending to maintain buffers [11:53] Wage growth in Australia [21:30] How immigration impacts population growth [24:40] Global inflation and the volatility of financial markets [27:22] Economic growth’s effect on climate change [31:52] Banks’ responses to problem hotspots [38:39] Higher retail spending during Christmas [48:04] Why forecasting during COVID was difficult [49:19] The biggest challenge is getting the pricing right [56:12] About our Guest: Belinda Allen is a Senior Economist at the Commonwealth Bank. She has extensive experience as a financial markets economist. Belinda joined the Commonwealth Bank in 2017. Her work primarily involves developing and communicating views on the Australian and international economies. Connect with Us: Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? www.gooddeeds.com.au Work with Veronica: https://linktr.ee/veronicamorgan Looking for a Mortgage Broker? www.wealthful.com.au Work with Chris: hello@wealthful.com.au Send in your questions to: questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au Find this episode on our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au/podcasts/257 If you’ve enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, rate and subscribe for more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 27, 2022 • 1h 6min
Commercial Property Risk: What Every Investor Should Know | Scott O’Neill, Rethink Investing
All seasoned investors know that commercial property is a high-yield investment that typically offers the potential for higher rents than residential property. Despite its promising opportunities, however, investing in commercial property also entails risks. In this episode of The Elephant in the Room, commercial property specialist and host of Rethink Property Investing Scott O’Neill joins us today to talk about the commercial space. What are the advantages and disadvantages of investing in commercial property? We also discuss the ideal investor profile that’s best suited for commercial property investment, how to avoid the risks, the best market conditions for retail, and more! If you enjoyed the show, do like, rate, subscribe, and share us on social media and if you have your own questions you need clarity on, email us at questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au! See you in the episode! Episode Highlights: What drove Scott O’Neill into the commercial property space [01:39] Why commercial property investment is a moving target [05:58] Ensuring higher yields in your investment [10:00] Doing due diligence [14:28] The current market conditions for commercial properties [21:20] Trends Scott O’Neill sees in the current property space [24:02] The ideal profile of a commercial property investor [30:56] Restructuring your investment portfolio [35:46] Understanding the financial element of commercial property investment [40:23] What’s a good location for a commercial property? [43:23] Scott’s property Dumbo [45:23] About our Guest: Scott O’Neill is a professional property investor, author and the Founder and Director of Rethink Investing. Rethink Investing is a BRW Fast 100 company (2017 & 2018) and Australia’s number one buyer’s agency for commercial property investors. Rethink Investing has helped over 3,050 clients purchase over $2.5 billion in real-estate since 2015. Scott also hosts the top rating podcast: Inside Commercial property https://www.rethinkinvesting.com.au/podcast/. Links from the show: Inside Commercial Property Podcast (https://www.rethinkinvesting.com.au/podcast/) Connect with Us: Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? www.gooddeeds.com.au Work with Veronica: https://linktr.ee/veronicamorgan Looking for a Mortgage Broker? www.wealthful.com.au Work with Chris: hello@wealthful.com.au Send in your questions to: questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au Find this episode on our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au/podcasts/256 If you’ve enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, rate and subscribe for more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 20, 2022 • 43min
Stamp Duty vs. Land Tax: What are the Implications for FHBs?
The NSW Government has just passed a legislation allowing first homebuyers the opportunity to choose… Should property purchasers save up another 5% on top of their deposit for stamp duty? Or commit to an annual land tax bill of a much smaller amount? In this episode of The Elephant in the Room, Chris and Veronica discuss what the NSW legislation really means for first homebuyers. Should they pay their stamp duty or land tax? What are the pros and cons of both options? If you enjoyed the show, do like, rate, subscribe, and share us on social media and if you have your own questions you need clarity on, email us at questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au! See you in the episode! Episode Highlights: New South Wales’ new tax legislation [1:06] Stamp duty versus land tax: how are they calculated [04:00] How will this impact investors [12:34] Veronica’s Property Dumbo [16:33] The impact on borrowing capacity [21:36] Three groups of buyers impacted by interest rate rises [25:09] Focusing on quality assets rather than panic buying [30:35] Making the right choice [35:04] Connect with Us: Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? www.gooddeeds.com.au Work with Veronica: https://linktr.ee/veronicamorgan Looking for a Mortgage Broker? www.wealthful.com.au Work with Chris: hello@wealthful.com.au Send in your questions to: questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au Find this episode on our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au/podcasts/255 If you’ve enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, share, rate and subscribe for more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


