Episode 3: Housing Headwinds, Industry Change & The Future of Real Estate

This week on Before the Weekend, Peter Schravemade and Kasey McDonald unpack the biggest stories shaping the property industry right now.

Fresh from AREC 2026, they discuss attendance, industry sentiment, and the conversations happening both inside and outside Australia's largest real estate conference.

The centrepiece of the episode is an exclusive interview with Tim Lawless, Executive Research Director at Cotality, who shares his insights on housing affordability, rental pressures, investor participation, construction feasibility, and why Australia may be facing its most significant housing downturn in decades.

Peter and Kasey also explore:

• The growing affordability crisis across Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
• Why renters may have reached their financial limit.
• The unintended consequences of recent negative gearing and capital gains tax changes.
• The challenges facing first home buyers.
• Construction costs, labour shortages and housing supply constraints.
• What a changing market means for agents, principals and property professionals.
  

The episode also features highlights from Peter's interview with Jacqui Barnes following the release of her groundbreaking Real Women in Real Estate Report. The discussion explores leadership, career progression, agency culture, retention, workplace behaviour, and the future of women in real estate.

Whether you're an agent, property manager, business owner, investor or industry leader, this episode offers practical insights into the forces shaping Australian real estate today.

Leanne Pilkington - Leadership, Legacy, and the Future of Real Estate

Fresh from AREC and just days after receiving the prestigious REIA President’s Award at the REIA NAFE, Leanne Pilkington joins Peter Schravemade for a candid Quick Bite recorded at the Loose Moose on the Gold Coast.

In this fast-moving conversation, Leanne reflects on the changing face of AREC, the influx of first-time attendees and New Zealand agents, and why industry recognition means more when it comes from your peers. She shares stories from her early days answering phones in her father’s real estate office at just 12 years old, through to becoming one of the most influential voices in Australian real estate leadership.

The discussion also dives into:

• The evolution of women in real estate leadership
• The origins of Real Women in Real Estate
• Concerns around industry standards and bad behaviour
• The importance of culture and choosing the right agency
• Why flexibility matters for retaining talent
• Her work with Head Start Homes helping people transition from social housing into home ownership
• Thoughts on legacy, leadership, and giving back to the next generation
  

This Quick Bite is honest, thoughtful, and packed with perspective from someone who has helped shape the Australian property industry over multiple decades.

In this Quick Bite episode of Before the Weekend, Peter Schravemade sits down in Melbourne with Antonia Mercorella, CEO of the REIQ, for a timely conversation about the growing challenge of entering the Australian property market.

Recorded in the wake of the Federal Budget, the discussion moves beyond politics and headlines to explore the real issues affecting first-home buyers, including housing supply shortages, financial literacy, lending complexity, rentvesting, and the confidence gap many younger Australians are feeling.

Peter and Antonia unpack:

• Why home ownership feels further away for younger generations
• The importance of financial literacy and understanding lending
• Buying with friends or family as a pathway into the market
• Rentvesting and purchasing outside preferred suburbs
• How market data and technology are changing buyer behaviour
• The role proptech tools can play in helping buyers prepare financially

The episode also references organisations and tools including the REIQ, REIV, and ScaleApp.

A practical and grounded conversation for anyone trying to understand today’s housing market and find a pathway into home ownership.