The RBA has lifted the cash rate to 3.85% (4 February 2026) — the first hike in over two years. 📈🇦🇺 But will higher interest rates actually bring inflation down… or will it just squeeze mortgage holders while prices keep rising? 💸🏠 In this episode of Talk Property To Me, hosts Brad East and Aaron Downie break down why they believe rate hikes won't fix Australia's biggest inflation drivers — especially supply-side inflation, electricity costs, government spending, and the impact of an ageing population spending more as rates rise. ⚡🧾👵

They also dive into the rental crisis, record-low vacancy rates, and why increasing mortgage costs can flow directly into higher rents. 🏡📉

✅ What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why the RBA hikes rates (and why it may not work) 📊

• Demand vs supply inflation (the key difference) 🧠

• Electricity prices + policy failures (21.5% YoY mentioned) ⚡

• Why mortgage holders get punished while others spend more 🏠

• Australia's ageing population effect on inflation 👵💰

• Migration vs new home builds: why rents keep rising 🏗️

• Vacancy rates collapsing (Orange: 0.5%) 😳

• Why higher rates can push rents up again 📈🏘️

• Modular/tiny homes at Bunnings: a new supply angle 🧰

Victoria's Windfall Gains Tax (WGT) is one of the most controversial property taxes in Australia — and many investors still don't know it exists. 🇦🇺🏠💸 In this episode of Talk Property To Me, hosts Brad East and Aaron Downie break down how the Victorian Windfall Gains Tax works, why it's often called a "hidden property tax", and how it can charge up to 62.5% on rezoning-related land value increases — even on unrealised gains (yes, you can get a tax bill without selling the property). ⚠️📩

If you own property in Victoria, invest in Australian real estate, buy land in growth corridors, or you're watching rezoning changes (low density → medium/high density), this episode is a must-watch. We cover the $100,000 threshold, marginal tax rates, real examples, land tax comparisons (VIC vs NSW), exemptions, deferral options, and why this policy may impact housing supply, developers, and private investors. 📈🧾

🔍 Key Topics Covered:

✔️ What is the Victorian Windfall Gains Tax (WGT)?

✔️ How rezoning triggers a tax bill (even if you don't sell)

✔️ Example: land value doubles → massive tax liability

✔️ The 62.5% marginal rate explained

✔️ Victoria land tax vs NSW thresholds

✔️ Exemptions & deferring payment until sale

✔️ What investors can realistically do

In this episode of Talk Property To Me, hosts Brad East and Aaron Downie break down one of the most powerful wealth-building strategies in Australian real estate: how everyday homeowners are using equity in their existing home to buy investment properties with zero cash deposit. Most Australians assume they need years of savings to buy an investment property — but many are already sitting on usable equity without realising it.

In this episode, Brad and Aaron explain step-by-step how investors are extracting equity from their owner-occupied home, structuring loans correctly, and using that equity to fund deposits, stamp duty, and purchase costs — without using personal savings.

This is not hype, and it's not a "get rich quick" scheme — it's a real-world, bank-approved strategy used by everyday "mum and dad" investors across Australia.

🔍 Key Topics Covered:

✔️ How equity actually works in Australian property 🏠

✔️ The 80% rule and avoiding Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI)

✔️ When paying LMI can make sense for faster growth

✔️ Using equity instead of cash deposits 💰

✔️ Zero deposit property investing explained

✔️ How to structure loans properly (splits & tax strategy)

✔️ Why equity release is NOT "free money"

✔️ Buffers, offsets, and risk management 📊

✔️ The step-by-step process to buy your first investment property

✔️ Common mistakes investors make (cross-collateralisation, over-leverage, rental overestimation)

✔️ How everyday Australians build property portfolios safely