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

In this episode of Talk Property To Me, hosts Brad East and Aaron Downie unpack the growing debate around scrapping capital gains tax (CGT) discounts in Australia — and whether this move would actually fix housing affordability or make the crisis even worse.

With mounting pressure on the government to reform CGT, many argue that pushing investors out of the market will help first-home buyers. But is that really how the Australian property market works?

In this episode, we break down:

👉Why removing CGT discounts may reduce rental supply, not prices

👉Who property investors really are (hint: mostly mum-and-dad owners)

👉How low vacancy rates and rising rents could worsen if investors exit

👉Why supply, not tax changes, is the real housing problem

👉The unintended consequences of targeting investors instead of building homes

If you're a home buyer, investor, or renter, this episode explains what CGT reform could mean for property prices, rents, and long-term housing affordability in Australia.

🔍 Key Topics Covered:

✔️ What is Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and how the discount works

✔️ Why scrapping CGT could reduce rental supply

✔️ The real drivers behind Australia's housing crisis

✔️ Investors vs first-home buyers — who really drives prices?

✔️ Why building more homes matters more than tax reform

✔️ Long-term risks of political housing decisions

In this episode of Talk Property To Me, hosts Brad East and Aaron Downie break down why inflation is rising again and what it could mean for Australia's interest rates in 2026. With electricity prices, rent and housing costs keeping inflation elevated, the big question is: will the RBA hike in February 2026, or hold and reassess mid-year?

We unpack the key drivers behind the latest inflation headlines, why rate rises don't fix electricity prices, and what the Big Four banks are predicting (with opinions split). If you're a homeowner, investor, or planning to buy, this episode focuses on practical strategy—how to think about borrowing capacity, buffers, and staying calm when the media goes "doom and gloom."

Key topics covered

✔️ Australia inflation 2026: what's pushing it higher

✔️ RBA interest rates 2026: February hike vs hold

✔️ Why electricity costs keep inflation sticky (and why rates won't fix it)

✔️ Rent, housing supply, vacancy rates & the pressure on the market

✔️ Big Four bank predictions and what they imply for borrowers

✔️ Practical advice: don't max borrowing capacity + build an offset buffer

In this episode of Talk Property To Me, hosts Brad East and Aaron Downie break down the Top 5 property sales of 2025 — including Sydney's record $82.5M waterfront deal in Rose Bay, an $81M Barangaroo penthouse, and more jaw-dropping prestige sales across Vaucluse, Bellevue Hill, and Mosman.

If you follow Sydney luxury real estate, waterfront homes, and high-end property investing, this episode is packed with insights on scarcity, record pricing, buyers' agents, and how "manufacturing equity" through renovations applies from $50M homes all the way down to everyday investors.

🔍 Key Topics Covered:

✔️ Australia's biggest property sales of 2025 (Top 5)

✔️ Rose Bay's $82.5M waterfront record sale

✔️ Barangaroo's $81M penthouse — why it's worth it

✔️ Why scarcity drives Sydney's prestige prices

✔️ Buyers' agents at the ultra-luxury end of the market

✔️ "Manufacturing equity" with renovations (and how investors can copy it)

In this episode of Talk Property To Me, hosts Brad East and Aaron Downie break down the Australia property market outlook for 2026, with a deep dive into Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. We analyse suburb-level data, long-term price trends, and the key infrastructure projects shaping growth over the next few years — including transport upgrades, hospital expansion, rezoning changes, and population growth drivers.

Rather than broad national headlines, this episode focuses on where the real opportunities are forming and why some suburbs will outperform others as we move into 2026.

🔍 Key Topics Covered

✔️ Australia property market forecast for 2026

✔️ Newcastle vs Lake Macquarie growth trends

✔️ Why suburb selection matters more than city averages

✔️ Infrastructure projects driving future price growth

✔️ Best areas for owner-occupiers vs investors

✔️ Affordability, interest rates & long-term demand

✔️ Risk profiles and sustainable growth strategies

If you're considering buying, investing, or simply want a clear, data-driven view of what's next, this episode will help you understand where growth is coming from and why.

In this episode of Talk Property To Me, hosts Brad East and Aaron Downie break down what banks really look at when approving a home loan in Australia — and why having a big deposit alone is no longer enough. If you're planning to buy a home in 2025 or 2026, this episode is essential viewing. We explain how lenders assess your spending habits, credit score, borrowing power, and financial behaviour, and why so many buyers are shocked when their loan is rejected.

In this episode, we cover:

Why banks rely on the Household Expenditure Measure (HEM)

How your spending habits impact borrowing capacity

Why credit behaviour matters more than your deposit

The hidden impact of credit cards & Buy Now Pay Later

How loan enquiries can damage your credit score

Why speaking to a mortgage broker can dramatically improve approval odds

Whether you're a first home buyer, upgrading, or planning your next investment, this episode will help you avoid costly mistakes and understand how lenders really think.

🔍 Key Topics Covered

✔️ Mortgage approval process in Australia

✔️ Credit score requirements explained

✔️ Borrowing power & household expenses

✔️ Why banks reject home loans

✔️ How to improve your loan approval chances