Strategic Property Insights

Reverse mortgages – often misunderstood, sometimes overlooked and occasionally dismissed altogether. When it comes to retirement, most people spend decades focused on building wealth… but far fewer spend time planning how to actually use that wealth. In the right circumstances, reverse mortgages can be a powerful tool to unlock equity and support your lifestyle in retirement. Before you make any decisions, let’s break this down properly What Is a Reverse Mortgage? A reverse m

Welcome to the Property Planner’s Monthly Market Update, your comprehensive resource for the latest insights and trends in the property and economic landscape!

Learn how choosing the right ownership structure for your investment property can protect tax outcomes and long-term wealth.

Before you renovate, learn how to prepare your property for sale and avoid costly mistakes that reduce your final sale price.

Welcome to the Property Planner’s Monthly Market Update, your comprehensive resource for the latest insights and trends in the property and economic landscape!

Learn how debt recycling works, when it helps build wealth, and why it may slow paying off your home loan.

How accurate were our 2025 property predictions? We score ourselves and reflect on what really happened.

APRA has announced a new cap on high debt-to-income lending. From February 2026, banks will be allowed to write no more than 20% of new loans with a debt-to-income (DTI) ratio of six or above. The limit applies separately to owner occupiers and investors. It’s also a hard cap, not a benchmark. On current data, the cap is not binding, but banks won’t want to run right up to the limit. Some lenders may tighten internal credit policies early and this is most likely to impact inv

Welcome to the Property Planner’s Monthly Market Update, your comprehensive resource for the latest insights and trends in the real estate and economic landscape! Stay informed and ahead of the curve with our expert analysis, helping you make well-informed decisions in the ever-evolving property market. 2025: Stronger Than Anyone Expected National dwelling values rose 8.6% in 2025, comfortably outperforming 2024’s 4.9% result and making it the strongest year since the COVID-f

Borrowing capacity is one of the most misunderstood parts of the mortgage process, particularly when a positively geared investment property enters the picture. On the surface, it feels logical. More income should mean more borrowing power. But once lender calculators, income shading, and assessment buffers come into play, the answer becomes far less straightforward. This is exactly where confusion around borrowing capacity tends to start. Scenario: Same Income, Same Expenses

Airbnb and other short-term rentals have become incredibly popular with property investors. Strong nightly rates, flexible use and impressive cash flow can make these properties look like a clear win. But when it comes to borrowing power, Airbnb income doesn’t always deliver the result many investors expect. A property can be producing excellent cash flow in real life and still add very little to borrowing power on paper. Understanding why lenders treat Airbnb and short-term

Competition in property isn’t just what happens on auction day. It operates on two levels at once. There’s the micro level, where buyers are directly competing against each other, and there’s the macro level, where the broader market is quietly heating up or cooling down in the background. Understanding both is critical, because by the time competition becomes obvious, it’s often already too late to adjust strategy. Early Signs of a Highly Competitive Property At the coalface

It’s that time of year again. We’re dusting off the crystal ball, pouring over the data and we take a hard look at where the winds are actually blowing. Here’s how we see 2026 unfolding. Inflation: The Deciding Factor Inflation is the single most important variable in our 2026 outlook. If it’s brought under control, interest rates can ease and property prices can move higher with confidence. If inflation proves sticky, rate cuts stall and the risk of further increases remains

A critical driver of capital growth The ‘Land to Asset Ratio’ is a phrase we have been using since the early 2000’s to describe one critical assessment we undertake when reviewing the quality of investment properties. This phrase has steadily crept into the vernacular of other property professionals, but is not yet readily understood by most investors. What is Land to Asset Ratio? Knowing the Land to Asset Ratio is important because increasing land value is a primary driver o

Discover how kids impact your borrowing power and what parents need to know before buying, investing or renovating.

Explore key retirement strategies to manage property, debt and wealth for a secure future. Learn how to make smart financial decisions.

In today’s blog, we delve into the data points that signal the potential for recovery emerging in Melbourne’s property market

We dive into what happens in the final week leading up to the auction and the intricacies of the day itself from the perspective of real estate agents, to give you the inside scoop. We’ll explore the meticulous preparations, potential hurdles, and behind-the-scenes activities that define the auction process.

In this blog, we will delve into the performance risks and potential downsides you need to be aware of before making such an investment.

As strong believers in the value of teamwork, discipline and community spirit, we are proud to support the Camberwell Magpies Junior Cricket Club. The club plays an important role in nurturing young cricketers, including both of David’s son, who has loved being part of the Magpies community. The Magpies have a proud tradition in Victorian cricket, providing opportunities for juniors to learn, grow and thrive. Their commitment to skill development, sportsmanship and inclusion