In this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, host Phil Tarrant speaks with Rohit Gehlot, director and principal buyer's agent at InvestorAid, about the current state and outlook of the Australian property market.

They discuss how global geopolitical tensions, including the conflict in the Middle East, are contributing to higher fuel costs and adding to Australia's inflation pressures.

With inflation potentially rising above the Reserve Bank of Australia's target band and exceeding 4.5 per cent, they note the resulting pressure on interest rates and investor sentiment.

Despite this, Tarrant says the Australian property market still offers opportunities for prepared, well-capitalised investors.

Gehlot shares his own journey, building a portfolio of 13 properties worth around $13–14 million after entering the market in 2021 during a period of low interest rates and strong liquidity.

The pair also discuss potential policy changes around capital gains tax discounts and negative gearing, which could influence investor behaviour but also create uncertainty.

They highlight immigration-driven population growth as a key demand driver, particularly in tight rental markets.

Overall, the duo says that over the next few years, the property market will be shaped by inflation, interest rates, and policy shifts, with strategic and adaptable investors best positioned to succeed.

If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.

If you would like to get in touch with our team, email editor@smartpropertyinvestment.com.au for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.

In this episode of The Property Nerds, hosts Arjun Paliwal and Jack Fouracre are joined by investor Vignesh Rajashekar to discuss building a growing property portfolio before the age of 30.

Rajashekar shares how his financial mindset was shaped by his father, a first-generation immigrant who emphasised saving, discipline, and long-term thinking.

At just 23, he began exploring property investment instead of lifestyle spending, choosing to prioritise assets over depreciating purchases.

His first purchase was a $470,000 house in Adelaide in 2021, which has since appreciated significantly, demonstrating the potential of well-researched interstate investing.

The episode also explores the psychological shift required to move from saving cash to managing larger levels of debt tied to property investment.

After building equity in his first property, Rajashekar leveraged it to purchase another investment in Bundaberg in 2023, accelerating the growth of his portfolio.

He highlights the importance of surrounding yourself with a trusted team of advisers and relying on data-driven insights when investing in unfamiliar markets.

Overall, the discussion underscores how starting early, maintaining discipline, and focusing on long-term opportunity costs can help young Australians build wealth through property.

In this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, host Phil Tarrant sits down with Rob Le and Eva Loisance from Finni Mortgages to explore the growing role of self-managed super funds (SMSFs) in property investment.

The discussion opens on the current lending landscape, with debt-to-income (DTI) ratios potentially limiting borrowing, though Le notes the property market remains active as investors pursue pre-approvals via SMSFs, personal names, or trusts.

Loisance explains the mechanics of SMSF lending, including serviceability and liquidity tests that require a portion of the loan to remain in liquid assets post-settlement, though some lenders are more flexible.

The trio highlights key SMSF lenders, including Granite, BMM, AMP, RedZed, and Firstmac, noting their differing criteria and levels of conservatism.

Loisance and Le emphasise the importance of understanding serviceability versus DTI ratios to maximise borrowing potential.

They advise consulting financial planners and accountants to navigate contributions, liquidity requirements, and regulatory rules effectively.

Finally, while SMSFs offer a way to continue property investment and strategies like leasing commercial properties back to a business, professional guidance is essential to manage higher interest rates, loan-to-value (LVR) ratio limits, and compliance considerations.

If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.

If you would like to get in touch with our team, email editor@smartpropertyinvestment.com.au for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.

In this live episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, hosts Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman unpack the forces shaping Australia's property market: from global geopolitical tensions to tax reform, interest rate pressures, and new proposals from the Victorian government.

They discuss how real estate underpins the nation's economy and examine how events in the Middle East could ripple through supply chains, fuel security, and inflation – before exploring what this means for investment portfolios if interest rates rise further.

Tarrant and Garman also tackle proposed changes to capital gains tax and negative gearing, including suggestions from the member for Wentworth, Allegra Spender, highlighting the need for policy certainty and the protection of existing investments to maintain trust in the financial system.

Finally, they turn to industry reforms, including Victoria's proposed build and pest report requirements, and the potential impact on buyers as sellers could selectively present favourable reports.

If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.

If you would like to get in touch with our team, email editor@smartpropertyinvestment.com.au for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.

In this episode of The Pure Property Podcast, co-hosts Phil Tarrant and Paul Glossop explain how investors can pivot their strategies to navigate geopolitical and interest rate uncertainty in 2026.

They analyse the potential impact of changes to the capital gains tax (CGT) discount and discuss how investors can repivot and plan their portfolios strategically.

The hosts highlight how the proposed reforms could shift investor behaviour – encouraging longer-term holding rather than speculative buying and selling – which may increase rental pressure but is unlikely to improve overall housing affordability.

Tarrant's recent acquisition in a growth market illustrates this strategy in action. By targeting an emerging area and positioning for long-term capital growth, he shows that research, timing, and a clear plan are key to navigating uncertainty.

Glossop and Tarrant emphasise that while tax changes may be politically appealing, they do little to solve Australia's real housing challenge: a chronic shortage of new dwellings driven by slow approvals, strong migration, and shrinking household sizes.

In this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, Dawn Fouhy from Future Proof Property Advisory joins host Liam Garman to unpack the art of the exit: reading market signals, timing sales, and planning profitable, strategic exits.

Fouhy stresses starting with the end in mind, explaining why a clear exit strategy drives sustainable growth and prevents costly mistakes. She warns against buying based on hype or anecdotes instead of a structured plan.

The conversation then explores how top investors stand out through disciplined portfolio management and letting go of properties that no longer fit their goals. She highlights an often overlooked lever to financial freedom – principal place of residence (PPOR) mortgage reduction.

Finally, the 2026 Real Estate Business Buyer's Agent of the Year delves into the psychology of investing, from aligning decisions with lifestyle goals to avoiding emotional traps, and shares practical tips on market timing, commercial versus residential opportunities, and adapting to policy changes.

If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.

If you would like to get in touch with our team, email editor@smartpropertyinvestment.com.au for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.

In this episode of The Property Nerds, host Arjun Paliwal speaks with investor Ani Vemulpad about building wealth through strategic property investing and thinking beyond one's local market.

The conversation begins with Vemulpad reflecting on the beginning of his journey, driven by a desire to understand wealth creation, something he realised was rarely taught in schools.

Recognising the scale of Australia's residential real estate market, he chose not to limit his investments to his backyard and instead built a diversified portfolio across states, including NSW, Victoria, Queensland, and South Australia.

Using a data-driven approach, Vemulpad targeted markets with strong fundamentals, investing early in places like Adelaide and Toowoomba before they became widely recognised growth locations.

A key theme of the discussion is the ability to separate emotion from investment decisions, focusing on long-term performance rather than how a property looks.

Even when faced with setbacks, such as an underperforming apartment purchase in Melbourne, Vemulpad treated the experience as a learning opportunity rather than a failure.

As his portfolio matured, he shifted from purely growth-focused assets toward investments that could also deliver passive income, including acquiring a rare unit block.

The episode concludes with Vemulpad sharing how he achieved his long-term goal of buying a home in Sydney, highlighting how taking action, disciplined strategy, and adaptability can turn property into a powerful wealth-building tool.

In this episode of The Smart Property Investment Show, SPI managing editor Liam Garman sits down with James Nelis from The Nelis Group to discuss how elite sport discipline and having a champion's mindset build a powerhouse property portfolio.

Nelis, a former semi-professional Australian Football League (AFL) player, draws on 15 years of experience in elite sport to show how discipline, strategy, and resilience drive successful property investing.

Similar to training, Nelis champions the "one percenters" approach, proving that tiny, consistent actions compound into major property wins.

A key takeaway from Nelis' strategy is "sequencing versus timing," encouraging investors to focus on their stage in the financial journey while using a "Moneyball"-style approach to let data guide, not dictate, their investment decisions.

Nelis also warns investors against overcommitting, recalling a period of over-leveraging during rising interest rates to stress-test financial limits.

He also stresses the need to manage ego and emotion to avoid short-term market swings from derailing long-term plans, while building a diversified portfolio in which each property serves a clear purpose for sustainable growth.

If you like this episode, show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts and by following Smart Property Investment on social media: Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn.

If you would like to get in touch with our team, email editor@smartpropertyinvestment.com.au for more insights, or hear your voice on the show by recording a question below.