Beyond the median: 10 Melbourne property case studies that outperformed…and why 

flat market

According to Cotality, since its daily index began at the start of 2010, Melbourne house values have risen by around 4% p.a., which is only about 1.3% p.a. above inflation.   But of course, not every property has delivered such a mediocre result. That begs the real question: which types of properties have outperformed over this period, and what …

Read more

CGT discount changes: what property investors need to do now 

The Senate committee reviewing the CGT discount released its final report yesterday. Commentators are now suggesting the government could reduce the CGT discount for property investors and potentially cap negative gearing to two or three properties.  Let’s look at the impact a change to the CGT discount could have.  Why is CGT under the microscope?   The government …

Read more

The Forever Test: The one principle behind all long-term wealth  

There is one investment principle that, if you truly understand it, will help you make the smartest financial decisions and create the most wealth in the long run.   I know that sounds like hyperbole, but I assure you, it’s not. I cannot overstate how important this principal is.  The most important investment principal is…  The principle is simple: buy the investments with the strongest past evidence and fundamentals to …

Read more

Non-bank borrowing is much higher – when to use them  

The lending landscape has changed dramatically since I started this business in 2002, and especially over the last decade.   The gap between bank lenders and non-bank lenders has never been wider.   For borrowers, understanding these differences can materially shape what you can do, how fast you can do it, and in some cases, it can make or break …

Read more

The AI trade – what can we learn from the dot-com bubble? 

AI has quickly gone from tech buzzword to investment obsession, with “the AI trade” now shorthand for backing the companies most likely to benefit from its growth.   But before you assume today’s obvious winners will still look obvious in a decade, it is worth revisiting the last time a world-changing technology captivated markets. The dot-com era offers a surprisingly …

Read more

Financial modelling for wealth: Advice or sales pitch?

There are a growing number of businesses offering financial modelling as part of their services, particularly in the property industry i.e. buyer’s agents.   It is not uncommon for buyers’ agents to provide you with a model of how you might build wealth through investing in multiple properties. These projections typically include cash flow and net worth over time, which can make it easier to …

Read more

Property vs Shares: The hidden incentives behind the advice  

incentives advice

Conflicts of interest exist in many parts of the Australian financial services industry. The problem is that not all of them are obvious, especially to people outside the industry.  It is also important to understand that a conflict of interest does not automatically mean someone is doing the wrong thing. Even an adviser who is honest, competent, …

Read more

Do ethical investments produce higher or lower returns? 

Ethical Investing

There is a growing number of ethical investing options available, both as ETFs and within super funds. For most investors, the idea of investing ethically is appealing. The real question, though, is whether choosing ethical options are riskier or produce lower returns over time.  If the risk and future returns are the same, or even better, then I think many more investors …

Read more

A two-speed property market in 2026: where prices rise next (and where they will not) 

2 Speed

If you are thinking about buying, selling, upgrading, or investing in property over the course of 2026, you are probably wondering what property prices will do this year.   In this blog, I revisit the evidence-based factors that matter most: loan volumes, borrowing capacity, interest rate expectations, interstate migration, and where each capital city sits in its cycle.   I also explain why …

Read more