Property Buzz: Market uncertainty? Just go back to the basics

Property Buzz: The buyer's agency shock exposing million-dollar portfolios risked on promises, not performance

Investors are reeling from the sudden liquidation of a prominent buyer's agency, but the real fallout will come from the regulatory reckoning it triggers, not just the immediate financial losses. On the Property Buzz podcast, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman from Momentum Media cut through the noise around the collapse of Dashdot and the wave of speculation hitting the property advice sector. The pair warn that the biggest issue right now isn't just the failed business itself, but the broader rise of industry gimmicks and high-pressure sales tactics that leave everyday consumers incredibly vulnerable. They explore how a controversial offshore share transfer to the British Virgin Islands complicates recovery for stranded creditors, while also raising critical questions about the ethics of demanding 100 per cent upfront fees and offering unbacked performance guarantees. The discussion also highlights how the industry is already reacting behind the scenes, with the sudden promotion of sub-scale, unvetted operators to take over affected clients highlighting a severe lack of professional standards. But despite the noise, the message is consistent. The duo warn that until formal regulatory guardrails and licensing requirements are established, the smartest move for property investors is to stick to "boring", proven professionals and avoid being lured in by social media hype.

Why the end of Perth's boom keeps getting pushed back

While most of the country worries about slowing markets and policy uncertainty, Perth's fundamentals continue to suggest the boom is far from being over. In a special crossover podcast episode of Smart Property Investment and Real Estate Business, Liam Garman sits down with Ashby Farrell from WHTEARCH to explore why Perth continues to outperform while Sydney and Melbourne lose momentum. Farrell explains that Perth's growth is being driven by genuine owner-occupier demand rather than investor speculation, creating a level of resilience rarely seen in other capital cities. The discussion highlights how rising construction costs, labour shortages, and supply constraints are making established homes increasingly attractive, with many properties now impossible to replace at their current market value. The episode also explores the potential impact of proposed changes to negative gearing, capital gains tax, and rental legislation, and why Perth may be better positioned than most markets to absorb any policy shocks. Farrell argues that despite ongoing uncertainty, the fundamentals supporting Perth remain firmly intact, with affordability, population growth, and lifestyle appeal continuing to drive demand. Did you like this episode? Show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts [https://apple.co/2yvaRZK] (REB Podcast Network) and by liking and following Real Estate Business on social media: Facebook [https://bit.ly/2gr90k8], X [https://bit.ly/2gryU77] and LinkedIn [https://bit.ly/2yqssV8]. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend a voice to the show, email editor@realestatebusiness.com.au [editor@realestatebusiness.com.au] for more insights.

From start-up to 3.5k properties: The blueprint behind the growth

Most property management businesses never break through the growth ceiling, but this agency scaled from a garage to 3,500 properties in just seven years. Here is how they did it. On The Property Management Excellence (PMX) Podcast, Alex Whitlock sits down with Housemark CEO Natalie South to share the systems, structure, and leadership model behind one of Australia's fastest-growing property management businesses. South said that while traditional models often fail to scale, Housemark's focus on relationships, specialised roles, and operational structure has enabled the business to grow rapidly without sacrificing service. The duo highlights the importance of direct communication with landlords, team development, and the creation of clear career pathways to attract and retain top talent. The episode also explores Housemark's expansion into Victoria, where legislative complexity and lower management fees are creating both challenges and opportunities for growth. South shares how technology can improve efficiency and customer experience, but warns that systems alone are not enough without the right people and processes behind them. The duo emphasises that building a property management powerhouse isn't about managing more properties; it's about building a business designed to scale.

Property Buzz: Major buyer's agency collapses. Auctions freeze. Is the worst yet to come?

The budget fallout has begun. With one of Australia's largest buyer's agencies collapsing and consumer confidence disappearing, are there still opportunities in the market? On this week's Property Buzz, hosts Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman break down the growing chaos hitting Australia's property market, from collapsing auction clearance rates and rising investor panic to the turmoil now ripping through the buyer's agency sector. In Sydney, the auction market has fallen to COVID-19-era lows, with more homes now passing in than selling as buyer confidence weakens and uncertainty continues to build. But will increasing yields now reverse this trend? The duo also explore the collapse of buyer's agency Dashdot, highlighting how rising client acquisition costs, weaker sentiment, and tightening lending conditions are placing enormous pressure on property businesses across the country. Additionally, hanging over the entire market are the proposed changes to negative gearing and capital gains tax, reforms that could slash borrowing capacity, tighten rental supply and dramatically reshape how Australians invest in property. The pressure is building quickly, and while emotional investors react to fear and headlines, strategic investors will be best positioned when the market stabilises.

Tax changes, soft market: Here are the new rules of winning listings in 2026

Most agents are still trying to win listings like it's 2021, but in today's softer market, they're losing ground fast. Vendors are getting pickier, and they're choosing agents who show up as trusted advisors armed with data, strategy, and certainty, not just a confident handshake. On the REB Podcast, deputy editor Emilie Lauer sits down with PRD chief economist Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo to break down how agents can stay competitive as market conditions tighten and investor sentiment shifts. Mardiasmo explains how rising rates, global uncertainty, and the latest federal budget changes have reshaped buyer and seller behaviour, putting increased pressure on agents to move beyond transactional selling and become trusted advisors. The discussion highlights why agents who understand both macroeconomic trends and hyper-local market data are outperforming competitors, particularly as listings become harder to secure and clients demand deeper insights. The episode also explores why Brisbane has remained more resilient than Sydney and Melbourne, with infrastructure demand and Olympic-driven supply constraints continuing to support the Queensland market. Mardiasmo also points to the growing trend of residential investors shifting into commercial assets like strip retail and industrial property as they search for stronger returns and greater stability. In a market filled with uncertainty, the duo urges agents to know their numbers if they want to win the listings. Did you like this episode? Show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts [https://apple.co/2yvaRZK] (REB Podcast Network) and by liking and following Real Estate Business on social media: Facebook [https://bit.ly/2gr90k8], X [https://bit.ly/2gryU77] and LinkedIn [https://bit.ly/2yqssV8]. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend a voice to the show, email editor@realestatebusiness.com.au [editor@realestatebusiness.com.au] for more insights.