Melbourne Property Update: The Forces Moving the Market

Melbourne Property Update: The Forces Moving the Market

Since we published the 2026 Wakelin Melbourne Property Report early this year, the landscape has shifted materially. Negative gearing and capital gains tax (CGT) changes have been legislated. New state-level reforms are in play. And the confidence that was beginning to rebuild through 2025 has been tested from multiple directions at once. In this episode, Jarrod surveys the forces now shaping Melbourne's market – what's been settled, what's still pending, and what the data is telling us about conditions on the ground. * What the confirmed negative gearing, CGT and super fund borrowing changes mean for investors now * Why proposed disclosed reserve laws could push sales toward less transparent processes * How clearance rates, supply and rents are tracking in mid-2026 * Why a softer market creates a genuine opportunity for upgraders Read the blog at wakelin.com.au [https://wakelin.com.au/melbourne-property-update-the-forces-moving-the-market/] We enjoy providing you with free insights into the Melbourne property market and property investment more broadly. Thank you for listening.  If you like what you hear, subscribe, like, rate or follow us and tell your friends and family. Investing in property makes sense.  Investing in the right property takes knowledge. To learn more visit www.wakelin.com.au [https://www.wakelin.com.au]  |  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wakelinpropertyadvisory]  |  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/WakelinPropertyAdvisory/]  | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/wakelin-property-advisory]  |  YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFskGsWpJ46qpS7V54NQoDg]  |  Email [info@wakelin.com.au]

The questions property buyers and sellers don't ask – but should

Most clients come to us with the obvious questions well prepared – what's my property worth, where should I buy, which agent should I use.  But some of the most consequential questions are the ones that never get asked. In this episode, Jarrod walks through the questions and actions that buyers and sellers routinely overlook – and explains why the answers can make a material difference to the outcome. * How time limits on buying services can reveal whether your agent's motivations are aligned with yours * Why identifying your most likely buyer is the single question that unlocks every other selling decision * The owners' corporation habit that separates properties that hold their value from those that don't * Why spending your full budget isn't always the smartest move We enjoy providing you with free insights into the Melbourne property market and property investment more broadly. Thank you for listening.  If you like what you hear, subscribe, like, rate or follow us and tell your friends and family. Investing in property makes sense.  Investing in the right property takes knowledge. To learn more visit www.wakelin.com.au [https://www.wakelin.com.au]  |  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wakelinpropertyadvisory]  |  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/WakelinPropertyAdvisory/]  | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/wakelin-property-advisory]  |  YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFskGsWpJ46qpS7V54NQoDg]  |  Email [info@wakelin.com.au]

Two Properties, Two Perspectives: Why Renters and Investors Want Different Things

A renter and an investor walk into the same property – and see completely different things. One wants comfort, condition and convenience. The other wants scarcity, growth potential and the ability to add value over time. More often than not, those priorities point in different directions. In this episode, Jarrod and Jordan put this to the test with two real North Fitzroy properties – a recently renovated townhouse and a Victorian terrace – each assessed through both lenses. * Why the townhouse delivers everything a renter wants but hits a ceiling for investors * What makes the terrace a renter's compromise but an investor's opportunity * How scarcity value, value-add potential and owners' corporation constraints shape the investment case * The distinction between the best yield today and the best asset long-term Images of both properties are available on the Wakelin blog at wakelin.com.au [https://wakelin.com.au/pov-investors-vs-renters-two-properties-two-perspectives/]   We enjoy providing you with free insights into the Melbourne property market and property investment more broadly. Thank you for listening.  If you like what you hear, subscribe, like, rate or follow us and tell your friends and family. Investing in property makes sense.  Investing in the right property takes knowledge. To learn more visit www.wakelin.com.au [https://www.wakelin.com.au]  |  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wakelinpropertyadvisory]  |  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/WakelinPropertyAdvisory/]  | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/wakelin-property-advisory]  |  YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFskGsWpJ46qpS7V54NQoDg]  |  Email [info@wakelin.com.au]

Returning Home? What Expats Should Consider Before Buying Property

With Melbourne offering genuine value relative to other capitals and the family home sitting in an increasingly attractive tax position, it's no surprise that expat enquiry has been picking up. Uncertain times have a way of drawing people home. But buying a family home from overseas – or immediately upon return – is a very different exercise from a standard purchase. The planning, the timing and the priorities all shift. In this episode, Jarrod walks through the key considerations for expats looking to return to Melbourne and buy well. * Why your old map of Melbourne may no longer apply after years away * How to plan the timeline around accommodation, finance and schooling * Getting the property brief right so you don't outgrow the home within a few years * The options for buying remotely versus waiting until you're settled We enjoy providing you with free insights into the Melbourne property market and property investment more broadly. Thank you for listening.  If you like what you hear, subscribe, like, rate or follow us and tell your friends and family. Investing in property makes sense.  Investing in the right property takes knowledge. To learn more visit www.wakelin.com.au [https://www.wakelin.com.au]  |  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wakelinpropertyadvisory]  |  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/WakelinPropertyAdvisory/]  | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/wakelin-property-advisory]  |  YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFskGsWpJ46qpS7V54NQoDg]  |  Email [info@wakelin.com.au]

What the 2026 budget's tax changes actually mean for property investors

The federal budget has delivered the most significant changes to property investment tax settings in a generation. Negative gearing for established property is being wound back. The capital gains tax discount is being replaced. And the spruikers are already circling with off-the-plan offers. So what does this actually mean – and what should investors do? In this episode, Jarrod and Jordan cut through the noise to give Wakelin's practical read on the changes, the risks and the opportunities that aren't getting enough attention. * Why current investors in established property should hold their nerve * The new-build incentive trap – and why the tax benefits won't transfer to your next buyer * Carry-forward losses, lower leverage and the family home as overlooked opportunities * Why Melbourne may be less affected than the rest of the country We enjoy providing you with free insights into the Melbourne property market and property investment more broadly. Thank you for listening.  If you like what you hear, subscribe, like, rate or follow us and tell your friends and family. Investing in property makes sense.  Investing in the right property takes knowledge. To learn more visit www.wakelin.com.au [https://www.wakelin.com.au]  |  Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wakelinpropertyadvisory]  |  Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/WakelinPropertyAdvisory/]  | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/wakelin-property-advisory]  |  YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFskGsWpJ46qpS7V54NQoDg]  |  Email [info@wakelin.com.au]