REB Podcast Network

The great buyer's agent shake-up and why property managers stand to win

Australia's buyer's agent sector is under pressure. But while many see uncertainty, forward-thinking property managers have a rare opportunity to become the trusted advisers investors are searching for. In this episode of The Property Management Excellence (PMX) Podcast, REB's Alex Whitlock and Liam Garman unpack the buyer's agent sector under mounting pressure. They explore how ongoing policy shifts and industry instability are widening the property advice gap, and why property managers are uniquely positioned to step into that space. The pair discuss how the collapse of Dashdot exposed deeper issues within the largely unregulated buyer's agent industry, raising questions around business models and the long-term sustainability of the sector. Whitlock argues that investors are now looking for trusted professionals who understand the full investment journey, creating an opportunity for property managers to evolve from rent collectors into strategic advisers who help clients navigate an increasingly complex market. They also examine how changes to negative gearing, capital gains tax, and SMSF property investment are reshaping investor behaviour, and why agencies that align their sales and property management teams will be best placed to build stronger client relationships and capture the next wave of investment business.

Property Buzz: Property reforms, SMSF ban, rising inflation, and the cracks emerging across the market

Everyone says Australia's property market is cooling. The problem? The headlines are telling only half the story, and investors buying into the panic could be looking in all the wrong places. On Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman rip into the biggest myths driving Australia's property market, arguing that the country's housing story is becoming more divided than ever, with winners and losers emerging simultaneously. The duo reveals why Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth continue to push ahead while Sydney and Melbourne slow, exposing how relying on national headlines could lead investors to make costly decisions. Attention then turns to the federal government's latest property reforms, with Tarrant warning they could backfire spectacularly by squeezing housing supply, making development harder and creating the very affordability problems they were meant to solve. The episode finishes with one of the industry's biggest controversies, as Tarrant and Garman question whether some high-volume buyer agencies are manufacturing competition, inflating demand and putting business growth ahead of their clients.

New Agent Academy: Stop chasing hacks and start building relationships

Most new agents think real estate success comes from branding, social media, and technology, but REB's New Agent Academy made one thing clear: the agents who win are still the ones who master the basics. On the REB Podcast, deputy editor Emilie Lauer reports live from the New Agent Academy, capturing the key lessons, conversations, and takeaways from an event designed to help the next generation of agents build successful, sustainable careers. The episode explores why relationships remain the foundation of the industry, with speakers stressing that trust, communication, and consistency still matter more than any tool, platform, or shortcut. Attention then turns to resilience, as the Academy highlighted the reality of rejection, slow starts, and the discipline required to keep prospecting when results are not immediate. The speakers also examine the role of technology, noting that while digital tools can help new agents move faster, they cannot replace the fundamentals of speaking to more people, building networks and staying visible in the market. 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.

PMX: The boutique agency strategy winning over landlords

Most agencies are chasing scale, acquisitions, and bigger rent rolls, but some of the fastest-growing businesses are doing the exact opposite: staying small, staying personal, and winning clients through service. On The Property Management Excellence (PMX) Podcast, Alex Whitlock sat down with Ashby Farrell, director of WHITEARCH, to explore why boutique property management is making a comeback and how a one-man operation evolved into a thriving Perth agency. Farrell shares how frustration with the disconnect between sales and property management pushed him to build an agency focused on long-term relationships, accountability, and a level of service he felt was missing elsewhere in the industry. Rather than pursuing aggressive growth, Farrell said that WHITEARCH has prioritised quality over quantity, maintaining direct contact with landlords and taking a hands-on approach that many larger agencies have abandoned. The conversation also examines the changing Perth market, where increasing consolidation among major agencies is creating opportunities for smaller operators to differentiate themselves through personalised service and stronger client relationships.

Property Buzz: Buyer's agents under scrutiny as Dashdot fallout exposes cracks – is it time for property managers to take centre stage?

Following the collapse of leading Australian buyer's agency Dashdot, questions are emerging about the quality and transparency of property advice being offered to investors. As confidence wavers, investors are left asking how to properly conduct due diligence and what the evolving property landscape will mean for future decisions. In this episode of Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman unpack the wave of disruption sweeping through Australian real estate, including a close examination of the liquidator's report into the Dashdot collapse. With $16.5 million in liabilities, 695 creditors, and $10.5 million tied up in "prepaid services & refunds", Tarrant questions whether the numbers fully stack up, suggesting the sector may be heading into a period of overdue rationalisation. The discussion then turns to the broader advisory landscape, with the pair questioning whether the traditional dominance of buyer's agents will give way to more tailored, locally grounded insights from property managers who hold long-term, on-the-ground experience in asset performance and tenant demand. They also examine Canberra's recent tax backflips, unpacking the policy shifts and mathematical blind spots that continue to shape housing affordability and influence property prices.