Capital gains discounts and negative gearing under attack. Trust account theft from dodgy agents off the charts. TikTok stars attacking property investors. Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman break it all down and share critical data on how investors can continue to grow their portfolios.

On this week's Property Buzz live, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman cut through the noise on what's making headlines in property: tax reform, dodgy agents, boom suburbs, and common financial misinformation.

The federal budget is looming, and with it the very real prospect of the capital gains tax discount dropping from 50 per cent to 33 per cent and negative gearing being capped at two properties. Phil and Liam unpack what that means for investors, and why the full picture is still far from clear.

They also dig into the FAST 50 report, highlighting why investors across Australia are tipping regional Victoria and Queensland as boom locations, before turning to the industry's darker side: trust account fraud, agent misconduct, and the quiet danger of incentive kicker schemes that leave vendors thousands of dollars worse off.

Finally, the pair take aim at a viral TikTok video claiming corporate investors are deliberately engineering Australia's housing crisis, and deliver a timely reminder that in the age of financial influencers, separating fact from noise isn't optional. It's essential.

What does it actually take to lead a major real estate network in one of Australia's most dynamic markets? Award-winning offices. A focus on people over process. And a CEO who believes trust and transparency aren't optional.

On the REB Podcast, Barry Plant CEO Lisa Pennell joins deputy editor Emilie Lauer to share the story behind REB's back-to-back Major Network of the Year.

Pennell reflects on the dedication and collaboration that underpin the network's success, revealing how a culture of shared achievement and ethical leadership drives both growth and resilience. She also outlines Barry Plant's strategic approach to navigating upcoming anti-money laundering (AML) compliance, rising living costs, and a rapidly evolving Victorian property market.

From fostering trust in an industry where it's often in short supply to making technology work for people rather than replace them, Pennell explains how Barry Plant balances innovation with human values. She offers insights on regulatory shifts, building sustainable growth, and why a strong moral compass is the foundation of real estate leadership.

Enjoy the podcast,
The REB team

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Fuel costs rising, the economy wobbling, buyer's agents under scrutiny, and negative gearing sparking debate. There's a lot shaking the market.

In the latest episode of Property Buzz, Phil Tarrant and Liam Garman dive into the issues shaping Australia's property market right now, from dodgy financial advice to a teetering building industry.

They examine the growing scrutiny on buyer's agents, highlighting cases where unqualified advice crosses into financial guidance. Phil and Liam stress that proper expertise isn't optional, it's increasingly under the regulator's microscope.

The discussion also turns to housing supply, sparked by comments from Jim Penman suggesting negative gearing should be scrapped to encourage more builds. Phil and Liam argue that cutting investor incentives while construction is slowing could worsen affordability rather than improve it.

Most Australians think the Middle East conflict is someone else's problem. They're wrong.

In this special crossover episode of the REB Podcast, Phil Tarrant, Major General (Ret'd) Dr Marcus Thompson, and real estate heavyweight Tom Panos ask the question nobody in property is talking about: what happens to Australian housing when the world catches fire?

From fuel prices and inflation to construction costs, rents, and investor confidence, this is the most direct conversation yet about how a war thousands of kilometres away could hit your mortgage, your portfolio, and your suburb.

They break down why resilience, cash buffers, and a long-term mindset matter more than ever, and how the current environment could actually create opportunity for those who stay disciplined.

Don't look away. This one's closer to home than you think.

What does it actually take to build a property management business from scratch in one of Australia's most competitive markets? No trust account. No acquisitions. No inherited rent roll. Just one man, a studio apartment, and a belief that property management had been done wrong for decades.

In the latest episode of The Property Management Excellence (PMX) podcast, NU Management founder Grant McKay joins Alex Whitlock to share the unfiltered story behind one of Sydney's fastest-growing boutique agencies, built entirely from scratch in under four years in one of Australia's most competitive markets.

From downgrading his lifestyle to fund the startup, to scrapping traditional titles, ditching trust accounting, and obsessing over five-star reviews, McKay reveals the unconventional decisions that fuelled his growth.

He also gets candid about the real cost of scaling alone past 100 properties, finding the right people, and what it truly means to be a custodian of someone else's most valuable asset.

This is property management as it should be.

In this episode of The Property Management Excellence (PMX) Podcast, host Alex Whitlock speaks with Managed's key account manager Mignon Ahrns and customer success team leader Bairave Jeyasothy about how technology is reshaping the property management industry.

The guests explore how automation, owner portals, and task-based workflows are reshaping property managers' daily work, giving owners real-time visibility into payments, maintenance, and leases while easing administrative burdens.

The episode also examines operational pressures: from trust account reconciliations to constant emails and calls, and how automation lets agencies redirect focus from manual tasks to client relationships and business growth.

Finally, the discussion looks at the industry's evolution. With new entrants from sales and accounting, and agencies embracing automation, property management is becoming a more strategic, tech-driven profession.

In this episode of the REB Podcast, InvestorKit CEO and founder Arjun Paliwal joins host Liam Garman to unpack what defines an elite buyer's agent: from data-led investing, to technology and building a culture of excellence.

Fresh from winning Buyer's Agency of the Year at the Real Estate Business Awards for the third time, Paliwal reflects on building InvestorKit and the philosophy behind its rapid growth.

The conversation explores how Paliwal's background in banking and finance shaped his approach to property investing, highlighting the role of curiosity, data analysis, and strategic portfolio planning in identifying emerging markets ahead of the curve.

Paliwal also challenges common assumptions about the buyer's agent sector, warning that many investors rely on inspiration, hype, or simplistic formulas rather than rigorous analysis and long-term planning. He explains that elite buyer's agents differentiate themselves through specialised teams, deep research capability, and disciplined due diligence rather than one-person operations.

Finally, the discussion examines how technology, digital marketing, and content strategy are reshaping the industry.

Did you like this episode? Show your support by rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (REB Podcast Network) and by liking and following Real Estate Business on social media: Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

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 for more insights.

In this episode of the REB Podcast, deputy editor Emilie Lauer speaks with Laing+Simmons head of people and growth Jacqui Barnes about the changing dynamics for women across the property industry.

The discussion explores how women are now increasingly moving into sales and leadership roles, although challenges such as gender bias and sexual harassment still persist, particularly for those early in their careers.

Barnes argues that stronger leadership development is critical for the sector, as many agency leaders are former high-performing sales agents who have not received formal leadership training.

The conversation also examines how many successful female agents thrive through relationship-driven prospecting, referrals, and community networks rather than traditional cold-calling approaches.

Barnes concludes by outlining the importance of building supportive networks and gathering better industry data, discussing her new survey designed to understand the barriers and opportunities shaping women's careers in real estate.