The Elephant In The Room Property Podcast | Inside Australian Real Estate

In this episode, we’re taking a look ahead at what might shape the property market in 2025. No, we’re not here to predict the future or pull out a crystal ball, but we are diving into the key factors that could have an impact—things like interest rates, immigration, intergenerational wealth, and stock levels. Whether you’re planning to buy or sell, we’ve got some thoughts on what you might want to keep in mind.

We kick things off by reflecting on what’s surprised us in 2024. For Veronica, it’s been Sydney’s stability—a balanced market for the first time in over a decade. For Chris, it’s been the sheer scale of intergenerational wealth propping up buyers. We chat about how that’s shaping the market and what it means for affordability, especially as borrowing capacities remain constrained.

There’s also a lot to unpack when it comes to investors. Some are still bailing out of the market, while others—especially first-time investors—are jumping in. And with zoning changes, rising rental pressures, and even some quirky local issues like mozzie-prone suburbs, buying property isn’t as straightforward as it used to be. It’s a reminder that doing your homework (or working with someone who really knows the area) is more important than ever.

As we look ahead, the upcoming federal election and potential shifts in policy—like APRA changing serviceability buffers—are going to play a huge role. We talk about how these kinds of changes could inject urgency into the market, especially as buyers try to get ahead of the herd. But as always, we caution against trying to time the market and instead focus on making decisions based on your own goals and readiness.

And yes, we touch on climate change too, because the landscape there is evolving. New flood maps, shifting risks—these are things we’ll all need to consider going forward. If 2025 brings anything, it’ll be the unexpected, but don’t worry—we’ll be here to help you make sense of it all. So tune in and get a clearer picture of what might be on the horizon.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

01:04 - What was surprising about the property market in 2024

04:56 - Regional market dynamics

07:46 - Investor behaviour and market inequalities

12:54 - Will interest rates be the biggest driver of prices?

13:55 - Urban planning and zoning issues

20:20 - How market cycles, interest rates & consumer confidence shape investment decisions

26:29 - How regional moves and remote work trends are changing this coming year

33:18 - How rental pressures are evolving, and what they mean for 2025

40:00 - What might the upcoming federal election mean for the property market in 2025?

44:42 - Consumer sentiment

51:07 - What role will climate change and new flood maps play in property decisions?

Resources:

• Visit our website https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
• If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at: The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast [email protected]
• Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
• Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
• Looking for a Mortgage Broker? https://www.flintgroup.au
• Work with Chris: [email protected]

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we’re answering some of our listener questions. 

We’ll be covering how to maximise borrowing on a low income, what agents mean by ‘expressions of interest”, borrowing from overseas, the research needed when buying your first investment property, dealing with “best and final offers” in a hot market and what due diligence do buyers agents do that regular buyer don’t?

Questions:

1. “I'm 26 years old and already have 1 investment property and currently looking for my second. As a landscaper that is only on 65k a year at a job that I love, how would I be able to increase my max loan from the bank? Down deposit isn't a problem with me with a bit over 110k in the bank ready to go. With my wage being so low and me only having my wage as a source of income what would the next steps be getting investment 3 and going into the future. Thanks for your time.”
2. “Hi Veronica & Chris, love your podcast! I have one question for each of you :)
   For Veronica, I occasionally see a property being listed as "expressions of interest". How is that different to a private treaty sale or auction and what kind of properties are best suited for it?
   For Chris, could you please talk about the borrowing options overseas Australians might have? Especially if they're asset rich and income poor? Many thanks for your time!”
3. “Hi Veronica & Chris, I am a big fan and long time listener of your podcasts. In short I am 22yo and looking to buy my first investment property and have recently graduated my Civil Engineering degree. I have now moved into FT work in my chosen field of study and in the process of getting my finance pre-approved. If possible, I would love you to discuss the following in regards to undertaking research prior to the purchase of an investment property;
   1. Various different online platforms available to the public to research past and future wages growth in numerous suburbs around Australia?
   2. Research methods and frameworks you adopt/prefer?
   3. Most important research indicators for a investment-grade suburb? i.e. wages, employment, population growth.
   4. How to best determine and interpret data available online? i.e. Number of days on market, auction clearance rates, etc. I’m very eager and exciting to begin my wealth creation journey, and would greatly appreciate it if you could take the time to answer my questions. :) Thanks!”
4. “We've bought and sold a lot of different sorts of properties but only in NSW and we were totally bamboozled by the way they do it down there. No auctions, even in a really hot market. They are listing properties with a price, and you are expected to put in your best offer, and then the agent sells it to the highest offer, but without coming back to you to give you the chance to up your offer.”
5. “I have a comment, not a question, after listening to your podcast re hiring a Buyers Agent. I hired a Buyers Agent to assist me in buying an apartment for a family relative to live in. My reason for doing this was primarily to ensure due diligence, not recommend a property. Nicole had a lot of specialist contacts, eg for analysis of body corporate minutes, building contracts, conveyancing etc. I was very happy with the result.”

RELEVANT EPISODES:
Episode 183 | The Secret to Capital Growth | Jeremy Sheppard
Episode 168 | Listener Q&A: How to buy your first investment property

LINKS:
www.suburbtrends.com.au