The Elephant in the Room
The property podcast for the thinking person.

Episodes

Episode 387: Inside Australia’s Housing Crisis: Broken Policy, Supply Myths & Market Limits (Copy)

What do zoning shakeups mean for your suburb, your street, and your property’s value? In this Q&A episode, we answer real questions from listeners and unpack the property market trends that are shaping the way people buy, build, and invest right now.

We talk about what makes a home “A-grade” beyond land size and location, how to avoid overcapitalising, and why things like natural light and flexible layouts matter more than fancy finishes. We also break down the reality of rentvesting with a family and whether that under-$600K “positively geared” investment still exists.

Here’s what we break down in this episode:

  • Zoning changes are reshaping Sydney’s character suburbs—some areas will win, others could lose.

  • Future-proofing your build matters: think layout, street appeal, and long-term resale.

  • High rental yield doesn’t always mean better—capital growth still does the heavy lifting.

  • Rentvesting only works if it fits your long-term goals and lifestyle.

  • Don’t chase trends. Understand why the property market is shifting before you buy.

If these are the questions keeping you up at night, or at least making you pause, this episode’s worth a listen.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

01:49 - How will zoning and development changes affect Sydney’s heritage suburbs?

11:44 - What should I consider when building a home to maximise resale or rental value?

18:50 - Are three-bedroom apartments really being bought by first home buyers?

22:41 - Should I focus on capital growth or rental yield while building my portfolio?

34:03 - Is it still possible to buy a positively geared property under $600K?

43:56 - Should we rentvest or try to buy in an area we’ve been priced out of?

Resources:

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Chris Bates