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

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Episode 402: LongView’s Fund: Turning Home Equity Into Investor Opportunity

Australia’s housing system is leaving everyone frustrated.

Investors are questioning the value of landlord investment in Australia, with yields falling and stress rising. Homeowners often find their wealth locked in their properties, searching for the best way to access home equity in Australia without selling. And for first-time buyers, entering the market without the “Bank of Mum and Dad” is harder than ever.

In this episode of The Elephant in the Room, Evan Thornley, CEO of LongView, explains how the LongView Residential Property Fund is reshaping housing. Through products like HomeFlex and Buying Boost, LongView offers home equity release in Australia that avoids the pitfalls of reverse mortgage alternatives and provides buyers with smarter options than traditional shared equity schemes. For investors, the fund delivers exposure to capital growth across diversified properties — a real estate investment fund that acts as one of the most effective alternatives to being a landlord in Australia.

We unpack why LongView’s approach is built on the principle that “the dirt does the work”, using data science to select robust, well-located homes. Evan shares how the fund is already delivering double-digit returns, why property funds in Australia could be the future of housing investment, and how this model balances profit with social impact.

Key themes include:

  • Why traditional landlord investment in Australia underperforms.

  • How HomeFlex LongView equity release in Australia provides flexibility without forcing owners to sell.

  • Why reverse mortgage alternatives often fall short, and how LongView fills the gap.

  • How property funds in Australia like LongView’s create opportunities for both homeowners and investors.

  • The fund’s next chapter: build-to-rent housing with affordable tenancies for single-parent families.

Whether you’re a homeowner looking to unlock equity, a buyer seeking a deposit boost, or an investor exploring real estate investment funds, this conversation shows why LongView’s fund may be the smarter path forward.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 – Introduction

01:37 – Innovative Property Ownership Models

04:02 – HomeFlex: Unlocking Home Equity

06:26 – Predicting Capital Growth in Property

13:44 – Investment Strategies and Market Insights

17:09 – Client and Investor Perspectives

26:36 – Diversification and Risk Management

28:46 – Future Fund Plans and Social Purpose

31:23 – Clarifying Equity vs. Growth

33:23 – Investor Appeal and Market Potential

36:07 – Buying Boost and Shared Equity

38:03 – Client Success Stories

44:26 – Final Thoughts and Conclusion

About our Guest:

Evan Thornley is the co-founder and CEO of LongView, a recognised leader in residential property buying and management that is pioneering funds management in Australia’s existing dwelling asset class. A technology and social entrepreneur, Evan has been a property investor for more than 30 years across Australia and the US.

Before turning his focus to housing, Evan co-founded LookSmart Ltd, one of the first Australian tech companies to list on NASDAQ, reaching a peak market value of AUD $14.2 billion and returning its investors 100x. He also co-founded GoodStart, Australia’s largest social venture and the world’s largest early childhood education provider. His career has spanned entrepreneurship, social impact, and public policy — including serving as Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation under Premier Steve Bracks, co-founding the think tank Per Capita, and helping launch activist network GetUp!

For the past eight years, Evan has been consumed with finding solutions to Australia’s housing challenges. Through LongView, he has built a platform that blends data science, deep property expertise, and innovative financial structures. His mission: to unlock housing wealth in ways that deliver both strong investor returns and better outcomes for Australian homeowners and buyers.

Connect with Evan:

Website: https://LongView.com.au/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evan.thornley/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanthornley/

Resources:

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Chris Bates