“The type of dwelling that people want in Brisbane is a detached house… but you’ve got to be careful where you buy.” – Pete Wargent

Brisbane might look affordable and straightforward, but buying well takes more than picking a suburb and a budget.

In this episode, Chris Bates sits down with Pete Wargent, co-founder of AllenWargent Property Buyers and long-time investor in the Brisbane market. Pete shares lessons from over a decade on the ground—why scarcity value matters more than suburb names, how affordability gaps with Sydney shaped Brisbane’s cycles, and why local knowledge about streets, aspects, and even traffic patterns often separates the best purchases from costly mistakes.

From renovated Queenslanders in leafy Ascot to townhouses in tightly held inner-ring pockets, Pete explains what makes some homes double in value while others stagnate. He also unpacks why interstate buyers often misread Brisbane, bringing southern habits north only to run into risks they never saw coming.

Whether you’re a first-time buyer or an investor eyeing Brisbane, this conversation gives you the on-the-ground insights to buy with clarity, avoid the pitfalls, and find real long-term value.

00:00 — Introduction

01:28 — Meet Pete

02:24 — How Market Exposure Shaped Pete’s Investing

03:39 — Why Every Suburb Has Good and Bad Parts

04:22 — Pete’s Books, Podcasts & Experience

06:18 — Brisbane Demand: Families and Detached Homes

09:20 — Why Interstate Buyers Struggle in Brisbane

10:38 — Flood Maps, Zoning & Supply Cycles

14:29 — High-Rise vs. Boutique Apartments

23:11 — Detached Homes, Townhouses and Units

26:51 — Agent Relationships and Off-Market Deals

29:26 — Lessons from 13 Years in Brisbane

34:25 — Conclusion and Where to Find Pete

Pete Wargent is a co-founder of AllenWargent Property Buyers, a boutique buyer’s agency operating in Sydney, Newcastle, and Southeast Queensland. He has been a buyer’s agent since 2011, following a career as a chartered accountant with Deloitte. Pete is also a property investor, having built experience in markets across the UK (London, Cambridge) and Australia (Sydney, Brisbane).

Beyond buyer’s advocacy, Pete is a published author of eight books on investing and property, a media commentator, and co-host of the Australian Property Podcast with Chris Bates. Today, he focuses on helping clients secure quality properties in growth markets, with a particular specialty in Brisbane’s inner-ring suburbs.

• Business webpage Link - https://petewargent.com/
• Email - pete@allenwargent.com
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pete-wargent-37228322/
• Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/petewargent/
• Facebook (business page)- https://www.facebook.com/PeteWargent/
• Facebook (blog page) - https://www.facebook.com/pwargent/
• X - https://x.com/PeteWargent
• Daily Blog (blogspot) - https://petewargent.blogspot.com/