What if I told you that one of the most significant demographic shifts shaping our cities, our housing markets, and even our social lives over the next few decades… isn't migration, isn't birth rates, and isn't ageing?

It's something far more personal. In today's show, Simon Kuestenmacher and I are talking about a silent revolution - the rise of the single-person household.

More Australians than ever are living alone, and it's not just retirees or Gen Zs in tiny apartments.

From the newly single at 54 to the solo 29-year-old navigating life on their terms, this trend is redrawing the blueprint of modern life and reshaping the housing market in a way most people aren't even noticing.

Our conversation highlights how modern living is evolving, with more individuals choosing to live alone and the need for appropriate housing solutions to accommodate these changes.

Takeaways

• The rise of single-person households is reshaping the housing market.
• Younger generations are delaying traditional milestones like marriage and homeownership.
• Older generations are increasingly living alone due to longer life expectancies.
• Loneliness can have serious mental health implications for single individuals.
• International students contribute to the demand for single-person housing.
• The housing market needs to adapt to the growing number of single households.
• Communal living options are emerging but face management challenges.
• Demographic trends are crucial for understanding future housing demands.
• Investors must consider these demographic shifts in their strategies.
• The future of living arrangements will likely be more flexible and individualistic.

Links and Resources:

Answer this week's trivia question here - https://www.propertytrivia.com.au/

• Win a hard copy of How to grow a multi-million dollar property portfolio in your space on.

• Every entry receives a copy of a fully updated Michael Yardney Property Report.

Michael Yardney

Join Michael Yardney, plus a team of experts, at Wealth Retreat 2026 on the Gold Coast in May. Find out more about it here and register your interest www.wealthretreat.com.au It's Australia's premier event for successful investors and business people.

Get the team at Metropole to help build your personal Strategic Property Plan. Click here and have a chat with us

Simon Kuestenmacher: Australia's leading demographer and partner in the Demographics Group

Get a bundle of eBooks and Reports at: www.PodcastBonus.com.au

Also, please subscribe to my other podcast Demographics Decoded with Simon Kuestenmacher – just look for Demographics Decoded wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future.

What if the biggest obstacle between you and the life you want isn't the market, the economy or your upbringing... but your programming?

What if your money habits, your emotional reactions and even your results as a property investor are simply the byproducts of a mindset you inherited rather than chose?

And what if you could rewrite that programming?

In today's show Tom Corley and I discuss how early life experiences shape our habits and beliefs, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, gratitude, continuous learning, and building relationships.

We also share some practical steps for changing habits and achieving personal transformation.

Takeaways

• You can change your life by changing your habits.
• Awareness is the key to changing habits.
• Gratitude is a powerful reprogramming tool.
• Relationships are the true currency of the wealthy.
• Success isn't an accident; it's a result of thoughts.
• You have to be self-aware of your thinking.
• The mindset of being self-reliant is crucial.
• Daily reading is critical to growth.
• Vision boards are powerful tools; they work.
• When you change your habits, you change your life.

Links and Resources:

Answer this week's trivia question here - https://www.propertytrivia.com.au/

· Win a hard copy of Rich Habits, Poor habits

· Everyone wins a copy of a fully updated property report – What's ahead for property for 2026 and beyond.

Get a bundle of eBooks and Reports at: www.PodcastBonus.com.au

Join Michael Yardney plus a team of experts, at Wealth Retreat 2026 on the Gold Coast in May. Find out more about it here and register your interest www.wealthretreat.com.au It's Australia's premier event for successful investors and business people.

Get the team at Metropole to help build your personal Strategic Property Plan. Click here and have a chat with us

Michael Yardney

Also, please subscribe to my other podcast Demographics Decoded with Simon Kuestenmacher – just look for Demographics Decoded wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future.

Today Ken Raiss and I reflect on the evolution of property investment over the past two decades, discussing significant changes in demographics, market conditions, and more importantly, what hasn't changed.

Because if you understand that, you'll be far better positioned to thrive in the next property cycle.

Takeaways

• Investing in property requires a long-term perspective.
• Demographic shifts significantly influence property demand.
• Supply constraints are a growing challenge in the housing market.
• Technology is changing how we approach property investment.
• Intergenerational wealth transfer is becoming more common.
• Government regulations are impacting property investment strategies.
• Strategic planning is essential for successful investing.
• Understanding market cycles is crucial for investors.
• The importance of location in property investment remains unchanged.
• Investors need to adapt to changing market conditions.

Links and Resources:

Answer this week's trivia question here - https://www.propertytrivia.com.au/

· Win a hard copy of What Every Property Investor Needs To Know About Finance, Tax And The Law

· Everyone wins a copy of a fully updated property report – What's ahead for property for 2026 and beyond.

Join Ken Raiss and Michael Yardney, plus a team of experts, at Wealth Retreat 2026 on the Gold Coast in May. Find out more about it here and register your interest www.wealthretreat.com.au It's Australia's premier event for successful investors and business people.

Michael Yardney

Get the team at Metropole to create a Strategic Wealth plan for your needs. Click here and have a chat with us

Ken Raiss, Director of Metropole Wealth Advisory

Get a bundle of eBooks and Reports at: www.PodcastBonus.com.au

Also, please subscribe to my other podcast Demographics Decoded with Simon Kuestenmacher – just look for Demographics Decoded wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future.

Today, Simon Kuestenmacher and I examine the evolving landscape of home ownership in Australia.

For generations, owning a home has been at the heart of the Australian dream. In 1966, nearly three-quarters of Australian households owned their home, either outright or with a mortgage.

Fast-forward to the 2021 Census, and that figure had slipped to just 63 per cent.

For younger Australians, the drop has been even steeper. And while renting is far more common today, the cost of entry into home ownership has never been higher.

So what's driving this change? Is it just the market doing what markets do, or have we set ourselves on a path where home ownership becomes an exclusive club?

Takeaways

• Home ownership rates have significantly declined over the decades.
• Demographic shifts, particularly among millennials, are impacting home ownership.
• Economic factors, such as income growth lagging behind housing prices, are crucial.
• The wealth gap between homeowners and renters is widening.
• Political priorities are influenced by the home ownership status of voters.
• Current policies may inadvertently push housing prices higher.
• A balanced property market is essential for economic stability.
• Gradual policy changes are preferred over drastic measures.
• The future of home ownership in Australia is uncertain without intervention.
• Community engagement is vital for shaping housing policies.

Links and Resources:

Answer this week's trivia question here - https://www.propertytrivia.com.au/

· Win a hard copy of How to grow a multi-million dollar property portfolio in your space on.

· Every entry receives a copy of a fully updated Michael Yardney Property Report.

Join Michael Yardney plus a team of experts, at Wealth Retreat 2026 on the Gold Coast in May. Find out more about it here and register your interest www.wealthretreat.com.au It's Australia's premier event for successful investors and business people.

Michael Yardney

Get the team at Metropole to help build your personal Strategic Property Plan. Click here and have a chat with us

Simon Kuestenmacher: Australia's leading demographer and partner in the Demographics Group.

Get a bundle of eBooks and Reports at: www.PodcastBonus.com.au

Also, please subscribe to my other podcast Demographics Decoded with Simon Kuestenmacher – just look for Demographics Decoded wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future.

Have you ever looked at today's property prices and wondered, How is this even possible?

How can values keep climbing when interest rates are still high, affordability is stretched to breaking point, and so many Australians feel locked out of the market?

You're not alone. It feels counterintuitive. It feels unfair.

And for many, it feels completely unsustainable. But here's the uncomfortable truth about our housing market - and it's the part most people don't want to hear.

Property prices don't rise because the average Australian can afford them. They rise because the marginal buyer – the person actually able to transact today – can.

And right now, that marginal buyer looks very different from the one we had even a decade ago.

Takeaways

· Property prices are rising due to the marginal buyer's ability to transact.

· Wealthy buyers are dominating the market, driving prices up.

· Downsizers are reshaping the market by purchasing debt-free properties.

· Government incentives are pushing more buyers into the market.

· Buyers are adapting by compromising on location and property type.

· Structural under supply is a significant factor in rising prices.

· Affordability issues are sidelining some buyers but not all.

· The Bank of Mum and Dad is a major influence in property transactions.

· Investors need to focus on quality assets in gentrifying suburbs.

· Long-term market predictions indicate continued price growth despite challenges.

Chapters

00:00 Why prices keep rising despite poor affordability.

04:30 Who the real marginal buyers are today.

08:20 Downsizers, cash buyers and the Bank of Mum & Dad reshape demand.

12:30 First-home-buyer incentives push prices, not affordability.

16:00 Behaviour shifts: units, townhouses, rent-vesting.

19:30 Structural undersupply ensures ongoing price growth in 2026.

Links and Resources:

Answer this week's trivia question here - https://www.propertytrivia.com.au/

· Win a hard copy of How To Grow A Multi-Million Dollar Property Portfolio In Your Spare Time. Everyone wins a copy of a fully updated property report

· Everyone wins a copy of a fully updated property report – What's ahead for property for 2026 and beyond.

Michael Yardney

Get the team at Metropole to create a Strategic Wealth plan for your needs. Click here and have a chat with us

Get a bundle of eBooks and Reports at: www.PodcastBonus.com.au

Join Michael Yardney and a team of experts, at Wealth Retreat 2026 on the Gold Coast in May. Find out more about it here and register your interest www.wealthretreat.com.au It's Australia's premier event for successful investors and business people.

Also, please subscribe to my other podcast Demographics Decoded with Simon Kuestenmacher – just look for Demographics Decoded wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future.

If you could see one number that reliably predicts where property prices are heading next, would you want to know what it is?

Well, today, you're about to find out — and it's not what you think.

You see…most investors think population growth drives property prices… but today I'm joined by Stuart Wemyss, financial strategist and founder of ProSolution Private Clients, who's done some fascinating analysis showing that the real driver of housing price growth is lending volumes — not population growth or money supply.

Our conversation highlights the need for long-term strategies and a focus on fundamentals to achieve sustainable growth in property investments.

Takeaways

· Property price growth is influenced by various factors, not just population growth.

· Lending volumes can be a better predictor of property price movements than population growth.

· Investors should be cautious of markets driven primarily by speculation.

· Consumer sentiment plays a crucial role in lending and property prices.

· Economic factors like interest rates significantly impact lending volumes.

· A high proportion of investors in a market can signal potential risks.

· Understanding market cycles is essential for long-term property investment success.

· Focus on long-term fundamentals rather than short-term trends.

· Successful property investment requires a coordinated strategy across financial services.

Chapters

01:46 – Why the Last Five Years of Property Data Can Mislead Investors

04:40 – Lending Volumes vs Population Growth: What Really Drives Prices

08:20 – Cash Buyers, Investor Ratios and Market Stability

11:38 – Sentiment, Employment and the Factors Behind Borrowing Power

15:23 – State-by-State Differences and Why Markets Move Out of Sync

17:55 – How Lending Trends Predict Cycles and Help Time Your Entry

Links and Resources:

Michael Yardney – Subscribe to my Property Update newsletter here

Stuart Wemyss – Prosolution Private Clients

Read Stuart's article here: https://prosolution.com.au/why-property-investors-shouldnt-trust-the-last-5-years-of-price-data/

Stuart's Book – Rules of the Lending Game & Investopoly

Get a bundle of eBooks and Reports at: www.PodcastBonus.com.au

Also, please subscribe to my other podcast Demographics Decoded with Simon Kuestenmacher – just look for Demographics Decoded wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future. Or click here: https://demographicsdecoded.com.au/