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The Property Trio (formerly The Property Planner, Buyer and Professor)

The Property Trio (formerly The Property Planner, Buyer and Professor)

By: Cate Bakos David Johnston and Mike Mortlock
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About this listen

 Formerly The Property Planner, Buyer and Professor, our show rebranded in 2023 to The Property Trio.

Residential property is the only asset class we live in, it is where we raise our families, and it is our most expensive investment, yet property advice remains unregulated. Our objective is to educate time-poor professionals through deep insights from our experts who have provided thousands of Australians with personalised advice and education spanning two decades. In a climate where we are overloaded with information and one size fits all recommendations from the media, well-meaning friends and family and so-called advisers, we will distill the raw truth from the ill-informed.

So join the Property Planner, David Johnston, The Property Buyer, Cate Bakos and the Quantity Surveyor, Mike Mortlock as they take you on a journey of discovery through the maze of property, mortgage, and money decisions to empower you to create your ideal lifestyle!



Links to your hosts:
https://www.catebakos.com.au/
https://propertyplanning.com.au/
https://www.mcgqs.com.au/

Copyright The Property Trio Economics Personal Finance
Episodes
  • #337: Buying Property in a Trust - Genius Strategy or Costly Illusion? Benefits, Borrowing Myths & Realities

    #337: Buying Property in a Trust - Genius Strategy or Costly Illusion? Benefits, Borrowing Myths & Realities
    Nov 24 2025
    This episode unpacks the myth of “unlimited borrowing” through multiple trust structures. Cate, Dave, and Mike explain why lenders look through trusts to the borrower, meaning all debts are still counted. They cover higher costs, tougher lending policies, and land tax pitfalls. Trusts offer asset protection, not extra borrowing capacity....So investors must seek proper legal, tax, and lending advice.

    The Property Trio is:

    David Johnston, Mortgage Broker - Managing Director of Property Planning Australia https://propertyplanning.com.au/

    Cate Bakos, Buyers Advocate - Managing Director of Cate Bakos Property https://www.catebakos.com.au/

    Mike Mortlock, Quantity Surveyor - Managing Director of MCG Quantity Surveyors https://www.mcgqs.com.au/

    📩 Got a question you want answered in a future episode? Send it through https://www.propertytrio.com.au/contact-us/

    You can find more info about topics covered in today's show here:
    https://www.propertytrio.com.au/2025/11/24/unlimited-borrowing-myth/
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    42 mins
  • #336: Market Update October 2025 – Price Growth Accelerates Nationwide, Investor Lending at 10-Year High & Deposit Guarantee Fuels Demand

    #336: Market Update October 2025 – Price Growth Accelerates Nationwide, Investor Lending at 10-Year High & Deposit Guarantee Fuels Demand
    Nov 17 2025
    Got a question for the trio? https://forms.zohopublic.com/propertyplanningaustralia/form/GotaquestionforthePropertyTrio/formperma/zYCQAxzE_24CVlDafP1ozyzwtmB-8m1iCNtCTgDvHXM

    🎧In this month’s Property Trio market update, Mike, Cate, and Dave unpack the latest October market figures... and there are some interesting stats to discuss 📊

    💥 Nationally, growth is still positive for every single capital city. Perth has topped the charts at 1.9% monthly growth, while Darwin, Adelaide and Brisbane remain close with 1.6%, 1.4% and 1.8% respectively. Melbourne and Sydney may not have growth to match the others, but for Melbourne in particular at 0.9%, this monthly growth is the strongest that the southern city has delivered all year. The sheer weighting of both of the largest capital cities have a bearing on national growth also.

    "The pace of growth in Australian home values accelerated in October, rising by 1.1%; the fastest monthly gain since June 2023." (Cotality)

    💬 The Trio discuss the spread of value growth in each capital city. The middle and lower quartiles continue to perform strongly, even as the top end remains subdued. Could the 5% deposit guarantee, combined with stronger investor interest be the cause of this?

    📈 And for the first time in a while, the combined capitals are out-starting the combined regionals. Regional WA shines with 1.8% growth for the month, some 0.7% stronger than the next, (regional QLD). Like the capitals, every single combined state/territory region exhibited positive growth for October.

    🏠 Meanwhile, rents continue to show strength, with Darwin and Hobart continuing to demonstrate the strongest change in rents.

    "Unit rents are rising faster than house rents across most cities."

    Pressure on rental yields is a hallmark of rising capital values, and the gross rental yields chart illustrates this well.

    Vacancy rates remain low — with the tightest city at just 0.4% in Hobart and the highest vacancy rate still being a low 1.8% in Melbourne — signalling an ongoing rental crisis driven by housing shortages and a struggling construction sector.

    Listing numbers are interesting - while the new listing numbers within just 3% of previous year (and 0.4% from the past five year average), it's all listings that tell the true story. Nationally, our listing numbers are down 14.3% compared to last year, and 18.3% down compared to the past five year average. It's easy to see why values are surging in some markets where the supply and demand imbalance has struck.

    💰 Consumer sentiment tells a few surprising stories, with "a markedly more confident assessment of prospects for the economy" apparent. Several measures in the indices exhibited a strong increase in sentiment, with both the expectations of economic conditions in the next twelve months, and interest rate expectations index jumps recorded in early November.

    The Trio look forward to the monthly reporting of CPI going forward, and in particular, what this will do for visibility within the Reserve Bank Board's dashboard.

    Shownotes: https://www.propertytrio.com.au/2025/11/17/ep-336-october-2025-market-update/
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    59 mins
  • #335: Underquoting Exposed - How to Protect Yourself in a Market of Misleading Prices

    #335: Underquoting Exposed - How to Protect Yourself in a Market of Misleading Prices
    Nov 10 2025
    Got a question for the trio? https://forms.zohopublic.com/propertyplanningaustralia/form/GotaquestionforthePropertyTrio/formperma/zYCQAxzE_24CVlDafP1ozyzwtmB-8m1iCNtCTgDvHXM


    In this week’s episode, the Trio tackle a serious issue..... Underquoting. It frustrates buyers, skews listing information, and undermines trust. In this fiery episode, Dave, Cate, and Mike unpack what underquoting really is, how to recognise it, and why buyers need stronger protection.

    What Underquoting Actually Is 🔍

    Dave kicks off with a clear definition: underquoting occurs when an agent knowingly markets a property below their genuine selling expectation to lure buyer competition. Cate calls out the emotional and financial cost; wasted weekends, building reports, and heartbreak. While Mike reminds listeners that intent matters. “Markets can throw us some surprises, but habitual low quoting is a deliberate strategy,” he says.

    Why It Happens 😤

    Cate dives into the psychology: “Quote it low and watch it go.” Buyers believe they’ve found a bargain, then get emotionally invested and bid beyond budget. Dave and Mike agree; the system often rewards this behaviour. With penalties so small, some would consider them a marketing cost, so there’s minimal deterrent.

    Spotting the Red Flags 🚩

    The Trio share tell-tale signs:
    • Unrealistic price guides versus recent sales
    • Poorly chosen “comparable” properties
    • Agents pushing back on receiving early offers, or step-quoting higher near auction
    • Vendors’ reserves far above quoted ranges
    If a particular agency always sells far above their guide, it’s not coincidence, it’s culture.

    How Buyers Can Protect Themselves 🧠

    Cate and Mike share empowering tools: track sold results, not quotes; ask direct questions about comparable sales; and never let emotions set your ceiling. Dave adds, “Budget for due diligence, and apply it with strategy, not sentiment.”

    Fixing the System ⚖️

    The Trio turn their attention to reform. Cate explains Victoria’s “Statement of Information” system and its limits, noting regulators lack resources to enforce it. Together, the team propose meaningful changes:
    • Larger, tiered penalties tied to property value to truly deter misconduct
    • Mandatory digital audit trails tracking buyer feedback and agent communications
    • Public access to initial listing appraisals shared with vendors
    • Automatic public guide adjustments when vendor expectations shift
    “Buyers deserve trust and transparency, and tech makes it achievable,” says Mike.

    And our gold nuggets!.....

    Cate Bakos's gold nugget: Cate advises against relying on CMA's (Comparative Market Analysis). While they can be useful for looking at the comparable sales, the algorithms themselves aren't reliable.

    Mike Mortlock's gold nugget:"If you're not going to spend more time researching your property purchase than what you'd spend on your holiday, you should consider using a buyer's agent".

    Dave Johnston's gold nugget: Dave talks about the responsibility that rests on the buyer when it comes to understanding the right price to pay. "Control the controllables!"

    Shownotes: https://www.propertytrio.com.au/2025/11/10/underquoting-2/
    Show More Show Less
    42 mins
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