You can watch the YouTube video here.

Regional markets have boomed. Melbourne’s established units are back in the spotlight. And after the government’s latest tax changes, many investors are asking the same question: 

Has the property playbook changed? 

In this week’s Q&A, Ben Kingsley is joined by Polly Chu and Ben Thompson to answer five listener questions from every stage of the property journey. 

In this episode, we answer: 

✔️ Is How to Retire on $3,000 a Week still relevant after the government’s tax changes? 

✔️ Have regional property markets become too risky? 

✔️ Melbourne character unit or affordable house—which offers the better long-term opportunity? 

✔️ What’s the smartest way to manage your money after buying your first home? 

✔️ And if you don’t have children, should that change how you build—and eventually spend—your wealth? 

Free Stuff Mentioned

  • 📊 UPDATED: Polly & Ben.T’s Case Study Series 
    See how the government’s latest tax changes impact every case study (Plus an all-new bonus case study) from our best-selling book, “How to Retire on $3,000 a Week.” 
    👉 Join the Waitlist 

Timestamps

  • 0:00 – 609 | Regional vs City Property: Where Should You Buy Next? – Q&A Day 
  • 0:49 – Free Property Webinars 
  • 1:22 – Explore Moorr’s Latest Free Tools 
  • 4:20 – Q1) Is How to Retire on $3,000 a Week Still Relevant?  
  • 8:02 – Updated How to Retire on $3,000 a Week Case Studies  
  • 9:59 – Q2) Have Regional Property Markets Peaked?  
  • 24:03 – Q3) Melbourne Character Unit or Affordable House?   
  • 39:12 – Q4) How Should You Manage Money After Buying Your First Home?  
  • 49:46 – Q5) No Kids? What’s the End Game for Your Property Portfolio? 

Questions We Answer

Q1) I just bought “How to retire on $3000 a week”, is this still relevant after the Changes that the government put in? From Nigel 

Q2) Understanding current concerns about regional markets from Anonymous  

Hi team, 

I’ve been hearing your recent concerns about regional markets and would like to understand this further in the context of our situation. 

My partner and I are looking to buy in an area about an hour from the Brisbane CBD. It’s primarily a farming town, but also has strong lifestyle appeal, tourism, character homes, and a strong owner-occupier feel. My partner’s family has lived in the area for multiple generations. 

About 1.5 years ago we bought a tiny house and placed it on my partner’s parents’ property while we saved for our first home. Our long-term strategy has been to buy a character house that we can add value to, live in initially for 6–12 months, and then eventually rent out long term. At the same time, we plan to rent out the tiny house as short-stay accommodation, as it’s in a very scenic location. We also have the future option to build a permanent home on the property where the tiny house is located, which would allow us to keep the investment property long term as part of our retirement strategy. 

However, property prices in the area have increased substantially, roughly 90–125% over the past five years, and around 20–35% in the past two years  since we moved here. I assume a lot of this growth has been driven by work-from-home trends and spillover from Brisbane. 

 We now have pre-approval, but I’m hesitant about whether we may be buying into a regional market too late. When you talk about concerns around regional markets, would that concern also apply to areas like this, lifestyle towns within commuting distance of Brisbane that still have strong owner-occupier appeal? 

 

Q3) Melbourne Investment Debate: Established Units or Affordable Houses? From Matt  

I’d love to hear your thoughts on whether established, low-density inner-Melbourne units (e.g. St Kilda, Prahran, South Yarra) now present a compelling investment opportunity compared to established houses in Melbourne’s outer suburbs or Geelong. 

While these units have underperformed over the past decade and require careful due diligence due to risks such as special levies, I’m wondering whether they may be poised for stronger growth given their relatively high yields, reduced new supply, prices below replacement cost, and the strong performance of similar affordable asset classes in cities like Brisbane and Perth. 

Conversely, detached houses offer greater land value, value-add potential, and traditionally stronger long-term capital growth. I’m also interested in whether a middle-ground option, such as a villa unit or townhouse with some land component, could provide a better balance of cash flow and capital growth. 

For context, I currently own a positively geared Sunshine Coast townhouse and a negatively geared Brisbane house, while my partner owns an investment property in NSW and a share of our current home. I have borrowing capacity of less than $650,000, along with funds in an offset account that could potentially be restructured for tax purposes. 

We’re also considering purchasing a new PPOR in the next 5–10 years, so I’m curious whether owning a neutral or positively geared unit would have less impact on future borrowing capacity than purchasing another house. 

I’d appreciate your high-level thoughts on how these options compare in today’s market and whether you’ve seen renewed interest in this type of Melbourne unit from investors. 

 

Q4) How to Manage Your Money After Buying Your First Home from  Mia 

Hi guys at The Property Couch, my name’s Mia.

I’m actually a bit of a new listener — I’ve only been listening for a couple weeks or so now, so I don’t know whether you’ve already covered this in some earlier episodes. I’ve been trying to filter through and find some, but I was just wondering if there’s anything you’ve either already done or you could expand on in regards to maybe budgeting or just managing finances after buying a house. 

So I just turned 21, my partner and I have just bought a house, and we’re just sort of looking into what our best options are going forward as far as managing a mortgage, setting ourselves up for a good future now that we’ve first secured a house, and just, you know, how we could maybe get into investing — not necessarily straight away being young on apprentice wages and just getting your first mortgage — but maybe setting yourself up better for later on. 

Any advice or some direction would be much appreciated. Thanks, see ya.

 

Q5) What the best thing to do with your investment properties if you don’t have anyone to inherit it? From samo2000ification  

Hey guys, this was a great episode.

As client and long-time listener, I enjoy how you keep it real and responsible when it comes to investing. In this episode, the part where you speak about couples with no kids interested me as we may not have any kids in the future. My property plan details has large amount of equity right up until the end (death). You guys could flesh out what opportunities, changes in approach and strategies could be implemented in the case of DINKs and no children etc. Having such a large asset base at the end of life and no one to inherit it seems somewhat pointless unless you value large donations to charity or other non-immediate family members.

I am thinking it could mean for example, selling an investment property to help fund an upgraded ppor, or to increase lifestyle, rather than continuing to hold and accumulating more for the next generation that is not there.  I’d love to hear more from you guys about this topic. Keep up the great work!