X

Ben Kingsley on 2GB’s Money News with Deborah Knight: Can Property Really Deliver $3,000 a Week?

What does it take to retire on $3,000 per week — and is it really achievable for everyday Australians?

That’s the question Empower Wealth Founder and The Property Couch co-host Ben Kingsley tackled in a recent interview on 2GB Sydney’s Money News with Deborah Knight.

The conversation unpacked the real meaning of passive income, the myths around building big portfolios, and the smart, strategic use of property and planning to create a financially secure retirement — the exact themes explored in the newly released book How to Retire on $3,000 per Week.

🎥 Watch the full interview here on 2GB Sydney or tune in to the video below:

💡 Key Takeaways from the Interview

  • Passive income from property is possible — but it’s not magic. You don’t need ten properties. In fact, for many Australians, two or three well-chosen properties alongside superannuation can be enough.
  • You’re never too late to start. Ben explains how people in their 50s can still work toward a comfortable retirement — if they avoid risky shortcuts and follow a methodical, well-planned approach.
  • The “ABCD” of property investing matters more than hype. Ben breaks down the four pillars covered in the book:
    • Asset selection
    • Borrowing power
    • Cashflow management
    • Defence (risk mitigation)
  • Debt isn’t a dirty word — it’s a tool. Used productively, debt can help accelerate your ability to build wealth and gain financial freedom — as long as it’s managed within your risk tolerance and life plans.
  • It’s not about property moguls. This isn’t about owning 20 properties — it’s about designing a sustainable plan that supports your ideal lifestyle without overexposure or unnecessary complexity.
  • Investors have a role in the housing market — and a responsibility. Ben acknowledges the tension between investors and housing affordability and highlights the importance of balance, sensible ownership levels, and sufficient housing supply to support workforce mobility and productivity.

 

This interview is a great snapshot of the values, frameworks and real-world insights we’ve built the book around — and it’s a reminder that with the right plan, passive income from property can be a powerful part of a bigger picture.

If you haven’t grabbed your copy of How to Retire on $3,000 per Week – The Property Couch’s Playbook for Passive Property Investing yet, you can find it at:

 

TPC Gold | You’re Rentvesting… But Have You Set It Up Right?

This snippet is from one of our previous episodes: Q&A: Loan Structure for Rentvestors and more! 

More and more Aussies are turning to rentvesting—renting where they want to live while investing where they can afford. 

But while rentvesting is a smart strategy for many, there’s a crucial piece of the puzzle most investors overlook… 

Have you set up your bank accounts and loan structure correctly? 

In this bonus snippet, Bryce and Ben answer listener Aaron’s question about how to manage money when rentvesting—and break down the banking structure you should be using to get the most out of your investment properties. 

They unpack: 

  • Why your offset account placement matters (and how it can save you money) 
  • Whether to have one account or multiple for different properties 
  • The bucket system that simplifies cash flow and protects tax deductions 
  • Why filling your offsets before making extra repayments could be a game-changer 
  • How to structure your loans from day one to keep your options open later 

Don’t let a poor setup derail your rentvesting strategy…

Far too many investors lose thousands by not getting their structure right from the start. 
 
Book a free consultation with the Mortgage Broking team at our sister company Empower Wealth and make sure your rentvesting strategy is built to performtoday, tomorrow and long into the future. 

__________________

If You Enjoyed TPC Gold | You’re Rentvesting… But Have You Set It Up Right? You Might Also Like:


Transcript

Bryce Holdaway
Here’s the next one Ben, from Aaron. 

Aaron
Hi, Ben and Bryce. My name’s Aaron. Absolutely love your podcast. I binge listened to 220 odd episodes in three months when I first found out about it. I’ve just got a question in regards to structuring your bank accounts. We rentvest. Understand if it was a principal place of residence, you’d want all income coming into that offset account. But because we rentvest, just wondering, do you have one bank account where all the rent and all the mortgages come out from? Or do you have a separate bank account for each property where the rent and subsequent mortgage repayment comes out of? Didn’t manage to hear anything about structural bank accounts in any of the podcasts. So apologies if I’ve missed it and you have discussed it. But I don’t think I have heard anything about it. So very interested to hear your response on that. Thanks again guys, you guys are absolute legends. Cheers. 

Bryce Holdaway
Thank you Aaron for binge listening to 222 episodes in three months. I think that would have been some effort. They probably don’t want to hear our voice for a bit there.  

Ben Kingsley
Well, he’s probably right too, in the sense that we do a lot of our lending structure explanations in some of the webinars we do and certainly in some of the visual teachings we do because it’s hard to talk about without demos. But I’m going to have a go, Bryce. I’m going to have a go. So here we go, Aaron. In theory, you’ll always have a minimum of two accounts relating to your investment purchase. You will have, because we uncross-securitise, so we don’t cross-securitise in terms of the lending structures that we do. So you’ll have a loan of up to 80% against the investment property.  

Now we all know that when we purchase a property, we need to work out what the remaining costs will be to finish off that purchase. So if we’ve got 80% against that property, the other 25% (meaning the other 20% of the value of that property plus the 5% for costs) have to come from somewhere else to complete. We call that funds to complete. So in a lot of cases we want to use equity out of an existing property, which is hence introducing that second loan as opposed to paying cash. So some people might choose to pay a portion cash or they may choose to pay a portion equity.  

Our best structures are that once the property investment is set up, you’ve got 105% lending against that property which allows you to move forward with that purchase. Now, in terms of all of the payments and the money flow, this is where it’s really important to follow our rules. And our rules are based on our MoneySMARTS money system where we have (and even though you’re rentvesting which means you don’t have an offset against your principal home), you must have an offset against one of your investment properties. And so we would always say, depending on which lender you’ve chosen for price and also feature, that we want at least one of your lenders to have an offset. Now if both of your lenders have offset opportunities, then we would put the offset against the lender that has the highest interest rate.  

Bryce Holdaway
So it’s a mathematical discussion, isn’t it? 

Ben Kingsley
It is. It’s all about the numbers, right? So in theory, you put your offset – your primary account against the highest interest account, and you fill that bucket. Okay? You do not pay the loan down; you fill the offset bucket next to that loan. And all rent goes into that account. It’s really important that you understand that. So all monies flow into that account, and then all repayments are made out of that account. We would also say to you as well, because that offset is a standalone account and not a loan account, by doing so, you would also be putting all your income into that account. Now you might be saying, well, I’m not saving interest in doing so because ultimately it’s not my principal place of residence, so you’re reducing my interest costs, which means I may not get as much back.  

Now we don’t know whether you’re negatively or positively geared so we would always still say, organize your money that way. In terms of making your expenses, you’ll have a choice there. If you’ve got some money in available redraw or still some buffer lending, then we would say for expenses, use that money as opposed to using the money that you have in your offset account. Because ultimately, over the course of time, you’re going to do one of two things. You’re going to fill up all of your offset buckets which means that technically you’ll have no debt if you were to give that money back to the bank.  

Or if in 20 years’ time, 10 years’ time… you do choose to change your strategy, which we always say if you’re gonna be rentvesting, it’s probably for the longer term. But if you do choose to sell those properties, take that bucket of money and you put that, because it’s obviously after tax, all of your income going in there, take that money to put against your principal home, which reduces your non-deductible debt and it also ensures that your deductible debt against your investment properties are giving you the best advantages for you and your family.  

Bryce Holdaway
Yep.  

Ben Kingsley
So, I mean I could draw that but that’s how I would say it in words.  

Bryce Holdaway
I think the buckets is the best visualization for a podcast, Ben. It’s like, just line up your buckets against the debts. And if you visualize that the bucket that’s the most expensive, Ben, just have that as the biggest one. That’s the one you fill up. And when it’s filled, where does it overflow? Onto the next one, which is the next biggest one. I haven’t seen a better analogy than that. You’re just filling up buckets. I’ve got a private loan where offset’s full at the moment, Ben. So I just found, then I’ll just put an offset against the most expensive investment debt that I have so that I can reduce some of the interest that I’m paying, which is important.  

Hey, another extension of that, Aaron, and we have talked about this previously, but it’s worth mentioning is that some people have big cash when they’re buying their principal place of residence, and therefore, because of this huge cash component, they then go to the bank and say, well, I’ll only borrow a smaller amount, whereas our recommendation is you go and borrow the maximum amount that you possibly can and then put your money into the offset account. So say the net was, you had $300,000 in cash, Ben, and you were gonna buy a million dollar home and so you’re only gonna borrow the difference. No, that’s not a good example. $300,000 cash and $500,000. So you’d only borrow the difference of $200,000. We’d actually say: no, go and borrow the full $400,000. And then actually put the whole $300,000… well you’ll tip off $100,000, you’ll just have $200,000 in offset.  

That allows you to control your cash, it allows you to control your liquidity; make sure you don’t sleep with one eye open at night. And if you’re disciplined with that money, it’s actually really, really good because if you at some point pay off the home and then realize that the house is actually a good investment, probably we’ve talked about this previously, you would just move that bucket of money and you’d go and lean it against the next optimal interest rate loan that you have.  

Ben Kingsley
Brilliant. 

Bryce Holdaway
So it’s very good, Aaron. Very good question. Thanks again for binge listening to 220 episodes in three months. 

 

TPC Gold | Come Celebrate with Us: Our Book Launch & Live Event!

In today’s celebratory episode, Bryce & Ben share behind-the-scenes stories of our brand-new book: How to Retire on $3,000 a Week – The Property Couch’s Playbook for Passive Property Investing… which hits stores TODAY!  

It’s the ultimate culmination of ten seasons of property investing insights, sharpened and refined through years learning with (and from) our community and clients. 

This isn’t just an updated version of The Armchair Guide—it’s a full rewrite, packed with new strategies, insights, and a fresh, easier-to-read structure to help everyday Aussies map out their property investing journey. 

Find out: 

  • What inspired this new book 
  • Why the first two books weren’t enough—and how this version fills the gaps 
  • How you can join Bryce & Ben LIVE in Sydney to celebrate 

Live in Sydney? Come Say Hi!

Ben and Bryce are doing a one-night-only event at Dymocks’ flagship George Street store on Tuesday, 1st July from 6:00pm–7:30pm. Tickets are just $12 and include light refreshments. Plus, you can purchase the book and get it signed on the night! 

BONUS: We’ve got 5 FREE tickets available for our TPC community! First in, best dressed… head here to claim yours. 

__________________

How to Retire on $3,000 a Week – The Property Couch’s Playbook for Passive Property Investing is available now at all major booksellers, including: 


Transcript

Ben Kingsley
G’day folks, it’s Ben and Bryce here and this is one of our little bonus episodes, but it is an important bonus episode, isn’t it Bryce? Because today is the launch of our brand-new book: How to Retire on $3,000 a Week – The Property Couch’s Playbook. So mate, congratulations. And yeah, what inspired us to pull this together, mate?  

Bryce Holdaway
Well, I’m glad you asked, Ben. It sounds like we’ve rehearsed that. But look, the idea was very, very straightforward. We were super proud of our first book. But when you’ve been in the game like we had (the first book was prior to the podcast), and one of the things that the podcast has been able to give both you and me… Well, I shouldn’t speak for you; I’ll speak for myself. It’s given me an opportunity to sharpen the way that I think about the concepts around property investing because we’ve had to over (the last) 10 years. 

Ben Kingsley
Yeah. 

Bryce Holdaway
So it’s like we had another go at it. It’s like: Okay, if we were going to do that again, what would we do different? So the truth be known, when we started out, it was going to be a revised and updated book. But then by the time that we finished the scribing Ben, it was 90% different. Therefore, hence the reason why it’s new rather than revised and updated.  

Ben Kingsley
I just sort of describe it as: you’re doing a new build and you’re doing a custom build or you’re doing a significant renovation on a property and you do all your planning and you speak to your architect or designer, draftsman or whatever, and you build it and you think… If you have the benefit of hindsight and you go, maybe, probably next time we could have done that, next time we could have done that. But effectively it’s fusing these two books into this (one book). But it’s completely refreshed and rewritten in certainly a lot easier reading style, takes people on the journey that they need to go on. And as you say, there’s some fresh content, new content in there. Obviously, it’s been a long time since we put the Armchair Guide to bed. And so this one now has got, yeah, a whole new section of new insights around different types of markets. When we start talking about entry level markets and blue-chip markets and those types of things…  

Bryce Holdaway
Then there’s just stuff that we just had another opportunity to talk about. So to say we’re proud of this would be understatement folks. We’d love for you to get your hands on it… and look, it’s 20+ years for Ben and I that you can just fill into a weekend. So get yourself your hands on it. There’s a couple of ways that you can do that, if you go to the big bookstores Ben. But we’ll rattle off a few that’ll help you: QBD’s got it, Big W has got it, Amazon, Dymocks, Booktopia. So go to all the big booksellers. They’ll have their hands on it. But we’d also like you to just check where you normally pick up your books. That’ll be a start. And Ben one of the things that we’re excited about doing… correct me if I’m wrong, I’m not sure if we did this on the first one sort of 11 years ago, but we’re cutting a lap up to Sydney and Dymocks have invited us into their flagship store, Ben.  

Ben Kingsley
They have. 

Bryce Holdaway
On George Street, no less, in the winter in Sydney. So that’s happening on Tuesday, 1st of July at 6.00pm to 7.30pm. So we want to invite our audience. Wouldn’t it be great, Ben, if Dymocks was just full of Couch-ers? If they all turned up and wanted to say hey. 

Ben Kingsley
Yeah, would be nice to meet some of our community up in New South and the Sydney market. So tickets are $12. It is a paid event, but you’re going to get a little bit of refreshments and potentially even a little glass of Vino.  

Bryce Holdaway
Bevo. 

Ben Kingsley
Little bevo as part of that. Yeah, so there is a little bit of alcohol for those people over 18 years of age and can show their ID. So your money is going to cover the cost of that and of course you can buy the book at Dymocks on the night. If you buy the book, we’ll also potentially be able to put a little signature in there, a little note.  

Bryce Holdaway
We’ll have a little note. So just so you know, that $12 has got nothing to do with us folks. It’s the Dymocks show. We’ve just been invited to turn up and talk and have a chat. Ben, we’re pretty shy blokes… I’m not sure that we will be able to; we’ll struggle to be able to.  

Ben Kingsley
Yeah, I think we’ll struggle.  

Bryce Holdaway
So TPC does have five free tickets available. So how can they get one of those, Ben? 

Ben Kingsley
Well, I think it’s got to be first in best dressed, doesn’t it, Bryce? So if you’re an avid listener or maybe an Empower Wealth customer or whatever… But you’ve got to be quick because they’re going to be snapped up. But please, if you are going to attend, you know, obviously no shows wouldn’t be great, but yeah, do your best to get there. And if you legitimately have time available on the 1st of July between 6 – 7.30pm at George Street Dymocks, we will get the tickets out to you.  

Bryce Holdaway
Very good. So there you go folks. It has happened. We set the goal; we achieved it Ben and our hope is that it serves you. We hope that it does for you what it says on the front of the books: that you actually get to retire on $3,000 a week. So we’ve given you a Playbook folks; only one thing left to do! Go and see us on Tuesday 1st of July between 6-7.30pm if you live in Sydney. We would love to say good day to you. Please come up. Please say hello. We’ll have The Stig with us. So you’ll probably want to have a photo with her. And if you can’t make it, go to QBD, Big W, Amazon, Dymocks, Booktopia… you’ll be able to get your hands on a copy.  

Ben Kingsley
Don’t forget the link to buying the tickets for the event is also in the show description.   

Bryce Holdaway
There you go, folks. We would love for you to get your hands on a copy. 

 

(Replay) FREE LIVE Webinar: How to Build a Property Portfolio & Retire on $3K Per Week

This Webinar Replay Has Now Expired

Thanks for your interest in our recent webinar!

The replay has now officially expired, and access to the exclusive bonuses is no longer available.

But don’t worry—there’s still a way to stay in the loop.

👋 Want to Be Notified About Future Live Webinars?

We’ve got more events and live trainings in the works! If you’d like to be notified next time we go live, just pop your details in the form below and we’ll make sure you’re the first to know.







 

🎓 Can’t Wait? Watch Our Free Masterclass

If you’re ready to start learning now, we highly recommend checking out our free, on-demand Masterclass: https://www.thepropertycouch.com.au/webinar

You’ll learn the fundamentals of smart property investing—straight from Ben and Bryce.

—–

FREE LIVE Webinar: How to Build a Property Portfolio & Retire on $3K Per Week

The property market is shifting, and with interest rates changing, many investors are asking: What’s the best strategy now?

That’s exactly what we’re unpacking in our FREE LIVE webinar, where we’ll reveal how to build a property portfolio that funds $3,000 per week in passive income—without overstretching your budget.

When? Tuesday, 25th March 2025 at 7:30 PM AEDT
Where? Online – join from anywhere!

What’s inside?
✔️ How to invest without sacrificing your lifestyle
✔️ The 5-property strategy to achieve $3K per week
✔️ The mindset shifts that separate smart investors from the rest

 

How Much Land Tax will I pay? (2025 Update)

Last updated: 1 March 2025

Land tax in Australia is a state or territory levy on land ownership, calculated annually based on the unimproved land value. Generally, it doesn’t apply to owner-occupied homes (principal place of residence) but does impact investment properties, commercial properties, and vacant land.

On the podcast, we get heaps of questions about land tax—how it’s calculated, whether investors should be worried, and which states have the trickiest rules. In fact, back in 2022, we saw a flood of questions when Queensland announced a new land tax, only to scrap it a month later after major backlash. 😌

 

Is Land Tax the same as Property Tax?

A common question we get is whether land tax is the same as property tax. While they might sound similar, they’re actually different. Land tax is based on the unimproved value of the land (excluding buildings or improvements) and is typically levied on investment properties, commercial properties, and vacant land.

Property tax, on the other hand, is a broader term that can refer to different things depending on the context. Internationally, it often refers to a general tax on the total value of a property (land + buildings), paid annually by both owner-occupiers and investors. In Australia, we don’t have a broad-based annual property tax across all properties, but some state-specific property taxes do exist.

 

Australian Land Tax Breakdown: How Much Will You Pay?

Since each state and territory has different thresholds, rates, and rules, we’ve pulled together all the key details  in one spot for our borderless investor community. Keep in mind that land tax rates can change depending on how the property is owned (e.g., individuals, trusts, or companies). Below is a state-by-state summary of land tax regulations for individual owners, including links to get more details.

 

State/
Territory
Thresholds and Rates More Information
New South Wales (NSW) General threshold: $100 plus 1.6% of land value above the threshold, up to the premium threshold.
Premium threshold: $88,036 plus 2% of land value above the threshold.
Land tax is applied for the full year following the taxing date of 31 December, and no pro-rata calculation applies.From 2024 onwards, the general threshold is $1,075,000 and the premium threshold is $6,571,000.
Revenue NSW
Victoria (VIC) From 2024 land tax year, the general rates are:

  • Less than $50,000: Nil
  • $50,000 to less than $100,000: $500
  • $100,000 to less than $300,000: $975
  • $300,000 to less than $600,000: $1,350 plus 0.3% of amount above $300,000
  • $600,000 to less than $1,000,000: $2,250 plus 0.6% of amount above $600,000
  • $1,000,000 and above: Click here.
State Revenue Office Victoria
Queensland (QLD) For individuals:

  • Less than $600,000: Nil
  • $600,000 to $999,999: $500 plus 1 cent for each $1 more than $600,000
  • $1,000,000 to $2,999,999: $4,500 plus 1.65 cents for each $1 more than $1,000,000
  • $3 mil and above: Click here.
Queensland Revenue Office
South Australia (SA) 2020-21 General Rates:

  • Does not exceed $732,000: Nil
  • Exceeds $732,000 but not $1,176,000: $0.50 for every $100 or part of $100 above $732,000
  • Exceeds $1,176,000 but not $1,711,000: $2,220 plus $1.00 for every $100 or part of $100 above $1,176,000
  • $1,711,00 and above: Click here.
RevenueSA
Western Australia (WA) General Rates:

  • Up to $300,000: Nil
  • $300,001 to $420,000: $300
  • $420,001 to $1,000,000: $300 + 0.0025 dollars for each $1 in excess of $420,000
  • $1 mil and above: Click here.
Department of Finance WA
Tasmania (TAS) General Rates:

  • Up to $124,999.99: Nil
  • $125,000 to $499,999.99: ​$50 plus 0.45% of value above $125 000​
  • $500,000 and above: ​$1 737.50 plus 1.5% of value above $500 000
State Revenue Office Tasmania
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Marginal rates that apply to property AUV (Average of the Property’s Unimproved Value over up to 5 years)

  • Up to $150,000: 0.54% of the AUV of the property
  • From $150,000 to $275,000: $810 plus 0.64% of the part of the AUV that is more than $150,000
  • From $275,001 to $1,000,000: $1,610 plus 1.24% of the part of the AUV that is more than $275,000
  • From $1,000,000 and above: Click here.
ACT Revenue Office
Northern Territory (NT) The Northern Territory does not currently impose land tax. Territory Revenue Office

It’s important to note that land tax generally applies to investment properties, commercial properties, and vacant land. Owner-occupied properties (principal places of residence) are typically exempt from land tax. However, specific exemptions and thresholds vary by state and territory. For detailed information on exemptions and specific calculations, please refer to the respective state or territory revenue office websites linked above.​

 

How are they calculated?

Land tax is calculated annually based on the combined unimproved value of taxable landholdings. Each state and territory has its own method of valuation and assessment. Generally, the process involves:​

  • Valuation of Land: The unimproved value of each parcel of land is determined by the state’s Valuer-General or equivalent authority.​
  • Aggregation of Landholdings: The total unimproved value of all taxable land owned by an individual or entity is aggregated.​
  • Application of Thresholds and Rates: The aggregated value is compared against the state’s land tax thresholds, and the applicable rates are applied to calculate the tax payable.​

For precise calculations and to understand how land tax may apply to your specific situation, it’s advisable to consult the relevant state or territory revenue office or seek professional advice from a qualified tax accountant.

 

Are there any Land Tax Exemptions and Relief?

There are several land tax exemptions and relief measures available across Australia, but they vary by state and territory. Common exemptions include land used as a principal place of residence, primary production land, and certain non-profit or charitable uses.

Some states also offer relief for properties affected by natural disasters or hardship. Since eligibility rules and application processes differ, it’s best to check directly with the relevant state or territory revenue office for the most up-to-date information.

 

Need expert guidance on land tax? Our sister company at Empower Wealth offers specialised tax accounting services to help property investors navigate land tax obligations, optimise deductions, and build sustainable tax structures that support your future goals. Get in touch today here!

Disclaimer: The information in this blog is intended for general informational purposes only and is based on current land tax rates and regulations at the time of writing. Land tax laws and thresholds are subject to change, and rates may vary over time. We recommend checking with the relevant state or territory revenue office or consulting a qualified tax professional for the most up-to-date and personalised advice.

 

Instagram

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
There has been a problem with your Instagram Feed.
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
There has been a problem with your Instagram Feed.

Free Resources

What to be notified when there are
new updates & free resources?

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

×

MONEY SMARTS SYSTEM

Plus We Will Also Notify You When We Release New Episodes

We Only Send You Awesome Stuff

×

SUGGEST A GUEST!

We Only Send You Awesome Stuff

×