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538 | Property Spruikers 2.0: The Latest Tactics Designed to Trap You

By in Case Study, Podcast, Property Investment

“History doesn’t repeat itself—people repeat history.”  

Folks, today’s episode is on an issue that’s very close to our hearts and remains just as crucial today as when we started the podcast ten years ago… 

The alarming rise of the new-age Property Spruikers. 

We’re talking about the same tricks but in a new disguise designed to serve one purpose: their own interests at the expense of aspiring Australians. 😮   

Today we’re exposing the updated playbook of today’s spruikers, highlighting the deceptive strategies you need to be wary of.

Here’s what we cover…

⚠️ Rapid mortgage payoff schemes, like the “debt-free in 7 years” illusion 

⚠️ Overloading investors with multiple off-the-plan properties 

⚠️ Reckless “risk-free” promotion of supercharging your Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSF)  

⚠️ Emotional manipulation through high-pressure webinars and seminars

⚠️ Huge advertising budgets of $100K–$220K a week driving aggressive marketing campaigns

⚠️ PLUS, we reveal real case studies of spruikers who’ve been caught, unpacking the tactics these operators use, and the sad consequences for investors who fall prey to them

This is our updated, essential consumer awareness episode, aimed to give ALL investors (and to-be investors) the knowledge and tools to avoid being burnt by “$10 haircuts.”  

  

P.S. We also answer the crucial question: “If you’re already wealthy, why continue working?” and explain our motivations for starting—and continuing—The Property Couch podcast and Empower Wealth, our advisory business.  

Free Stuff  

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  • 🔑 Secret #2: How to retire on $3,000 per week as a passive investor, with 5 properties or less!
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(Not Free) Join PICA: Australia’s independent voice run BY investors FOR investors
Become a member of the Property Investor’s Council of Australia (PICA) for just $5! This not-for-profit organisation spreads essential updates, tips and resources against property spruikers, legislative changes and more with the goal of protecting property investors.

 

Articles from Ben’s “What’s Making Property News”: Corelogic’s Bellwether markets point to signs of recovery 

 

Guests & Episodes Mentioned:  

 

Timestamps  

  • 0:00 – Property Spruikers 2.0: The Latest Tactics Designed to Trap You
  • 1:28 – Full disclosure & WHY we started the podcast 10 years ago  
  • 9:51 – Free Webinar: How to Retire on $3K a Week  
  • 10:55 – Mindset Minute: Are you holding on to these leashes or are they holding on to you?
  • 14:01 – The evolve & dissolve story: “History doesn’t repeat itself—people repeat history.”  
  • 16:48 – What is a property spruiker?  
  • 19:33 – Beware this #1 spruiker myth!  
  • 20:40 – The playbook for how spruikers operate 
  • 26:31 – $100k to $220K a week on advertising budgets?!  
  • 29:19 – Strategy #1: “Buy 6, Sell 3” 
  • 35:22 – Strategy #2: “Debt-Free Illusion”  
  • 40:05 – You’re paying for your own guarantee  
  • 41:34 – Strategy #3: “Supercharged SMSF”  
  • 45:01 – Folks, SMSFs aren’t light to set up!   
  • 47:38 – Strategy #4: The “High-Pressure Webinar/Seminar Funnel” 
  • 49:15 – The ASIC process: How they try to defend the everyday investor  
  • 53:21 – “If we’re so wealthy, then WHY are we still working?”  
  • 1:00:20 – Real Case Studies: A) The Institute  
  • 1:03:42 – B) Buy a house for a buck 
  • 1:05:45 – C) The “risk-free” SMSF investments 
  • 1:08:16 – D) New social media-savvy spruikers 😮  
  • 1:10:16 – E) The “Targeting Grieving Homeowners” Scandal 
  • 1:12:58 – Final takeaway: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. 
  • 1:14:20 – “You pay for my independent valuer”  

And… 

  • 1:16:26 – Lifehack: Does your kid want a phone? Ask them to demonstrate these 8 things first!  
  • 1:21:46 – WMPN: Bellwether markets point to signs of recovery 

 

510 | From Dairy Farmer’s Daughter to Real Estate Empire! – Chat with Megan Rovers

By in Podcast, Property Investment

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What happens when you combine a passion for property, a background in law and a trailblazing drive to create a one-of-a-kind property experience in Australia’s fastest-growing corridors?  🏠📈⚖️  

The answer is Armstrong Real Estate!  

Folks, in this episode of The Property Couch, we sit down with Megan Rovers, co-founder of Armstrong Real Estate, who has built this real estate empire from the ground up since 2012.  

Tune in to hear:   

  • The business values and personal finance lessons she learned growing up as the daughter of a dairy farmer   
  • How she finished her law degree and built a flourishing business in Victoria’s largest continuous growth corridor  
  • Her unique property investing journey that has seen her flip five houses   
  • Why Geelong is where you want to invest next and so much more!   

Hear from an inspirational figure in the property industry who never saw the industry’s male-dominated “boys club” as a challenge. Listen now folks!   

 

Free Stuff Mentioned…

  • Free Property Report!  
    Our 39-page property report provides unique data into each suburb’s long-term growth, market cycle timing, and more to help you make the best decision. The best part? For our TPC community, it’s FREE. Download your free report now >>  
  • Join The Property Couch team!
    We’re on the hunt for a Marketing Content Coordinator! If you are a creative whizz in producing top-notch content (video, audio, graphics, you name it!) and want to hang out with us on the couch weekly, send us your resume!  
  • We love to educate folks!
    We’re not just passionate about providing free education on the couch; we love to help folks everywhere! If you have an event coming up and would like us to share our knowledge with your audience, contact us today!  
  • 2025 Summer Series shoutout!  
    Help us to normalise money conversations! Come on the couch, share your financial freedom journey, and help us inspire others. Send us your story now >>  

 

Timestamps

  • 0:00 – From Dairy Farmer’s Daughter to Real Estate Empire! – Chat with Megan Rovers 
  • 1:25 – Join The Property Couch team, 2025 Summer Series shoutout and Free Report Alert!  
  • 6:08 – Mindset Minute: The 2 differences between people who make their dreams come true and those who don’t. 
  • 7:55 – Welcome Megan Rovers!  
  • 8:46 – How did she create an incredible real estate empire from a background in law?  
  • 9:46 – Money Story: “If it was raining, we knew we could go on a holiday”  
  • 12:18 – What was it like growing up in a dairy farmer family?  
  • 15:24 – How did those business lessons shape her personal finances?  
  • 19:35 – The leap from law to loving real estate  
  • 22:15 – First experiences with Armstrong Creek: Buying with only 140 houses in the area?! 
  • 24:46 – The pivot from established to green field subdivisions  
  • 27:31 – From first jobs selling Off the Plan to building a real estate empire  
  • 31:48 – With no experience in real estate, how did Armstrong Real Estate flourish?  
  • 34:19 – Finishing her law degree while building an empire  
  • 39:22 – Juggling multiple hats: How did Megan navigate tough times?  
  • 41:51 – Breaking into the Boys Club: “I’ve never looked at it as a problem.”  
  • 45:15 – Building clients for life and a holistic service  
  • 49:29 – Megan’s “non-traditional” property journey: 5 houses to reach her dream home!? 
  • 54:23 – The buying demographic in Armstrong Creek  
  • 56:07 – Are interest rates impacting investors in this area?  
  • 58:44 – Why should people invest in Geelong?   

And… 

  • 1:02:36 – Thank you Megan! What a resilient and remarkable guest  
  • 1:05:14 – Lifehack: How to avoid pesky ads!   
  • 1:08:18 – WMPN: Corelogic’s September Hedonic Home Value Index 

493 | $160K Dilemma: Should I Walk Away From Paper Profits?

By in Podcast, Property Investment, Q&A

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Emma’s partner has a $160K dilemma: He’s been offered a refund on an Off-The-Plan apartment that’s been delayed for two years. Should he take the refund or ride it out for a potentially higher sell price? 🤔 

Kieran faces the decision of investing in smaller units versus two individual homes. Which is the better investment decision for him, and how can he align it with his goal of helping others? 🌍   

And in Simone’s Retirement Plan: How does this single mum and schoolteacher with 5 properties reach a target of $2,000 per week for retirement? How does this stack up in today’s economy? 📈 

Folks, this is a massive Q&A Day where we link age-old questions in today’s nuanced context.  

From diving into the psychology of Loss Aversion to understanding why “C” is the hardest to achieve in our “ABCD” foundational principles, you’ll want to save this episode for future reference.  

Listen now folks! 😊  

 

P.S. Stay tuned till the end to discover how to type…without typing!?  

   

Free Stuff Mentioned

 

Timestamps

  • 0:00 – $160K Dilemma: Should I Walk Away From Paper Profits? 
  • 1:49 – Interest rates, budget release & TPC survey winners  
  • 8:01 – New Tracking Tools in Moorr! 
  • 16:34 – Mindset Minute: “Just focus your eyes on the captain…” 
  • 23:38 – Q1) Get Deposit back or Wait for Growth 
  • 27:26 – Learning Experience or Loss Aversion? 😱 
  • 28:02 – How to Avoid Loss Aversion: Step-by-Step  
  • 32:55 – “A bird in hand vs two in the bush” 
  • 36:31 – Why Off-The-Plan means YOU are taking all the risk  
  • 37:12 – This refund is a red flag 🚩 
  • 43:14 – Q2) Small Complex vs 2 Individual Properties 
  • 45:00 – When passive investing stops being passive  
  • 47:37 – To help others, you need to be in THIS position 
  • 49:52 – Why houses over units? 🏘️ 
  • 53:53 – Q3) Archive Question: $2k per week in 20 years’ time 
  • 56:41 – How we calculate the $2,000 a week in retirement  
  • 57:31 – The Power of Compounding, Offset Accounts and Qs to ask 
  • 1:00:07 – Why “C” is the hardest to achieve in our ABCD foundational principles 💰 
  • 1:05:09 – Thank you to all our Question-Askers!  

And… 

  • 1:05:45 – Lifehack: How to type…without typing?! 📱 
  • 1:07:20 – WMPN:  The State of the Housing System 

296 | (Part 2) How To Reach The Summit: Achieving $2K Per Week in Passive Income – Q&A

By in Podcast, Q&A

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We’re picking up where we left off last week… how to create $2,000 per week in passive income and actually design the lifestyle you’re proud of (instead of just daydreaming about it)!

This means we’re riffing through a stack of listener questions, including how to speed up the process (and what’s at stake if you do), the true power of compounding and the ‘secret sauce’ of property investing that has nothing to do with the amount you earn.

Plus, we’ll explain WHERE the smart money goes and why there’s always a “Flight to Quality” (something we’re currently witnessing… even during a pandemic!).

You’ll get the pros and cons of active vs passive investing, a mindset reframe on how to look at debt and, excitingly, a case study demonstration of capital growth versus yield! (yeah, Ben did a bit of homework for this one… shock horror!)

We obviously blew out with our answers (as per usual) so it’s another epic episode, but we’re positive the science of achieving $2K per week as a passive property investor (aka. reaching the summit!) is going to help set you up for life and take your property, finance and money management knowledge to the next level 😉

All Q’s listed below. Enjoy!

 

Free Stuff

 

 

And here are the questions!

Question from Esha Frykberg
Any advice for those who want to be able to semi retire on less with the portfolio sitting in the background working towards that goal? i.e. having a portfolio that is making $1k/week by age 50 with the aim to be making $2k/week by 65, or is this just going to be the natural progression of a maturing portfolio. Would like to be able to gradually have the option of winding back work rather than working hard for 20 years and stopping.

 

Question from Craig Chalmers
If looking to keep a $2k per week passive income in retirement. When do you switch from growth to yield assets for passive income? Or do you purchase both during acquisition phase as a balanced portfolio and then sell down the growth asset to realise the gains and pay off the yield asset for holding for passive income?

 

Question from Steve Gilmore
In retirement would you prefer $2 million worth debt free, or $4 million with 2 million debt?

 

Question from Adam Wild
Legends! first time caller, long time listener. What are the pros and cons of a passive vs active strategy to retire debt? What would you guys prefer given the choice to do either?

 

Question from Megan Mary
How do you achieve it without waiting 30 years+?

 

Question from Craig Cooper
How truly do-able is it over a 10-year time frame?

 

Question from Jeff William Simons
How do you keep patient and resist the temptation to sell?

 

Question from Kosta Dokolas
What strategies do you recommend to retire down the debt sooner than the 20-25 year slog? Thinking about older investors close to retirement or ambitious investors looking to get to that 2k per week sooner. Love your work, go blues! 😜

 

Question from Steven Jermey
Tips on speeding up the process on one income, ie 70-90k pa. I’m onto 3rd property (cheeper properties while renting. Interested on your take for the lower “average” income. For me it’s taken a long time, and balance between quality of life now (with a family) and looking to the future.

 

Question from Jared Kennedy
Is it possible on a single income (without any dependents)? Earning between 70 – 80k a year?

 

Question from Arty McFarty
I’d like to see the figures behind your claims.

 

 

 

 

295 | How To Reach The Summit: Achieving $2K Per Week in Passive Income – Q&A

By in Podcast, Q&A

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So… earlier this week, we posted this on our Facebook page:

And the response was overwhelming! Thank you to everyone that everyone that wrote in and that’s why, in this Q&A episode, we cover everything you need to know to build a property portfolio that pays you a passive income you can live off.

Here’s the deal… if you’ve listened to us for some time, you’ll know already that we bang on about “$2K per week” a fair bit. So, first we’re going to tell you what we mean by this “magical” number. Including why it’s NOT magical at all, but instead is actually ACHIEVABLE for many folks!

From there, we’ll dive deep on the considerations and investment strategies to build a portfolio, like the big one – how to finance multiple properties without significantly impacting your cashflow! Plus, we’ll walk you through heaps of new questions on this topic AND share the secret of reaching the summit of $2K per week!

It’s a big episode, but we’re about to deliver some fresh gold nuggets as well as some quality reminders. Tune in now & let us know what you think!

Psst… We’ll be continuing this episode next week as we received a tonne of questions on the “Who, What, When & How” of achieving a passive income… so keep an ear out for that.

You can suss all of the questions we answer today further down 😊

 

To the summit we go!

 

Free Stuff

 

Questions Answered In This Episode…

Question from Mark Bradicich:
Is it $2k clear of expenses?

 

Question from Samantha Dean:
How many properties, earning how much per week would you need to acquire within your property portfolio in order to earn a passive income of $2000 / week ? And would this be $2000 / week income be during length of loan (say year 10 of the loan – when it’s negatively geared?) or once loan is entirely paid off and all income coming from said property is positively geared?

 

Question from Hugh Nitt:
2k is a great target! Is it possible/likely for a couple to achieve this income individually as a goal? Granted that every couple would have their own set of specific financial / income scenarios that impacts this goal. For example, a combined 2k each. 4k total passive income. How rare is this to achieve?

 

Question from Christine Browning:
If you are over 58 can you still achieve this?

 

Question from Helen Harrison:
I’m 52 years old and woken up to passive income. Have I left it too late to build wealth? Have equity in my home of residence. Educating myself including a daily lunchtime dose of your podcast!! Thanks

 

Question from Jenny Ann:
With $500k to invest and low cash flow, can this be done and how? (Ps I’m 54, single and a sole trader with only 4 months income statements, otherwise debt free).

 

Question from Sabrina Gajnabi:
What is the best way to find an investment savvy mortgage broker?

 

Question from Benjamin Tuxford:
What is the best way to find an investment savvy mortgage broker?

 

Question from Angus O’Loughlin:
At what stage do you go to principal and interest to try and retire the debt?

 

Question from Angela Niznik:
s it a good idea to sell an investment property to wipe out most of the mortgage on own home and significantly improve cashflow for further investments property purchases?

 

Question from Mat Newbury:
Is using LMI a good strategy to buying a third investment property to get in quicker? Seeing as the LMI is tax deductible. Rather than waiting for the equity to build and potentially missing out on a good buying opportunity in that time. Currently have one in Melbourne and one in Brisbane and am a borderless Investor. Would love your advice!

 

 

 

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