In this 2 Sense episode of the Australian Property Podcast, Pete Wargent and Chris Bates unpack what the post-Budget property reset is starting to look like in real time. The initial panic has eased, but the aftershocks are now showing up in buyer behaviour, lending conversations and market turnover.
Pete and Chris explain why first-home buyers are suddenly seeing less competition at open homes, why established-property investors are retreating, and why Sydney and Melbourne are leading the slowdown. They also dig into the pressure points underneath the headlines: softer sales volumes, weaker auction conditions, tighter serviceability, and the risk that lower turnover makes housing even less flexible for households and state budgets alike.
A big focus in this episode is the mismatch between policy intent and what may happen on the ground. New-build and off-the-plan inquiries have jumped, but that does not mean projects will stack up or convert into real sales. Pete and Chris talk through why build costs, borrowing limits, settlement risk and buyer caution still matter, and why some ‘solutions’ may look better on paper than in practice.
They also cover rents, vacancies, buyer’s agents under pressure, the markets most exposed if investor demand keeps fading, and what listeners should watch next if they want to buy, hold or rethink a property plan. If you want a calm, practical read on where the market may be heading from here, this is a timely listen.
