Boomers Had It Easier and Took All the Good Properties, With Simon Kuestenmacher
Property Investment, Success & Money | The Michael Yardney Podcast
Release Date: 06/23/2025
Property Investment, Success & Money | The Michael Yardney Podcast
We’ve all heard the phrase “rent money is dead money,” right? But is it really? As property prices surge and affordability challenges mount—especially for younger Australians—a growing number of people are turning to an alternative path: rentvesting. That’s where you rent the home you live in and invest in a property elsewhere. Is this just a clever workaround, or is it a genuinely smart wealth-building strategy? In today’s episode I’m joined once again by Stuart Wemyss to explore this in depth. And even if you’re not particularly interested in rentvesting, I’m sure many of...
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Did you know that for the first 15 years of your mortgage, you're working mostly for the taxman, not your future wealth? It’s a startling claim, but one backed by data from the Housing Industry Association — and it sheds new light on why housing affordability is getting worse, not better. Today, I’m joined by Tim Reardon, Chief Economist at the HIA, to unpack this extraordinary insight. We explore how government taxes and regulatory charges are silently front-loading the cost of home ownership, inflating house prices, and burdening Aussie families before they’ve even laid a brick. And...
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If you’re a property investor, I have an important question for you… When was the last time you thought seriously about your property manager? If you think their main job is collecting the rent and organising tradies when something breaks, I’ve got news for you—things have changed dramatically. In fact, the world of residential property management has been turned on its head in the last five years. New legislation, shifting tenant expectations, work-from-home dynamics, and rapid tech adoption mean that managing your investment property is no longer a simple job you can entrust to just...
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If you’ve ever felt like you’re playing a game of property monopoly in Australia, but someone else got to pass “Go” decades before you and now owns half the board, you’re not imagining it. That “someone else”? It's the Baby Boomers. They’ve won the property game in Australia. Not just because they got in early, but because the rules of the game have increasingly worked in their favour, at the expense of younger generations. Today leading demographer Simon Kuestenmacher and I chat about whether the Baby Boomers really did have it easier or not, as well as how younger generations...
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Today, I want to talk about something that’s really flying under the radar—but it shouldn’t be. Imagine being taxed on money you haven’t actually earned. Not on rent you’ve received, not on a capital gain you’ve banked, but just on the increase in value of an asset you still hold. Sounds crazy, right? Well, that’s exactly what the federal government’s proposed new tax on superannuation above $3 million aims to do—taxing unrealised capital gains. And while they say it’ll only affect a handful of wealthy Australians today, the truth is—because that $3 million cap...
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Have you ever wondered if property development could be your next big wealth accelerator? You’ve probably heard the success stories – investors who’ve turned modest sites into multimillion-dollar assets by building just two townhouses. But what you don’t often hear about are the sleepless nights, the missteps, the cost overruns, the unexpected council headaches, or the “learning experiences” that chew up profit and time. Today, I’m joined by Greg Hankinson – Director of Metropole’s Project Development Division. Greg has almost 3 decades of experience managing...
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Imagine this… You’ve got a strong property portfolio, you're working hard, and the market is looking good. Then – boom – life throws you a curveball. Maybe it’s a job loss, a health issue, or a tenant stops paying rent for months. What now? Most investors panic. But the savvy ones? They just lean on their financial buffer – a quiet little fund sitting in the background that buys them something more valuable than money: time. In this podcast episode of the Michael Yardney Podcast, Brett Warren and I discuss the critical importance for property investors of having a financial...
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While most of us want to become rich and successful, it’s really not as easy as many suggest on social media. In today’s show Tom Corley and I explain why building wealth is a two-step process and the requirements to not only build wealth, but retain wealth. Takeaways The easiest way to grow wealth in Australia is through residential real estate. Becoming rich involves a two-step process: accumulating wealth and maintaining it. Daily growth habits, such as reading and self-education, are crucial for success. Building rich relationships can significantly impact your journey to wealth....
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Are Melbourne apartments the most underrated investment opportunity for 2025? For years now, investors and homebuyers alike have steered clear of Melbourne apartments—especially those in high-density towers—fearing oversupply, poor quality builds, and lacklustre capital growth. But what if that narrative is outdated? What if the very segment that’s been overlooked is now poised for a significant turnaround? In today’s show, I’m joined by Stuart Wemyss, to explore a bold yet data-backed prediction: Melbourne investment-grade apartments are about to enter a period of strong capital...
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Imagine a Melbourne the size of New York City. Yes, really.That’s the trajectory we’re on. By 2050, Melbourne’s population is projected to swell to 9 million people, making it not just Australia’s biggest city by population, but potentially one of the most dynamic urban economies in the world. This isn't some abstract urban planning fantasy—it’s based on official projections and a strategic blueprint - Plan Melbourne - backed by trends in migration, births, and economic transformation. So what does this mean for our housing market—and for savvy investors? In...
info_outlineIf you’ve ever felt like you’re playing a game of property monopoly in Australia, but someone else got to pass “Go” decades before you and now owns half the board, you’re not imagining it.
That “someone else”? It's the Baby Boomers. They’ve won the property game in Australia.
Not just because they got in early, but because the rules of the game have increasingly worked in their favour, at the expense of younger generations.
Today leading demographer Simon Kuestenmacher and I chat about whether the Baby Boomers really did have it easier or not, as well as how younger generations can catch up and build their own property wealth as well as how younger generations can catch up and build their own property wealth.
We also discuss the impact of debt, changing cultural expectations regarding home ownership, and the challenges faced by Generation X.
Takeaways
· Baby boomers have a significant advantage in property ownership.
· Younger generations face higher debt levels than baby boomers.
· Cultural expectations around home ownership have shifted dramatically.
· The Bank of Mum and Dad plays a crucial role in helping younger buyers.
· Rent vesting is becoming a popular strategy for young investors.
· Generation X is squeezed between supporting their children and aging parents.
· Policymakers need to consider strategies to make housing more affordable.
· Long-term strategies and education are key for younger generations.
· Every generation faces unique challenges based on their historical context.
· Wealth transfer from baby boomers to younger generations is significant.
Chapters
01:55 Introduction to Generational Wealth Dynamics
02:49 Wealth Distribution and Baby Boomers
06:35 Challenges for Younger Generations
12:31 Cultural Shifts and Housing Expectations
17:01 The Squeeze on Generation X
20:36 Emerging Trends: Rent Vesting
22:18 Policy Recommendations for Future Generations
Links and Resources:
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