Why Our Politicians Don’t Want Housing to Be Affordable | Big Picture Podcast with Ken Raiss
Property Investment, Success & Money | The Michael Yardney Podcast
Release Date: 11/05/2025
Property Investment, Success & Money | The Michael Yardney Podcast
Today’s show is going to hit close to home for a lot of Australians. Because despite living in one of the richest countries on the planet, the vast majority of Aussies are quietly battling something uncomfortable – the inability to actually build their wealth. We’re working harder than ever. We’re earning more than ever. But most households still feel like they’re running on a treadmill. Why is that? Well, it’s rarely about income. It’s rarely about intelligence. It’s rarely about effort. Today I’m joined by Australia’s leading...
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Have you ever looked at today’s property prices and wondered, How is this even possible? How can values keep climbing when interest rates are still high, affordability is stretched to breaking point, and so many Australians feel locked out of the market? You’re not alone. It feels counterintuitive. It feels unfair. And for many, it feels completely unsustainable. But here’s the uncomfortable truth about our housing market - and it’s the part most people don’t want to hear. Property prices don’t rise because the average Australian can afford them. They rise...
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If you could see one number that reliably predicts where property prices are heading next, would you want to know what it is? Well, today, you’re about to find out — and it’s not what you think. You see…most investors think population growth drives property prices… but today I’m joined by Stuart Wemyss, financial strategist and founder of ProSolution Private Clients, who’s done some fascinating analysis showing that the real driver of housing price growth is lending volumes — not population growth or money supply. Our conversation highlights the need for...
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Everywhere you look, people are talking about the Brisbane property market. The Olympics are coming, property prices have surged, and there’s this growing belief that Brisbane is the place to be for investors right now. In fact, it's not just Brisbane, but a whole swag of new and let me call them inexperienced buyers agents are suggesting buying in regional areas of northern Queensland. But history tells us something interesting - when everyone’s talking about a market, it’s often already too late. So, is Brisbane still a smart investment play, or has the...
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What if the biggest lessons that will shape property investing in 2026 have already happened, and we just need to stop long enough to notice them? Every year leaves clues. Some are obvious in hindsight, others quietly shape the next cycle without anyone paying attention. And 2025 was packed with more of these clues than most years. So today, Brett Warren and I unpack the 25 lessons from 2025 that smart property investors should carry into 2026 – the insights that help you cut through the noise, stay focused, and position yourself to thrive regardless of what the...
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Whether you’re just starting out, deep in your wealth-building years, or nearing retirement, it’s only natural to wonder: “How do I stack up compared to others?” In today's show, Simon Kuestenmacher and I look into the fascinating – and sometimes uncomfortable world of generational wealth. We discuss the current financial landscape, highlighting the wealth distribution among baby boomers, Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z. Our conversation delves into the challenges faced by each generation, the impact of intergenerational wealth transfer, and the...
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At the end of 2025, Australian property investors were hearing two very different stories. On the one hand, we’ve seen strong price growth across most capital cities; rents were still painfully high for tenants, and auction clearance rates were holding up surprisingly well. On the other hand, we were being warned about rising unemployment, sticky inflation, higher building costs, and plenty of noise about what could go wrong in 2026. So what’s really happening beneath the headlines? And more importantly, what does it mean for investors, home buyers and property markets...
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Today Ken Raiss and I zoom out from the noise, unpack what’s really going on beneath the surface, and help you make sense of the shifting forces shaping our economy, our property markets, and your long-term wealth. The RBA wrapped up the year with a steady hand, but the tone behind that decision has raised more than a few eyebrows. Sure inflation is easing… except where it’s not. Growth is soft… except where it matters. And the Board is hinting that some of these price pressures may be more persistent than we hoped. So the narrative of “rate cuts in 2026” suddenly...
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Over the past year we’ve been told affordability would cap prices, that demand would fade, that higher costs of living would finally slow housing down. And yet, here we are – national home prices finishing the year almost 10 per cent higher, with some capital cities recording extraordinary double-digit growth. So what really happened? In today’s episode, we’re stepping away from opinions and into the evidence as Dr Andrew Wilson unpacks his end-of-December House Price Report, and it reveals not just where prices moved in 2025, but why they moved, and what that means as we...
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The world’s changing faster than ever, isn’t it? Technology, AI, shifting markets, changing values – sometimes it feels like we can’t keep up. But in a world that never stops changing… there are still some things that never change. And when it comes to building wealth through property, understanding what doesn’t change might be even more important than trying to predict what will. In today’s episode, I explore what really stands the test of time — the principles, habits, and fundamentals that never go out of fashion, even when everything else does. ...
info_outlineLet’s be honest — if our politicians really wanted housing to be affordable, it would be by now.
They’ve had decades to fix it. There have been inquiries, commissions, roundtables, and billions thrown at so-called “affordability schemes.”
And yet, what do we have? Record house prices, record rents, and a generation of young Aussies wondering if they’ll ever own a home.
Maybe — just maybe — that’s not an accident.
In today’s Big Picture episode, Ken Raiss and I unpack why the housing affordability crisis isn’t a policy failure... it’s the system working exactly as designed.
We’ll explore why politicians can’t afford for property prices to fall, how government policy quietly rewards property owners, and what that means for investors like you.
Takeaways
· Housing affordability remains a critical issue in Australia.
· Government policies often prioritize property value stability over affordability.
· Cultural perceptions link home ownership to success in Australia.
· A significant percentage of politicians own property, influencing housing policies.
· Consumer confidence is low despite some economic improvements.
· Investors should focus on strategic property purchases.
· Wealth advisory services can help investors navigate complex markets.
· Economic uncertainty can create opportunities for savvy investors.
· Long-term planning is essential for property investment success.
· Education and preparation are key for investors to capitalize on market changes.
Chapters
02:07 - Why Politicians Can’t Afford for Property Prices to Fall
04:59 - How Government Taxes Depend on Rising Property Values
06:50 - Banks, Confidence and the Economy Built on Housing
09:05 - Cultural Bias: Homeownership as the Core of Australia’s Identity
12:11 - Why 94% of Politicians Own Property and Won’t Change the Rules
Links and Resources:
Answer this week’s trivia question here- www.PropertyTrivia.com.au
· Win a hard copy of Michael Yardney's Guide to Investing Successfully
· Everyone wins a copy of a fully updated property report – What’s Ahead For Property For 2026 And Beyond.
Michael Yardney
http://michaelyardney.com/
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Ken Raiss, Director of Metropole Wealth Advisory
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