#35 Buying Near Busy Roads, Train Lines or Powerlines: Smart Move or Big Mistake?
Buying near a busy road, train line, school, or powerlines is one of the most common dilemmas buyers face — and the advice online is confusing at best. In this episode, Dion breaks down the real impact these compromises have on property value, future resale, and your day-to-day living.
Using real examples and buyer behaviour insights from the market, Dion explains:
Which compromises are fixable and which ones never change
Why busy roads and train lines usually mean a 5%–20% discount
How these “discounts” work — and why you’ll also sell for less
The biggest red flag of all: buying under powerlines
How buyer psychology shapes demand around schools, roads and transport
When buying a compromised property can be a smart move
When the risk is simply not worth it
If you're considering a home on a main road, near a train line, across from a school, or anywhere close to powerlines, this episode will give you the clarity you need to make the right call.
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6:07
#34 Unit, Townhouse or House? What’s the Safest Buy in 2025?
Choosing what to buy is just as important as choosing where to buy — and yet most buyers get it wrong. In this episode, Dion breaks down asset selection and explains the real differences between houses, townhouses, units, and apartments. Using fresh CoreLogic data and real buyer stories, he ranks these property types based on long-term performance, land value, demand, and risk.
You’ll learn:
Why houses consistently outperform other property types
The difference between a good townhouse/unit and a bad one
Why land value is the number one driver of capital growth
The biggest risks of buying brand-new or off-the-plan
Which types of apartments can perform — and which never do
How lifestyle vs investment goals change what the “best” asset looks like for you
Whether you're a first-home buyer, investor, or upgrading, this episode will help you avoid costly mistakes and choose the property type with the strongest long-term upside.
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10:14
#33 Off The Plan Properties - The Most DANGEROUS Purchase You’ll Ever Make?
It looks shiny, brand-new, and full of promise — but buying off-the-plan could be one of the riskiest moves a buyer can make. In this episode, Dion breaks down why most off-the-plan apartments don’t perform, what really drives value in property, and how government incentives can actually mask serious financial risks.
You’ll learn:
Why more than half of Melbourne’s apartments resell for a loss
How developers “bake in” incentives to inflate prices
The danger of buying something that doesn’t yet exist
Why land is the only thing that truly drives long-term value
The few rare cases when buying off-the-plan can still make sense
If you’ve ever been tempted by a brand-new apartment with stamp duty savings, listen to this first — it could save you years of regret.
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8:25
#32 HOW to Make Sure You DON'T OVERPAY for a Property
Overpaying for a property is every buyer’s worst nightmare — but it’s also completely avoidable if you know what signs to look for. In this episode, Dion breaks down exactly how to recognise when a property is overpriced, what data actually matters, and how to separate real value from emotional hype.
You’ll learn:
The red flags that a property is struggling (and overpriced)
How to use average days on market as your biggest pricing clue
Why social proof — the number of buyers inspecting — is more powerful than the price guide
How to read an agent’s confidence and use it to your advantage
Why emotion is the number one reason buyers overpay
This episode gives you a clear, data-driven strategy so you can buy with confidence — not panic — and finally stop worrying about paying too much.
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#31 Underquoting: The BIGGEST Trap for Buyers. Why That $800k Property Sells for $950k
Underquoting is one of the biggest frustrations buyers face — a property is advertised in your budget, only to sell hundreds of thousands above the quoted range. In this episode, Dion and mortgage broker David Pelligra cut through the noise to explain what underquoting really is, how the legislation works (and doesn’t), and why quotes and actual value are often two very different things.
They cover:
The difference between fair, competitive, and underquoting
Why Victorian quoting laws are still so grey and frustrating
The biggest red flags that a property is underquoted
How to do your own research so you don’t fall for false ranges
Why focusing on value, not the quote, is the only way to buy smart
If you’ve ever wasted weekends chasing properties you could never afford, this episode will give you the tools to spot the traps and stay ahead.
Everything you need to know when it comes to purchasing your home. Right from the beginning on where to start, all the way through to tough auction negotiations. We will feature guests that specialise within the industry to give you more information to help you achieve your goals.
Ireland