Residential Property Investing Isn't Dead. Lazy Investing Is.

Is residential property investing really dead, or have the rules simply changed?

In this Q&A episode of Future Proof Property, Dawn tackles one of the biggest claims circulating in the property world and explains why today's market isn't the end of residential investing, it's the end of buying without a strategy.

Covering 15 listener questions, Dawn dives into everything from negative gearing changes and market sentiment to apartments, buyers' agents, granny flats, timing the market, and knowing when to sell. She also shares where she's personally investing, why Melbourne remains one of her favourite markets, and why waiting for certainty could be the most expensive decision investors make.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by conflicting headlines or wondering what the recent policy changes mean for your next move, this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what really drives long-term wealth creation.

In This Episode

• Is residential property investing really dead?

• Why strategy matters more than tax benefits

• The cost of waiting versus taking action

• When apartments make sense—and when they don't

• The future of buyers' agents

• Buying your dream home versus investing first

• When to sell investment properties

• Why market timing still matters

• The truth about granny flats and cash flow

• Regional vs metropolitan property cycles

• Why affordable price points continue to outperform

• Where Dawn is personally looking to invest next

Chapters

00:00 Is Residential Property Investing Dead?

08:06 Should You Buy an Apartment in 2026?

11:03 Are Buyers' Agencies in Trouble?

13:01 Dream Home or Investment Property First?

15:24 Should You Sell an Ipswich Investment?

18:46 Is Bendigo Still Growing?

19:33 Should You Wait for a Property Crash?

21:47 How to Buy Your First Investment Property

24:10 When Should You Sell in Townsville?

25:55 Is Wyndham Vale a Good Investment?

27:03 Will Geelong Continue to Grow?

28:17 Should You Sell Your Perth Property?

29:29 Can You Invest and Still Travel?

32:11 Are Granny Flats the New Investment Strategy?

34:31 Where Dawn Is Investing Next