Property, Straight Up

Mel Dennis

Property, Straight Up Melbourne property is confusing enough without someone making it more complicated. This podcast tries to do the opposite. Hosted by Mel Dennis and Warwick Brookes — buyer's and vendor's advocates with thirty years on both sides of the Melbourne market — each episode tells you what's actually going on. Market movements, suburb spotlights, auction tactics, off-market opportunities, buying and selling strategies. What's working, what isn't, and what we'd do if it were us. Mel and Warwick also sit down with people who know this market from the inside — agents, brokers, builders, planners, economists, developers. Not for the talking points. For the real conversations that don't usually make it to the listing description. Whether you're buying your first home, selling the family house, or figuring out your next move — this is Melbourne property, given to you straight. New episodes every week. Find us wherever you get your podcasts.

  1. 6d ago

    What Buyers Miss: How to Buy a Home That Holds Its Value

    In this episode of Property, Straight Up, Mel Dennis turns the tables and interviews her business partner, co-director and husband Warwick Brookes about what buyer advocacy really involves and what makes a good property purchase. Drawing on decades in Melbourne property, first in sales and then on the buyer's side, Warwick walks through the fundamentals that hold value, why land matters, and how to keep emotion from making the decision for you. They also get into auction mistakes that cost buyers hundreds of thousands, why 30 to 40% of properties fail building inspections, negotiating after a passed in auction, the truth about off market sales, and plain advice for first home buyers trying to get in today.  Connect with Warwick Brookes, Domain & Co https://domainandco.com.au/ Property, Straight Up is brought to you by Domain & Co, Your Property People. domainandco.com.au

    What Buyers Miss: How to Buy a Home That Holds Its Value

  2. Sep 29

    It's Not Always 50/50: What Really Happens to Property When You Separate

    When a relationship ends, the decisions about property and money often have to be made when people feel least ready. In this episode, Mel Dennis sits down with Bronwyn Montgomery, Partner at Farrar Gesini Dunn and a family lawyer of more than ten years, to work through what really happens to property when you separate. Bronwyn explains why there is no automatic 50/50 split, how settlements are actually weighed up, when a partner can claim a home you already owned, and why reaching your own agreement generally beats going to court. She covers timing a sale, buying again after separation, the biggest mistakes people make, and why any agreement needs to be properly documented. Connect with Bronwyn Montgomery, Farrar Gesini Dunn: https://www.fgd.com.au/about-us/our-people/bronwyn-montgomery Property, Straight Up is brought to you by Domain & Co, Your Property People. domainandco.com.au

    It's Not Always 50/50: What Really Happens to Property When You Separate

  3. Sep 3

    Wills, Super and Title: Where Your Property Really Goes When You Die

    Only around half of Australians have a will, and half the people who think they know how their property is held are wrong. In this episode, Mel Dennis sits down with Tracey Collins, Accredited Specialist in Wills and Estates Law at Collins Lawyers and Consultants, to work through where your property really goes when you die. Tracey explains why marriage invalidates a will in Victoria, why DIY will kits go wrong once life gets complicated, and why joint tenants vs tenants in common can override your will entirely. She covers superannuation and binding death benefit nominations, owning property across state lines, the blended family mistakes she sees most often, and how to find a lawyer who actually specialises in this work. Property, Straight Up is brought to you by Domain & Co, Your Property People. domainandco.com.au

    Wills, Super and Title: Where Your Property Really Goes When You Die

  4. Aug 25

    The Planning Changes Reshaping What Your Property Could Be Worth

    Most property owners have no idea what the planning controls on their land actually allow, or what they could allow in the future. In this episode of Property, Straight Up, Warwick Brookes talks with Laurie Rigoni, founder of Terrain Consulting Group, about the planning reforms reshaping property value right across Melbourne. Laurie explains the 70/30 housing split, the 60 activity centres changing density near you, what rezoning to housing choice zones means for height limits, the December 2024 car parking changes, and the new canopy tree rules catching owners and developers off guard. Connect with Laurie Rigoni, Terrain Consulting Group https://terrainconsulting.com.au/ Property, Straight Up is brought to you by Domain & Co, Your Property People. domainandco.com.au

    The Planning Changes Reshaping What Your Property Could Be Worth

  5. Aug 4

    The Market Is Splitting in Two: What Sellers Are Getting Wrong Right Now

    Warwick Brookes sits down with Luke Sacco, Partner at Nelson Alexander's Northcote office, for a frank conversation about nearly three decades in real estate and what's really happening in Melbourne's property market right now. From the widening gap between renovated and unrenovated homes to the proposed changes to auction reserve pricing, Luke shares what he's seeing on the ground with buyers and sellers every day. They cover the biggest mistakes sellers are making, why presentation and staging matter more than ever, what's driving demand in Melbourne's inner north, and why nervous buyers are slowing down every deal. A straight talking look at what it takes to build a lasting career in real estate, and what both buyers and sellers need to understand right now. Connect with Luke Sacco, Nelson Alexander: https://www.nelsonalexander.com.au/real-estate-agents/luke-sacco/149/ Property, Straight Up is brought to you by Domain & Co, Your Property People. domainandco.com.au

    The Market Is Splitting in Two: What Sellers Are Getting Wrong Right Now

  6. Jul 20

    Downsizing Without the Overwhelm | Robyn Strickland, Love It or Leave It

    Downsizing is not just a property decision, it is one of the most emotionally complex transitions people face. In this episode, Mel Dennis talks with Robyn Strickland, founder of Love It or Leave It, about what really happens when someone lets go of decades of belongings and a family home. Robyn shares why clutter affects our wellbeing, the role adult children play, how the process works step by step, and the one thing she says makes the biggest difference: starting early. Connect with Robyn Strickland, Love It or Leave It: https://loveitorleaveit.com.au   Property, Straight Up is brought to you by Domain & Co, Your Property People. domainandco.com.au

    Downsizing Without the Overwhelm | Robyn Strickland, Love It or Leave It

  7. Jul 13

    Maximising Your Investment: The Difference Between Average and Great Returns

    Buying the right property is only half the equation. In this episode, Mel Dennis sits down with Nicola Michels, Senior Business Development Manager at Longview, to talk about what great property management actually looks like, what investors get wrong, and the small changes that can have an outsized impact on rental returns and long term performance. With over two decades of experience across metropolitan Melbourne, Nicola shares what's happening in Melbourne's rental market right now, why the right property manager is worth far more than the fee difference, and a real life case study of a property turned around from two months vacant to let in two weeks. If you own an investment property, or are thinking about buying one, this conversation is essential listening. Connect with Nicola Michels, Longview: www.longview.com.au The Melbourne Property Brief is brought to you by Domain & Co, Your Property People. domainandco.com.au Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:25 Meet Nicola Michels: Senior BDM at Longview 01:17 Longview's Coverage Across Metropolitan Melbourne 02:22 What's Happening in Melbourne's Rental Market Right Now 03:34 Pricing Right: The Key to Minimising Vacancy 04:07 Buy With Your Head, Not Your Heart 05:10 What Makes a Property Appeal to the Rental Market 05:51 Long Term Tenants Mean More Money in Your Pocket 06:22 Average vs High Performing Investment Properties 06:54 The Right Team Around You: Why It Matters 07:26 Data Doesn't Lie: Understanding Real Rental Returns 09:17 The Biggest Mistake Investors Make: Choosing the Wrong Agent 09:58 Don't Skimp on Management Fees for a Million Dollar Asset 10:38 What Good Property Marketing Actually Looks Like 11:43 Floor Plans, Virtual Tours and Photography: Why They Win Tenants 13:02 What Service Standards to Look For in an Agent 13:52 Compliance and Legislative Changes Landlords Must Know 15:28 Longview's Service Guarantee: Putting Money Where Their Mouth Is 16:39 Practical Ways to Maximise Rental Return and Minimise Vacancy 17:55 Proactive Maintenance: Prevention Is Better Than Cure 19:39 How Often Should You Review Your Property's Performance? 20:37 The Case for a Property Management Only Agency 21:41 Unbiased Advice: Sell or Hold? 22:12 Real Life Case Study: Vacant for Two Months, Let in Two Weeks 24:06 Closing Advice: The One Thing Every Investor Should Do Now 24:15 Wrap Up and How to Connect With Nicola at Longview

    Maximising Your Investment: The Difference Between Average and Great Returns

  8. Jul 6

    The Property Tax Mistakes Costing Investors Money

    Most property investors leave their tax planning until it’s too late, and it ends up costing them. In this episode of Property, Straight Up, Warwick Brookes talks with Christie Morris, an accountant and tax agent at Semmens Partners Accountants, about the EOFY mistakes, negative gearing changes, ownership structures and hidden costs that catch property owners out. Christie explains why timing your depreciation schedule before 30 June matters, why the SMSF property pitch from brokers rarely stacks up, and why understanding the difference between a tax deduction and actual cash flow could change how you think about your next property decision. Connect with Christie Morris, Semmens Partners Accountants https://semmpart.com.au/ Property, Straight Up is brought to you by Domain & Co, Your Property People. https://domainandco.com.au/ Timestamps: 00:00      Introduction 00:29      Why End of Financial Year Timing Matters 00:58      Meet Christie Morris, Accountant and Tax Agent 01:54      What Property Owners Should Be Doing Before 30 June 03:29      The Capital Gains Tax Timing Trap: Contract vs Settlement Date 05:20      Depreciation and the Hidden Capital Gains Catch 06:19      Negative Gearing and CGT Changes: Navigating the Limbo 07:40      Ownership Structures: Personal, Trust, Company or SMSF 08:27      The SMSF Property Warning: What Spruikers Get Wrong 10:14      When SMSF Property Actually Makes Sense: Business Premises 11:28      Will CGT and Negative Gearing Changes Shift Investor Behaviour? 12:09      The Pre-CGT Asset Removal: The Change People Missed 13:03      Choosing the Right Ownership Structure for Your Situation 15:04      Pub Talk vs Professional Advice 16:19      Victoria’s Land Tax Increases and the Rental Market Impact 17:55      Tax Depreciation Schedules Explained 18:44      Tax Deductions vs Cash Flow: What’s the Difference? 19:24      Interest Only vs Principal and Interest Loans 20:31      What If Scenarios 20:43      What If I Turn My Home Into a Rental? 21:55      What If I Inherit a Property? 22:43      What If I Renovate Before Selling? 23:08      What If I Airbnb My Property? 23:32      What If My Kids Move In? 23:57      What If I Buy With a Sibling? 25:00      Why Getting Advice Before You Act Changes Everything 26:02      Wrap Up and Key Takeaways

    The Property Tax Mistakes Costing Investors Money
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About

Property, Straight Up Melbourne property is confusing enough without someone making it more complicated. This podcast tries to do the opposite. Hosted by Mel Dennis and Warwick Brookes — buyer's and vendor's advocates with thirty years on both sides of the Melbourne market — each episode tells you what's actually going on. Market movements, suburb spotlights, auction tactics, off-market opportunities, buying and selling strategies. What's working, what isn't, and what we'd do if it were us. Mel and Warwick also sit down with people who know this market from the inside — agents, brokers, builders, planners, economists, developers. Not for the talking points. For the real conversations that don't usually make it to the listing description. Whether you're buying your first home, selling the family house, or figuring out your next move — this is Melbourne property, given to you straight. New episodes every week. Find us wherever you get your podcasts.

Information

  • Creator
    Mel Dennis
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Property, Straight Up
  • Show Website
    Property, Straight Up