Geared For Growth Property Investing Podcast

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Brett Warren, Director at Metropole Property Strategists, a leading buyer's agent who helps property investors and home buyers cut through the noise and build real, long-term wealth. Brett brings a refreshingly honest take on what's really driving property growth right now, from Brisbane's massive run, to Melbourne's long period of underperformance, and why chasing "hotspots" can be a dangerous game for everyday investors. 

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Cate Bakos, Buyer's Agent, Qualified Property Investment Adviser (QPIA) and 2025 Chair of Property Investment Professionals of Australia (PIPA). Cate shares what she's seeing on the ground as volume buyer's agents flood regional markets, how investor-driven demand can distort pricing in lower price brackets, and why some of the most popular "hotspot" suburbs may actually carry higher risk than buyers realise.

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Kent Lardner, a housing market analyst with over 25 years' experience studying Australia's property cycles, risks, affordability pressures, and structural imbalances. Kent has spent decades pulling apart what really drives property performance and now he's at the coalface of how AI and data are being used to transform how buyers' agents find, assess, and price properties.

In this special long episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Goose McGrath, Co-Founder and CEO of Dashdot, one of Australia's fastest-growing property portfolio growth firms. Together, Mike and Goose unpack how technology, capital flows,and financialisation have reshaped property markets, shortened market cycles, and changed what "good strategy" actually means. They explore the rise of large buyer organisations, the dangers of speed-driven investing, and why trust, clarity, and long-term thinking matter more than chasing hotspots. 

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Patrick Noll, mortgage broker and Founder & Director of Runestone Finance, who specialises in helping young professionals build wealth through property investing. Mike and Patrick unpack the uncomfortable reality that even top-1% incomes don't always make buying your dream home a smart financial move. 

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Jo Agresta, Entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of Abodey, and former buyer's advocate with over a decade in the property industry. In a world obsessed with "hotspots" and headline suburbs, Jo explains why chasing hype is one of the biggest mistakes investors make and how the real opportunity lies in understanding strategy, timing, and the early "green shoots" that signal future growth before the media catches on. 

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Julie Crockett, founder of Australian Property Investment Solutions and one of Australia's most experienced buyer's agents working exclusively with investors. She cuts through some of the biggest myths in the buyer's agent space, from the rise of so-called "data-driven" agents to the real value of boots-on-the-ground due diligence. 

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Heather Jordan, Founder and Director of Money Wise Wealth Co. Heather brings a rare blend of skills to the table, a corporate accountant turned property flipper, property tax specialist, and educator helping everyday Australians build wealth through smart, structured renovation projects. 

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Richard Crabb, Founder and Managing Director of the ASPIRE Property Advisor Network. With decades of experience helping Australians build sustainable portfolios, Richard has become a leading voice in raising professional standards across the property advisory industry. Richard brings a refreshingly grounded view on what it means to guide investors: cutting through sales-driven models, breaking down misconceptions, and explaining why so many investors still struggle to break past their first or second property. 

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Terry Ryder, Founder of Hotspotting.com.au and one of Australia's longest-serving property researchers. With more than four decades analysing markets, Terry brings unmatched depth on what actually drives property growth,  far beyond the usual headlines and hype. 

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Oliver Jackson, Director of Living Property. Oliver brings years of hands-on experience in sourcing, renovating, and transforming undervalued properties in competitive markets and he joins Mike for a brutally honest conversation about the real economics behind flipping versus renovating and holding. 

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Rishi Bajaj, Director of InvestVise and a property strategist helping clients build high-return portfolios that thrive even in shifting economic conditions. Rishi brings a wealth of lived experience, from buying his first property during the GFC, to building a multi-country portfolio, to guiding everyday Australians through the overwhelm of investing. His story is full of setbacks, lessons, and wins that shape how he helps clients today. 

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Aidan Devine, National Real Estate Editor for News Corp, overseeing real estate content across major Australian mastheads including news.com.au, The Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, and syndicated content shared via realestate.com.au. Aidan explains the real process behind deciding what becomes news, the responsibility to maintain credibility, and how journalists navigate data, sources, and audience engagement. 

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Tom Haigh, Licensed Buyers Agent with 17 years of experience in the property space. He shares how the motivation behind property investment is evolving, moving beyond personal wealth and early retirement goals to a more profound "why": securing a future for the next generation. 

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Marty Sadlier, Director of MCG Quantity Surveyors, to unpack the full lifecycle of a construction project through the eyes of a quantity surveyor. 

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Kent Lardner, one of Australia’s most respected experts in property data and analytics to unpack his latest research project, a deep dive into the four lifestyle pillars that define Australia’s most resilient property markets.

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Dr. Mat Djolic, co-founder of HtAG Analytics to unpack how data can actually be used to understand property markets, not just for the short-term “hotspot” hype, but to build sustainable, long-term strategies. 

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Bill Childs, Director at Limitless Lending Group, to talk about the realities of trust lending, serviceability, and what really drives property portfolio growth. 

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Jeremy Iannuzzelli, a highly credentialed accountant and property investor with over 16 years of experience advising small to medium enterprises and property investors. With property investors constantly bombarded by conflicting advice, clickbait ads, and “magic” strategies, Jeremy unpacks the realities behind tax structures, trusts, and borrowing capacity.

In this episode of Geared for Growth, Mike Mortlock is joined by Ashish Malhotra, Founder of Auswide Buyers Agency and a trusted partner in helping Australians secure their dream homes and achieve financial freedom through strategic property investment.