Real estate headlines love a single story. The truth, according to inner west agent Craig McKenzie, is that Sydney's property market right now is really several different markets moving in different directions at once.

In this episode, Tom sit down with Craig, a 30+ year real estate veteran working the Drummoyne, Abbotsford, Five Dock corridor, to unpack what's actually happening at ground level.

What we cover:

• Why the $1.8m-$2.5m price band has become the sweet spot in the inner west, and who's driving it (downsizers meeting upsizers in the middle)
• The upper end of the market (properties $3.5m+) softening considerably post-budget
• First home buyer activity in the $900k-$1.3m range holding firm, and in some cases growing, despite the broader slowdown narrative
• A live case study: a Drummoyne semi that went from 2-3 groups through the open home to 17 groups and three active negotiations after a campaign reset
• Investor lodgements reportedly down sharply since the federal budget, and how negative gearing changes are affecting borrowing capacity for existing dwellings
• SMSF lending changes and why self-managed super investors are pausing to restrategise
• The Bank of Mum and Dad: how gifted deposits are structured properly, and where they go wrong
• Suburb selection: why capital growth history matters more than square footage, and Craig's ChatGPT tip for comparing suburbs
• Quick fire round: green flag or red flag on buying before finance approval, going in emotionally at auction, renovating before selling, and more
• Craig's Crystal Ball: where he sees prices, auction clearance rates and interest rates heading for the rest of the year

Craig McKenzie, WARWICK WILLIAMS. 📞 0414 515 169 📧 craigm@wwre.com.au

Tom Morison, Amara Mortgage Brokers 📞 0407 199 199 📧 tom@amara.broker