The Victorian Government wants to build 300,000 new homes by 2051 around 60 train and tram activity centres across Melbourne. It's a bold plan to tackle housing affordability by focusing development in established locations rather than pushing Melbourne's boundaries further outward.

But will it work – and what does it mean for property investors?

In this episode, Jarrod applies a SWOT analysis to the Activity Centres program to cut through the politics and assess what it really means on the ground.

• Why leveraging existing infrastructure makes sense – and where the logic breaks down
• The land scarcity problem and why density alone isn't the answer
• How the wrong product mix could leave new housing stock sitting empty
• The real threat to existing owners' equity and neighbourhood character

Learn more about Melbourne's activity centres in The Wakelin Melbourne Property Report 2026.

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Investing in property makes sense. Investing in the right property takes knowledge.

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The first instalment of the 2026 Wakelin Melbourne Property Report showed where we are: investor activity is back, interstate capital has moved first, and a February rate rise has put that renewed confidence on notice.​

Part two is about how to think from here.

In this episode, Jarrod steps away from the month‑to‑month noise and works through six tensions that will shape Melbourne’s housing investment market in 2026:

• Confidence vs memory of the last rate cycle – what it takes for buyers to believe a recovery is real
• Headline stability vs rule‑change risk – how much uncertainty around future settings investors are willing to live with to access value
• Renting longer vs buying earlier – how the rent‑versus‑buy equation is shifting at today’s price and rate levels
• Houses vs older low‑rise apartments – where the value actually sits when land does the heavy lifting
• What the Metro Tunnel, West Gate Tunnel and activity centres quietly change over the next few years.
• Portals and print vs AI and socials – how discovery is changing who sees opportunities first.

To view and download The Wakelin Melbourne Property Report 2026 visit wakelin.com.au

We enjoy providing you with free insights into the Melbourne property market and property investment more broadly. Thank you for listening.

If you like what you hear, subscribe, like, rate or follow us and tell your friends and family.

Investing in property makes sense. Investing in the right property takes knowledge.

To learn more visit www.wakelin.com.au | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Email

Melbourne's property market has started 2026 at a defining inflection point.

The momentum has been undeniable. Wakelin's proprietary data reveals a 87% surge in investor enquiries through 2025, with interstate buyers leading the charge.

But we now face a new test. The February rate rise has challenged that sentiment just as it was consolidating.

So, where does that leave the market in 2026?

In the Wakelin Melbourne Property Report, we look past the daily headlines to answer the six defining questions that should shape your investment decisions this year and beyond:

• Will Confidence Consolidate or Waver? The push and pull between strong fundamentals and fragile interest rate sentiment.
• How is Policy Shaping Investor Sentiment? Have the tax and regulatory shocks finally been absorbed? And what’s next on the horizon?
• Rent vs. Buy: Will the Math Shift the Market? Rental pressure meets new pathways to ownership.
• Can Apartments Finally Catch Up? Why the search for value might finally favour period units.
• Will Infrastructure Shift Demand? How new transport links like the Metro Tunnel are rewriting the map of ‘accessible’ Melbourne.
• How Are AI and Socials Reshaping Property Discovery? The emerging tools changing how the next generation finds value.

Welcome to the Rewarding Property Decisions ‘best of’ summer series.

While we’re taking some time off over summer, we thought we’d share with you our most popular episodes in 2025.

This one caught us by surprise at first. Our number one episode for 2025 is “Villa Units: Melbourne’s Overlooked Investment Gem.” I suppose it’s understandable that this episode was popular, as people look for affordable, quality properties to purchase in one of the world’s most liveable cities. Enjoy.

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Jarrod shines a light on Melbourne’s villa units – a property type quietly gaining traction for its unique blend of affordability, scarcity, and broad appeal.

In this episode:

• Why villa units offer strong land value and real scarcity
• How they appeal to first home buyers, investors, and downsizers alike
• Key features to look for: location, floor plan, parking, and outdoor space
• How blue-chip suburbs offer affordable villa unit opportunities
• A real case study: capital growth and lifestyle gains from a smart villa unit purchase

We enjoy providing you with free insights into the Melbourne property market and property investment more broadly. Thank you for listening.

If you like what you hear, subscribe, like, rate or follow us and tell your friends and family.

Investing in property makes sense. Investing in the right property takes knowledge.

To learn more visit www.wakelin.com.au | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Email

Welcome to the Rewarding Property Decisions ‘best of’ summer series. The countdown is back again this summer, while we enjoy our break.

Coming in at number two was a hot topic for 2025 regarding the movements in the Melbourne property market – ‘Winter is here, but Melbourne’s property market is warming up’.

Winter is coming, but Melbourne’s market signals are burning bright.

In this episode, Jarrod covers:

• Why winter is a window for smart buyers and sellers
• The five signals revealing hidden demand
• How to position yourself before the spring rush
• A real-life example of success through preparation

Tune in to learn how to turn the quieter months into your property advantage.

We enjoy providing you with free insights into the Melbourne property market and property investment more broadly. Thank you for listening.

If you like what you hear, subscribe, like, rate or follow us and tell your friends and family.

Investing in property makes sense. Investing in the right property takes knowledge.

To learn more visit www.wakelin.com.au | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Email

Welcome to the Rewarding Property Decisions ‘best of’ summer series. The countdown is back again this summer, while we enjoy our break.

Coming in at number three is the ever-popular Q & O format. This episode was hosted by my colleagues Jordan and Brenton. They were happy to answer some great questions from our listeners.

Momentum began to build in Melbourne’s property market in 2025 – and with it, intensified focus and queries from buyers and sellers alike.

In this episode, Wakelin Advisors Jordan Telfer and Brenton Potter dive into the real issues that matter – answering seven of the most practical and pressing questions facing investors right now.

In this episode:

• Key tips for the final inspection before settlement
• Why choosing a property that’s 'typical for the area' matters
• Where you’ll find Melbourne’s best value villa units
• Prioritising marketing vs. styling when selling
• How to assess the risks of buying next to a vacant block
• Dealing with unconventional layouts – when to walk away or negotiate
• Building & pest reports: how to separate serious issues from minor defects

We enjoy providing you with free insights into the Melbourne property market and property investment more broadly. Thank you for listening.

If you like what you hear, subscribe, like, rate or follow us and tell your friends and family.

Investing in property makes sense. Investing in the right property takes knowledge.

To learn more visit www.wakelin.com.au | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Email

With the holiday season upon us, many Melburnians are packing the car and heading for the coast – but which direction are you pointing the bonnet? East to the Mornington Peninsula or west to the Bellarine?

In this episode, Jarrod compares Victoria’s two favourite coastal playgrounds across seven key battlegrounds – from beaches and wineries to golf and property – to uncover what truly sets them apart.

• The subtle cultural differences that shape each peninsula’s appeal
• Why the Bellarine’s surf and camping flexibility rival Mornington’s polish
• How infrastructure and access are changing the drive to each coast
• The property market contrasts – from scarcity value to affordability

We enjoy providing you with free insights into the Melbourne property market and property investment more broadly. Thank you for listening.

If you like what you hear, subscribe, like, rate or follow us and tell your friends and family.

Investing in property makes sense. Investing in the right property takes knowledge.

To learn more visit www.wakelin.com.au | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Email

The Victorian Government has signalled significant reforms that would require vendors to publish their reserve price at least seven days before an auction.

In this week's episode, Jarrod McCabe and Jordan Telfer explain why this rule – while well-intentioned – clashes with the commercial reality of auction campaigns, and why a published reserve rarely provides the price certainty buyers crave.

In this episode Jarrod and Jordan discuss:

• The campaign conflict: Why locking in a reserve before the critical penultimate Saturday leaves vendors pricing their assets with incomplete data
• The transparency risk: How early disclosure creates a target for pre-auction offers and opaque 'highest and best' scenarios
• The ‘Certainty’ Fallacy: Why knowing the reserve price offers little protection against competitive emotional bidding on the day
• A better solution: The case for vendor-funded building inspections to reduce buyer costs without distorting the auction mechanism.

We enjoy providing you with free insights into the Melbourne property market and property investment more broadly. Thank you for listening.

If you like what you hear, subscribe, like, rate or follow us and tell your friends and family.

Investing in property makes sense. Investing in the right property takes knowledge.

To learn more visit www.wakelin.com.au | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Email