The Elephant in the Room
The property podcast for the thinking person.

Episodes

Episode 378: Has Melbourne’s Market Shifted for Good—Or Is This Just a Blip? Cate Bakos Explains

Melbourne’s property market has been through a lot lately — ups, downs, and now a bit of a bounce. Is this a genuine turnaround, or just a brief shift before more challenges arise? In this episode, we chat with Cate Bakos, a seasoned Melbourne property market specialist who knows the city’s market dynamics better than most.

Cate shares what she’s seeing at the coalface — from interstate investors jumping in to locals cautiously testing the waters. We dig into the impact of Melbourne’s massive infrastructure projects, the aftermath of the city’s harsh lockdowns, and why sentiment can sometimes outweigh the raw data. Cate also touches on the challenges investors are facing, like rising land taxes and stricter rental regulations. It’s a complicated picture, and there’s a lot to consider.

If you’ve been curious about whether Melbourne’s market has truly found its feet or if this is just a momentary shift, you should listen to this episode. Join us as we unpack what’s really happening on the ground, the signals that may hint at a lasting change, and the realities buyers, sellers, and investors need to navigate.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 - Introduction

01:05 - Who is Cate Bakos?

02:39 - What’s driving the surge in buyer activity across Melbourne?

09:29 - Has Melbourne’s mojo returned post-COVID?

13:57 - Is the recent investor interest in Melbourne based on solid data—or just market bias?

17:05 - Cate weighs in on the narrative around high listing volumes in Melbourne

21:01 - What does Victoria’s $1 million daily interest bill mean for property?

26:42 - Buyer preferences are shifting again—are we back to wanting proximity over space?

31:20 - Do younger buyers still prefer the same suburbs and homes as older generations?

34:35 - Why some Melbourne apartments are struggling while others hold strong

38:10 - Has land tax made buyers think twice about purchasing a holiday home?

40:34 - What’s driving Melbourne’s tight rental market and rising yields?

45:38 - Are interstate investors replacing locals who’ve sold out of Melbourne?

46:23 - Cate explains who benefits most from Victoria’s Shared Equity scheme

49:41 - What will it take for upgraders and downsizers to re-enter the market?

51:11 - Cate Bakos’ property dumbo

About Our Guest:

Cate Bakos, with a Chemistry degree from Monash University, transitioned from a successful career in sales and marketing with Orica to becoming an award-winning real estate professional. After purchasing her first property at 21, she moved into Melbourne’s Bayside property market, later founding Cate Bakos Property in 2014. Cate has guided over 2,000 clients through property purchases and strategies, leveraging her expertise in lending policy and cashflow analysis. A regular media commentator, Cate co-hosts “The Property Trio” podcast and authored “Successful Property Investment.” She served as REBAA President from 2019 to 2023 and continues to mentor young industry professionals.

Connect with Cate Bakos:

Resources:

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Chris Bates