“When it comes to a home, it’s not about price. It’s do you want to live in the house you can get for cheap that you’re going to be unhappy in? Or do you want to find the house that you’re going to be mega happy in?” – Chris Gray

In this episode, Chris Bates sits down with Chris Gray, CEO of Your Empire, property investor, buyer’s agent, Sky Business commentator, and long-time Eastern Suburbs specialist, to unpack what actually drives long-term capital growth in blue-chip markets.

Chris shares how he semi-retired at 31 after building a six-property portfolio, why he keeps coming back to supply and demand fundamentals, and why quality land beats quantity every time. From Bondi to Manly and Balmain, he explains why scarcity, parking, small blocks, and strict due diligence matter more than chasing trends or off-the-plan hype.

If you’re investing in Sydney apartments — or thinking about upgrading your home — this episode is a masterclass in buying assets that compound, not just impress.

01:12 – Meet Chris Gray: Accountant to Property Freedom

01:38 – Age 22 Strategy: Rent Rooms, Live for Free

03:06 – Leaving Deloitte & Launching Buyer’s Agency

05:37 – Why Blue-Chip Apartments Win Long Term

08:46 – Median Rule: Quality Land Beats Quantity

10:54 – Zoning Changes: Why the East Stays Scarce

18:27 – Old Brick Blocks: Concrete Cancer Risks

21:10 – Avoiding “Lemons”: Scarcity & Paying for Quality

23:17 – Why We Insist on Independent Valuations

25:06 – Off-Markets & Buying the Ugly Duckling

29:24 – Renovations: Then vs Now & Market Timing

32:04 – Apartment Danger Zones: Fees & Amenities

37:25 – Model T Mishap & Final Property Lessons

Chris Gray is the CEO of Your Empire, a Sydney-based property investor, buyer’s agent, and media commentator with more than two decades of experience in blue-chip real estate.

Originally trained as an accountant, Chris began investing at 22 and semi-retired by 31 after building a multi-property portfolio across Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs and the UK. He later became the property expert on Channel Nine’s My Home and has appeared on more than 500 Sky Business programs, interviewing leading economists, valuers, and banking experts.

Chris specialises in tightly held, supply-constrained markets across Sydney’s Eastern Beaches and Lower North Shore, focusing on established apartments in small blocks with strong owner-occupier demand. His approach is deliberately conservative: buy in proven blue-chip suburbs, conduct rigorous independent valuations and strata due diligence, and prioritise long-term capital growth over speculation.

Over the years, his strategy has remained consistent — grounded in supply and demand, scarcity, and disciplined execution rather than chasing trends.

1. LinkedIn
2. Website
3. Instagram
4. Facebook

1. Business Webpage Link - https://alcove.com.au

What looks like a great home today can quietly become a problem asset tomorrow—especially in Melbourne’s inner east. In this episode, buyer’s agent Warwick Brookes explains why certain properties repeatedly fail, even in blue-chip suburbs.

With a career spanning more than two decades, Warwick shares how his thinking has evolved—from following market trends early on, to relying on instinct, long-term data, and hard-earned experience. He breaks down how oversupply, planning changes, and buyer psychology have shaped Melbourne’s housing market.

You’ll hear specific insights into inner-east suburbs, why finished homes now outperform renovations, how school zones influence price far more than buyers realise, and why main-road and no-parking homes carry hidden risks.

Whether you’re investing or buying a family home, this episode is about protecting downside, preserving flexibility, and buying assets that hold up—no matter the market cycle.

01:28 — Warwick Brookes' Journey in Real Estate

05:16 — Navigating Melbourne's Competitive Housing Market

09:28 — Importance of School Zones and Family Planning

12:45 — The Role of Real Estate Agents

17:12 — Challenges in Melbourne's Property Market

23:33 — Advice for First-Time Home Buyers

26:35 — Final Thoughts and Wisdom

Warwick Brookes is a Melbourne-based buyer’s agent and director at Domain & Co, with more than 25 years of experience in residential property. He began his real estate career in 1998, initially buying, renovating, and selling properties before transitioning into agency work in Hawthorn.

By 2000, Warwick shifted into buyer advocacy—at a time when the role was still largely unknown in Australia. Since then, he has specialised in Melbourne’s inner-east suburbs including Hawthorn, Camberwell, South Yarra, Stonnington, and Boroondara.

Known for his deep agent relationships, pricing accuracy, and focus on long-term livability, Warwick advises clients across family homes, upgrades, and complex life transitions. His approach prioritises resale strength, floor plan functionality, school zones, and avoiding assets that struggle in down markets.

1. Warwick’s LinkedIn
2. Domain & Co. | Buyer & Vendor Advocates Melbourne
3. Domain & Co | LinkedIn

1. Business Webpage Link - https://alcove.com.au
2. Phone: 0489 913 227
3. Email - hello@alcove.com.au
4. Socials:
5. LinkedIn (Alcove) - https://www.linkedin.com/company/alcovemb
6. LinkedIn (Chris) -

“I’ve had clients looking for over 10 years before buying — imagine the capital growth they missed.” – Nick Viner

Sydney’s Inner West looks simple on a map, but it’s one of the most complex buying environments in the country. Noise, access, zoning, density, and micro-pockets can make or break long-term performance.

In this episode, Chris Bates sits down with Nick Viner, a buyer’s advocate with 16 years of Inner West experience, to unpack where buyers really go wrong — and how to avoid expensive mistakes hiding inside “good” suburbs.

If you’re buying or investing in Sydney’s Inner West, this episode will change how you assess streets, pockets, and lifestyle trade-offs before you commit.

00:00 Why Waiting Costs Buyers Years

01:24 Nick Viner: From Property Law to Buying Power

03:07 What a Buyer’s Agent Really Does (and Saves)

07:38 Why the Inner West Isn’t One Market

15:11 Noise, Dead Zones, and Other Inner West Traps

19:41 How Agent Relationships Win Properties

21:15 What Makes a High-Quality Inner West Asset

27:11 Why Experience Changes Buying Outcomes

32:47 Final Advice for Inner West Buyers

Nick Viner is a Sydney-based buyer’s advocate specialising in the Inner West. A former property solicitor, he became a buyer’s agent in 2009 and has spent more than 15 years helping busy professionals secure homes and investment properties in some of Sydney’s most competitive inner-city markets.

He is Chair of the Buyers’ Agency Chapter at the Real Estate Institute of NSW and has been recognised with major industry awards. Nick is known for his deep Inner West knowledge, strong agent relationships, and ability to secure off-market and pre-auction opportunities.

1. LinkedIn

1. Business Webpage Link - https://alcove.com.au
2. Phone: 0489 913 227
3. Email - hello@alcove.com.au
4. Socials:
5. LinkedIn (Alcove) - https://www.linkedin.com/company/alcovemb
6. LinkedIn (Chris) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherbates/
7. Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alcove.au

1. YouTube
2. https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickviner/

“I put people in property. I don’t put property in people.” – Stuart Jones

Buying property in Sydney’s East isn’t about hype — it’s about understanding how people live, move, and upgrade over time.

In this episode, Chris Bates sits down with buyer’s agent Stuart Jones to unpack how experienced buyers think about lifestyle, scarcity, and long-term decision-making across Sydney’s eastern side.

They go deep on how different pockets of Sydney’s east serve very different lifestyles, why buyers often overestimate what their budget can achieve, and how suburb progression actually works when done well. Stuart explains why staying within the same demand ecosystem matters, how scarcity shows up not just in suburbs but within streets and buildings, and where buyers unknowingly erode future options by jumping markets too early.

Stuart draws on nearly 20 years in buyer’s agency and more than $2 billion worth of transactions to explain why most buyers get location wrong, how to stage your way through markets, and why jumping suburbs often destroys long-term outcomes.

If you’re buying in Sydney’s east — or trying to work out where you should be buying next — this episode will help you sharpen your thinking, challenge your assumptions, and make decisions that still stack up years down the track.

01:29 – Meet Stuart Jones

01:44 – From Corporate to Buyer’s Agent

02:47 – How Buyer’s Agency Actually Evolved

04:34 – What Clients Really Want (But Don’t Say)

09:25 – How City East Really Works

13:02 – Scarcity Drives Long-Term Value

21:02 – Why Affordability Keeps Shifting

26:10 – What’s Next for the Eastern Suburbs

33:14 – Final Lessons for Smarter Buyers

Stuart Jones is a Sydney-based buyer’s agent with nearly 20 years of experience across residential, investment, and development property.

He was involved with one of Australia’s earliest buyer’s agencies, Rosen Jones Property, before founding Jones Property after 18 years in the business. Since 2005, Stuart has purchased approximately $2 billion worth of property on behalf of hundreds of clients.

Stuart has worked across homes, apartments, unit blocks, industrial assets, portfolio construction, vendor advocacy, and developer acquisitions. Known for his strategy-led approach, he focuses on lifestyle alignment, scarcity, and long-term value rather than short-term market noise.

1. LinkedIn

1. Business Webpage Link - https://alcove.com.au
2. Phone: 0489 913 227
3. Email - hello@alcove.com.au
4. LinkedIn (Alcove) - https://www.linkedin.com/company/alcovemb
5. LinkedIn (Chris) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherbates/
6. Instagram -

“A good buyer’s agent should keep you out of trouble—the cost of getting it wrong in Sydney has many zeroes in the end.” – John Carew

Sydney’s Inner West has become one of the most complex buying environments in the country—shaped by migration patterns, zoning changes, lifestyle trade-offs and emotional decision-making.

In this episode, Chris Bates is joined by John Carew, Director of Mayfield Property Buyers, to unpack what really drives buyer outcomes across Hunters Hill, Gladesville, the Inner West and the Lower North Shore.

John explains why most buyers misunderstand the value of a buyer’s agent, why A-grade homes rarely come cheap, and how local knowledge—from school zones to neighbour risk—plays a bigger role than most realise.

They also dive into TOD zoning, why proximity to transport can be both an opportunity and a trap, and how the cost of a wrong decision in Sydney often far outweighs any short-term “saving.”

If you’re buying or investing in Sydney and want fewer mistakes, clearer strategy, and better long-term outcomes, this conversation will sharpen how you think about property.

00:00 — Introduction to Buyer's Agents

01:53 — Meet John Carew: From Banking to Buyer's Agency

03:39 — The Psychology of Real Estate

05:10 — Navigating Client Expectations

08:53 — Understanding Sydney's Inner West

14:34 — The Importance of Local Knowledge

19:28 — The Role of a Buyer's Agent Team

23:37 — Misconceptions About Buyer's Agents

29:29 — The Value of Due Diligence

35:23 — Conclusion and Final Thoughts

John Carew is the Director of Mayfield Property Buyers, a Sydney-based buyer’s agency specialising in the Inner West, Hunters Hill, Gladesville and the Lower North Shore.

With a background in banking and agricultural economics, John transitioned into buyer’s advocacy over a decade ago after personally investing and helping friends and family navigate Sydney’s market. Since launching Mayfield in 2015, he has built a team-based buyer’s agency model focused on deep local expertise, disciplined due diligence and long-term client outcomes.

John is known for his calm, evidence-led approach—helping buyers avoid common traps around zoning changes, unrealistic briefs, emotional decision-making and overpaying for scarcity. His team works collaboratively, leveraging multiple perspectives, long-standing agent relationships and granular suburb knowledge to secure A-grade homes at fair value.

1. Mayfield Property Buyers’ Website
2. Mayfield Property Buyers’ LinkedIn
3. Mayfield Property Buyers’ Facebook Page
4. Mayfield Property Buyers’ Instagram
5. John Carew’s LinkedIn

1. Business Webpage Link - https://www.alcove.com.au/

“I think we can do better than this property. Let's walk away from this one.” – Cathy McGowan

Buying property in Sydney’s North Shore and Hills looks simple from the outside—desirable schools, leafy streets, and strong demand. But beneath the surface, there are traps most buyers don’t see until years later.

In this episode, Chris Bates speaks with Cathy McGowan, founder of McGowan Property Buyers and one of Sydney’s most experienced buyers agents. With more than three decades in the industry, Cathy shares how buyer behavior, demographics, transport, and planning controls are reshaping the northwest.

They dive into suburb-by-suburb thinking, the real impact of the Metro , why some developments quietly destroy livability , and how buyers end up overpaying for properties that won’t hold long-term appeal.

If you’re buying or investing in Sydney—especially the Hills or North Shore—this conversation will help you avoid emotional decisions and focus on assets that truly perform.

00:00 — Understanding the Role of a Buyer's Agent

01:45 — Cathy's Journey into Real Estate

06:13 — Insights into Sydney's North and Northwest Markets

10:04 — Helping Clients Find the Right Property

15:05 — Challenges and Considerations in Property Buying

17:08 — The Impact of Developments on Property Value

19:48 — Common Pitfalls in Property Buying

22:34 — Changing Suburbs and School Fees

23:39 — Transport Challenges in the Hills

26:00 — Community and Family Ties

32:43 — Unexpected Value from Buyer's Agents

35:08 — The Importance of Good Professionals

40:28 — Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Cathy McGowan is the Principal of McGowan Property Buyers, specializing in the North and Northwest regions of Sydney. Her career is defined by a unique "triple-threat" background: a double major in Accounting and Finance, years as an investigator for the Office of Fair Trading, and over a decade with the Real Estate Institute (REI).

With a real estate license held for over 30 years, Cathy transitioned into the Buyer’s Agency space 14 years ago, mentored by industry pioneer Jackie Parker. Today, she is known for her integrity, her deep network of local agents, and her refusal to let clients settle for anything less than an "A-grade" asset.

1. McGowan Property Buyers’ Website
2. McGowan Property Buyers’ LinkedIn
3. McGowan Property Buyers’ Instagram
4. McGowan Property Buyers’ Facebook Page
5. Catherine McGowan’s LinkedIn

1. Business Webpage Link - https://www.alcove.com.au/
2. Phone: 0489 913 227

“Some of those things are not written on the internet — you can’t Google this stuff. You’ve got to live it.”

— Matthew Ward

Matthew Ward has spent over 25 years working in property across Central NSW — first as a valuer, then as a buyer’s agent deeply embedded in the region.

In this episode, Matthew and Chris unpack what truly drives value across regional centres like Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Albury-Wodonga, and Tamworth — and why raw data often tells the wrong story.

They explore lifestyle economics, school catchments, climate design, walkability, gentrification, investor risk, and why out-of-area buyers often overpay without realising it.

If you’re considering Central NSW — whether as an investor, future resident, or rent-vesting buyer — this conversation gives you the context you can’t find online.

00:00 – Introduction and Client Story

01:22 – Meet Matthew Ward: Background and Experience

02:05 – The Appeal of Regional New South Wales

02:49 – Challenges and Opportunities in Property Development

06:24 – The Shift to Regional Living Post-COVID

07:56 – Economic and Lifestyle Factors Driving Regional Growth

11:41 – Investment Strategies and Market Insights

20:32 – Common Mistakes in Regional Property Investment

29:28 – The Role of Buyer's Agents in Regional Markets

39:35 – Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Matthew Ward is a Director at WPG Advisory, specialising in property across Central West and Regional NSW, with more than 25 years of experience spanning valuation, development, and property consultancy.

Born and raised in Orange, Matthew began his career as a valuer across Sydney, before working in the UK and later returning to regional New South Wales. He spent nearly a decade valuing property throughout the Central West, building deep, on-the-ground knowledge of how regional markets actually function.

Since transitioning into buyer’s advocacy in 2014, Matthew has led WPG Advisory’s buyer services across markets including Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo, Wagga Wagga, Albury-Wodonga, and Tamworth, advising both investors and owner-occupiers on asset selection, risk management, and long-term fundamentals.

His approach is grounded in lived experience, local relationships, and professional discipline, offering clients insight that goes well beyond data models, suburb rankings, or headline yields.

1. Matthew’s LinkedIn
2. WPG Advisory LinkedIn
3. WPG Advisory (website)

1. Business Webpage Link - https://alcove.com.au
2. Phone: 0489 913 227
3. Email - hello@alcove.com.au
4. Socials:
5. LinkedIn (Alcove) -

“Adelaide has always been slow and steady — we’re not volatile like the Eastern states.”

— Jess Ellam

Adelaide has quietly become one of Australia’s most compelling property markets — but only if you understand how it actually works.

In this episode of Street Secrets, Chris Bates sits down with Adelaide buyer’s agent Jess Ellam to break down the realities behind the city’s growth.

With over 20 years in real estate and deep experience on both the sales and buyer’s side, Jess explains why Adelaide remains a slow-and-steady market, how COVID reshaped interstate demand, and why many investors underestimate the importance of local knowledge.

They discuss zoning changes under Planning SA, the impact of infrastructure like the north–south tunnel, lifestyle-driven demand near the coast and inner ring, and where investors should be cautious — especially when buying remotely without boots on the ground.

Whether you’re an investor or home buyer, this episode will help you understand Adelaide beyond the data — and make smarter, more defensible property decisions.

00:00 – Introduction and Guest Welcome

01:54 – Jess Ellen's Journey into Real Estate

04:33 – Adelaide Market Overview

05:02 – COVID-19 Impact on Adelaide

06:44 – Adelaide's Unique Lifestyle and Property Preferences

10:51 – Investment Opportunities in Adelaide

16:45 – Navigating the Adelaide Property Market

27:30 – Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Jess Ellam is the Founder and Director of Ellam Property, a licensed buyer advocacy firm based in Adelaide. With nearly 20 years of experience across both the sales and buyer sides of real estate, Jess began her career at 17, learning the transaction process from the ground up before purchasing her first investment property as a teenager — an experience that shaped her practical, client-first approach.

After working with one of Adelaide’s first buyer advocacy firms, Jess launched Ellam Property in 2020. Her business has grown almost entirely through referrals, underpinned by deep local knowledge, strong agent relationships, and detailed comparable sales analysis. Holding a Diploma in Property and currently completing her Property Investment Adviser qualification through PIPA, Jess helps home buyers and investors navigate Adelaide’s market with clarity, confidence, and a focus on long-term fundamentals.

1. Jess’ LinkedIn
2. Ellam Property (website)
3. Jess’ Facebook Page
4. Jess’ Instagram
5. Phone: +61 400 084 804

1. Business Webpage Link - https://
2. Phone: 0489 913 227
3. Email -