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Australia's Property Market in 2026: Rate Hikes, Housing Shortages & What Investors Need to Know | Diana Mousina, AMP

Episode Summary

In this episode of Invest Smarter, Grow Faster, Julian sits down with Diana Mousina, Deputy Chief Economist at AMP, to cut through the noise and get into the real economic mechanics shaping the property market right now.

Episode Notes

The RBA just raised the cash rate to 3.85% — the first hike since November 2023 — and national property prices hit a record $912,465 in January. So what does 2026 actually hold for Australian property investors?

In this episode of Invest Smarter, Grow Faster, Julian sits down with Diana Mousina, Deputy Chief Economist at AMP, to cut through the noise and get into the real economic mechanics shaping the property market right now.

Diana brings 15 years of financial markets experience and a rare gift for translating complex macro data into plain language — and in this conversation, she does exactly that.

In this episode:

• Why the RBA hiked rates and whether more increases are coming
• What inflation at 3.8% really means for your borrowing power
• The two-speed property market — which cities will outperform and why
• Australia's structural housing shortage: 200,000–300,000 dwellings and counting
• The global wildcards (US trade policy, China, gold) that could shift everything
• What smart investors should actually be doing in 2026 — and the biggest mistake to avoid

Whether you're considering your first investment property or looking to expand your portfolio, this episode gives you the macro foundation to make a well-informed decision.

Diana Mousina is Deputy Chief Economist at AMP, a regular commentator on Bloomberg, CNBC and ABC News, and one of Australia's most trusted voices on interest rates, inflation, and housing markets.

Chapters:

00:00 The State of Australian Property Right Now
00:34 Meet Diana Mousina: 15 Years Decoding Financial Markets 
04:46 The Macro Landscape: What's Really Happening in 2026 
07:34 Inflation: Why It's Not Going Away Anytime Soon 
09:59 Is Australia at Risk of Recession? 
11:45 Interest Rates: How Many More Hikes Are Coming? 
14:26 What Rate Rises Mean for Property Buyers and Borrowing Power 
17:58 Property Price Forecasts: City by City Breakdown 
20:34 The Housing Shortage: Supply, Construction and the 1.2M Homes Target 
24:17 Immigration, Student Visas and Rental Demand 
29:37 Global Wildcards: US Policy, Gold and Where to Invest 
33:16 The China Factor and Australian Exports 
35:38 Should You Buy, Hold or Wait in 2026? 
39:57 SMSFs and Superannuation: What's Changing 
43:05 The Biggest Mistake Investors Make in This Market

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This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial adviser before making investment decisions.