What is hotspotting, really? In this episode, we sit down with Terry Ryder, the founder of Hotspotting, to explore what the term means and what it should mean for property investors. Terry has spent over four decades researching and writing about Australian residential property, and he’s here to share why chasing short-term predictions is not the way to go. Terry walks us through his approach to identifying true hotspots—places with economic diversity, infrastructure investment, and long-term growth potential. He’s upfront about how the name “hotspotting” can sometimes create misconceptions, with people thinking it’s about quick, short-term wins. As Terry explains, that’s the opposite of his philosophy. For him, it’s all about looking ahead and finding what he calls “second wind markets”—those overlooked locations that are set to thrive over time. We also dive into the challenges of going against the herd mentality. Terry believes most investors make mistakes by following the crowd or reacting to media noise instead of having a solid, long-term strategy. He even shares personal stories about lessons learned from his own investments, including the times he wishes he hadn’t sold too soon. This conversation is packed with Terry’s trademark honesty, practical insights, and a refreshing take on property investing. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to fine-tune your strategy, this episode is a must-listen. Episode Highlights: 00:00 - Introduction 00:56 - Who is Terry Ryder? 01:52 - Terry’s thoughts on the popularity of the term “hotspotting” among buyers’ agents 03:42 - How frequently Terry addresses the misbelief that ‘hotspotting’ is about quick returns 05:07 - Determining time frames and benchmarks for market outperformance 14:30 - What Terry would do if he had to rebuild his portfolio from scratch 16:52 - The role of sales activity in Terry's investment methodology 19:40 - Can fair value outweigh location quality in long-term property investments? 22:06 - Is location more important than property details in your analysis? 28:45 - Are we seeing a shift toward apartments in high-growth locations? 31:03 - Do Terry’s previous hotspots align with market performance? 34:43 - Reports that get the most clicks on Hotspotting 36:19 - What Terry thinks about the rise of data-driven buyers’ agencies 37:39 - What happens after buyers get Terry's top suburb recommendations 44:04 - Terry Ryder’s property dumbo About Our Guest: Terry Ryder is a seasoned researcher and writer with over four decades of expertise in Australian residential property. He began his career as Property Editor at The Courier Mail in 1982, later holding roles at the Australian Financial Review. For 20 years, he ran Ryder Property Consulting, offering research and writing services to industry professionals, and authored four books on real estate. In 2006, he launched hotspotting.com.au, a platform providing insights for property investors on future high-performing markets. Terry has been a columnist for The Australian, Property Observer, Money Magazine, and Canstar, and is widely recognized for his expert commentary on TV, radio, and at industry events. His content, including broadcasts and podcasts, is followed by tens of thousands across Australia. Connect with Terry Ryder: Website https://www.hotspotting.com.au/LinkedIn https://au.linkedin.com/in/terryryder Resources: Visit our website https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.auIf you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at: The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast questions@theelephantintheroom.com.auLooking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.auWork with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.auLooking for a Mortgage Broker? https://www.flintgroup.auWork with Chris: chrisbates@flintgroup.au Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now! Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcastSubscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
