587 | Higher Interest Rates: Fix, Float or Hold Your Nerve?

Interest rates are back in focus, and with inflation proving stubborn, borrowers are starting to feel the pressure again. In this episode of The Property Couch, Ben is joined by mortgage experts Luke Oxenham and Kirsty “KD” Dunphey to unpack: ✔️ How interest rates impact borrowing power ✔️ What “mortgage jail” really means ✔️ The pros and cons of fixing your loan ✔️ Why investors must stress-test their portfolio Plus, the behavioural trap many investors fall into when property prices rise quickly: confusing luck with skill. Because rising rates aren’t the end of the story. _They’re just another variable to plan for._ Listen now 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/ep587-higher-interest-rates-fix-float-hold *TIMESTAMPS* 0:00 – 587 | Higher Interest Rates: Fix, Float or Hold Your Nerve? 2:00 – Housekeeping: Audiobook Deadline + Big 3 Topics for 2026 6:40 – Why Interest Rates Are Back in the Spotlight 9:40 – Straight From the RBA: How Inflation Is Now Measured 13:40 – Mortgage Jail Explained 15:10 – Borrowing Power & Buffers: What Really Moves the Needle 19:20 – One Lender or Many? Strategic Structuring for Investors 23:10 – Fixed vs Variable: Should You Lock It In? 25:50 – The Emotional Side of Fixing 27:40 – Partial Fixing & Hedging Risk 29:00 – 15-Year Interest-Only Terms: Smart or Risky? 31:40 – Stress Testing Your Portfolio 34:20 – The Big Summary: Case-by-Case Decisions (Stop Listening to Uncle Barry) 37:10 – Overleveraging Risk: Luck vs Skill in Property Wins 41:40 – Opportunity in Rising Rate Markets 44:10 – Plan Before You Buy 46:20 – Patience, Time & Buffett Wisdom 57:00 – International Women’s Day! 59:10 – Friday Spin-Off Tease: “The Hill I’ll Die On” Series 👍 Like this video if it helped! 🔔 Subscribe for weekly insights on property, finance & money management 📲 Join 19,000+ investors on Moorr: https://moorr.com.au 💡 Access free resources via MyKnowledge: https://moorr.com.au/myknowledge #thepropertycouch #propertyinvesting #interestrates #australianproperty #borrowingpower #rba #inflation #variablerates