Regional property markets can look very different when you’re actually on the ground. For buyers agents, understanding the data is important—but knowing how to interpret it, inspect properties properly and recognise what is really happening in a market can make all the difference.
In this episode, Veronica and Bryce chat with Matthew Ward, founding director of WPG Advisory, licensed buyers agent and registered valuer with more than 25 years of property experience. Matthew shares how his valuation background has shaped his approach to buyers agency and why rigorous analysis, local knowledge and proper due diligence matter when clients are making major financial decisions.
Matthew also takes us inside the realities of running a regional buyers agency, including the rise of borderless buying, the risks of relying too heavily on algorithms and the market distortions he has witnessed in regional locations. He also discusses building a buyers agency around your own goals, finding clients through referrals, adapting when the market changes and learning when to walk away from a property.
For buyers agents considering regional markets—or anyone looking to build a buyers agency around genuine expertise rather than simply transaction volume—Matthew’s experience offers plenty of practical lessons.
Episode Highlights
00:00 - Building a Buyers Agency with a Valuer’s Mindset
01:08 - Matthew Ward’s Journey into Buyers Agency
02:18 - How a Valuer Mindset Creates an Edge
06:47 - The Reality of Covering Regional Markets
09:32 - Working with Out-of-Area Investors
11:28 - The Risks of Borderless Buying
15:19 - When Market Data Can’t Keep Up
18:41 - Why Agent Relationships Matter
21:38 - The Rise of WhatsApp Property Groups
26:27 - Creating Transparent Fee Structures
28:41 - Navigating the Post-Budget Reset
31:34 - Expanding into Commercial Property
33:31 - How Many Clients Can You Really Handle?
35:42 - When Investor Emotion Takes Over
38:23 - Getting Auction Strategy Right
About the Guest
Matthew Ward is the founding director of WPG Advisory, a licensed buyers agent and registered valuer with more than 25 years of experience in the property industry.
With a background in property valuation and consulting, Matthew brings a strong analytical foundation to his buyers agency work. His experience has given him a detailed understanding of property markets, comparable analysis, due diligence and the factors that influence property values across different locations and sectors.
Matthew is also one of the more established regional buyers agents, operating across regional NSW including markets throughout the Central West and beyond. His work involves helping clients navigate regional residential markets, as well as selected commercial, rural and development opportunities.
In this episode, Matthew shares what he has learned from building a buyers agency around his specialist expertise, the realities of working across large geographic areas, and why genuine local knowledge and on-the-ground property inspection remain important in an increasingly data-driven industry.
Connect with Matthew
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