The Melbourne Property Hour

#10: The Melbourne Buyers Guide to Property Overlays

The Melbourne Property Hour

Show Notes

Buying a home in Melbourne?

Before you sign the contract, there's one critical step that could save you thousands of dollars....and most buyers don't understand it.

In this episode of The Melbourne Property Hour, Melbourne buyer advocates Lisa Parker (Parker Buyer Advocates) and Cate Bakos (Cate Bakos Property) unpack one of the most misunderstood aspects of Melbourne real estate: property overlays.

From heritage and flood overlays to bushfire, environmental, vegetation and public acquisition overlays, Lisa and Cate explain what these hidden planning controls actually mean, which ones deserve your attention, and which are often far less concerning than buyers think.

With more than 40 years of combined experience in the Melbourne property market, Lisa and Cate share practical examples, real client experiences and expert due diligence tips to help you make smarter buying decisions, avoid costly mistakes and purchase with confidence.

If you're buying, renovating or investing in Melbourne, this episode is essential listening.

šŸ” Key Lessons & Actions for Listeners šŸ—ŗļø Understand what property overlays are and why they matter when buying Melbourne real estate. 🚩 Learn which overlays are genuine red flags—and which are often misunderstood. 🌊 Discover the differences between flood overlays, Land Subject to Inundation (LSIO) and Special Building Overlays (SBO). šŸ›ļø Understand how heritage overlays really work and why they don't always restrict renovations. šŸ”„ Learn when bushfire overlays are low risk and when they can significantly increase building costs. āš ļø Recognise why Public Acquisition Overlays are one of the biggest warning signs for buyers. šŸ’° Understand how overlays can affect insurance premiums, future renovations and redevelopment potential. šŸ”Ž Learn simple due diligence techniques, including insurance benchmarking and planning report reviews. šŸ‘©ā€āš–ļø Know when specialist advice from solicitors, town planners and buyer advocates is essential. āœ… Buy with greater confidence by understanding the hidden risks that aren't visible during an inspection. We hope you enjoy!

Lisa and Cate

More from The Melbourne Property Hour

Oct 13, 2026

Victoria’s property quoting rules are changing — but will they actually make buying Melbourne property easier?

Sep 15, 2026

šŸŽ™ļø What can a buyer's advocate tell about a property in the first five minutes? More than you might think.

Aug 31, 2026

šŸ¤” What happens when fear becomes the biggest obstacle between a buyer and the right property? In this episode of The Melbourne Property Hour, Lisa and Cate introduce "Sally", a fictional first home buyer who represents the many buyers currently sitting on the sidelines, waiting for property prices to fall further.

Aug 20, 2026

Think costly property mistakes only happen to inexperienced buyers? Think again.

See all episodes →