Alex Jamieson: The great investor exodus: why money is leaving property and heading to shares
Announcement posted by Invigorate PR 02 Jun 2026
Australia's love affair with property investing could be heading for a major reset, with growing numbers of investors expected to abandon real estate in favour of shares, ETFs and other low maintenance assets as changes to capital gains tax rules slash the financial reward of owning investment properties.
According to respected financial adviser Alex Jamieson, founder of Jamieson Private Wealth, younger generations in particular are increasingly questioning whether property is worth the stress, risk and workload if a significant portion of future gains will ultimately go to the government.
"Property investing has traditionally been seen as the golden path to wealth in Australia, but the equation is changing rapidly," Jamieson said.
"When investors start realising they could lose a massive portion of their capital growth through tax changes, while also dealing with tenants, maintenance, insurance, council rates, rising interest rates and constant headaches, many will simply decide it is no longer worth it."
Jamieson said modern investors are increasingly attracted to assets that can deliver long term growth without the emotional and operational burden associated with property ownership.
"The younger generation values flexibility, mobility and simplicity," he said.
"They don't necessarily want to spend weekends dealing with leaking roofs, damaged walls, rental disputes, emergency plumbing bills or property managers."
"They can now invest in diversified share portfolios and ETFs from their phones, receive strong long term returns and avoid many of the ongoing risks and costs associated with property ownership."
He said many Australians underestimate how time intensive property investment can become.
"Property is often sold as passive income, but anyone who owns investment properties knows it can become a second job and carries a lot of stress," Jamieson said.
"You are managing tenants, repairs, maintenance, compliance obligations, insurance issues and unexpected costs constantly. One bad tenant or major repair bill can wipe out years of returns."
Jamieson warned the proposed changes could fundamentally reshape investor behaviour across Australia. CGT concessions were seen as a reward for holding and now that reward has been taken away.
"If investors believe they are taking all the risk while handing over a large portion of any future gain, many will simply redirect their money elsewhere," he said.
"We could see a significant migration of capital away from residential property and into equities, ETFs, international investments and managed funds."
Jamieson said exchange traded funds, commonly known as ETFs, are becoming particularly attractive because they provide broad market exposure, lower fees and minimal management requirements.
"ETFs have exploded in popularity because they are simple, diversified and highly accessible," he said.
"Many investors can achieve exposure to Australian shares, US technology companies, global markets, artificial intelligence, healthcare and dividend paying companies without needing to directly manage physical assets."
He said some of the strongest growth areas attracting investor attention include:
- Broad Australian market ETFs linked to the ASX 200
- US market ETFs focused on major technology companies
- Artificial intelligence and technology themed ETFs
- Global dividend and income focused ETFs
- Healthcare and pharmaceutical sector funds
- International index funds with exposure to global growth markets
Jamieson said the psychological appeal of shares is also changing.
"For decades Australians viewed shares as risky and property as safe however, younger investors are becoming far more financially educated. They understand liquidity, diversification and the power of compounding returns," he said.
"They can buy and sell investments instantly, diversify globally and avoid tying themselves to one physical asset in one suburb."
He said many younger Australians are also rejecting the lifestyle sacrifices traditionally associated with property investment.
"Previous generations were willing to take on enormous stress and debt to build property portfolios," Jamieson said.
"Many younger investors are asking a very different question now: why would I spend decades dealing with all of this hassle if I am going to lose such a large share of the upside anyway?"
Jamieson said if governments continue targeting property investors through tax policy, the long term consequences for the housing market could be significant.
"There is a real risk that Australia could eventually discourage the very investors who provide much of the country's rental housing supply," he said.
"When the risk versus reward balance changes too far, people will naturally seek easier and more efficient ways to build wealth."
About Alex Jamieson
Alex Jamieson is one of Australia's most trusted and respected financial advisers and the founder of Jamieson Private Wealth, a Melbourne-based advisory firm delivering sophisticated, personalised financial advice to individuals, families and business owners.
With decades of experience across financial planning, investing and retirement strategy, Alex is known for combining deep technical expertise with a disciplined, long-term approach to wealth creation and protection. His advice is grounded in rigorous research, responsible investing principles and the intelligent use of technology to monitor local and global markets for opportunities, risks and emerging trends.
Alex holds his own Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) and is widely regarded for his integrity, clarity and commitment to helping clients make confident, informed financial decisions. He specialises in retirement planning, investment management, tax optimisation, estate planning and risk management, tailoring every strategy to reflect each client's goals, values and stage of life.
Jamieson Private Wealth represents the evolution of Alex's advisory career delivering next-generation wealth advice built on experience, insight and trust.