Young Aussie women retreat from home ownership amid affordability pressures

Cotality’s sixth annual Women and Property Report reveals property ownership is considered “less important” by both Millennials and Gen Z women compared to their male counterparts, indicating a widening gender gap in homeownership aspirations. 

Among Gen Z Australians, only 38% of women consider property ownership “highly important”, compared with 48% of men. 

The trend continues among Millennials, where 58% of women rate home ownership as a high priority, versus 67% of men. 

Source: Cotality Women and Property Report, 2026

Researchers say the data indicates a departure from long‑held expectations about entering the housing market. 

However, more than a deliberate choice, the attitude is primarily reshaped by affordability constraints, per the report. 

Upfront costs hit women the hardest

Across the population of Australians who have not yet purchased a home, 53% cite upfront costs, including deposits, stamp duty, and transaction fees as the primary barrier.

But the burden falls unevenly: 56% of women identify upfront costs as their main obstacle, compared with 50% of men, which Cotality says underscores the “persistent gender gap in financial security and savings capacity”.

“Women’s property aspirations also constrained as the gender pay gap builds over the course of their careers,” Cotality Australia head of research Gerard Burg said. 

The latest (2024-25) Scorecard published by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) found that gender pay gap averaged at 21.1%. 

This means, for every dollar a man makes, a woman earns 79 cents, a shortfall of $28,356 a year on average. 

To put that in context, stamp duty on a $500,000 established home in New South Wales is roughly $17,000, and NSW also charges separate land‑title fees of about $172 each for mortgage registration and land transfer – costs that a higher male average income can more readily cover.

“Saving for a home deposit has become significantly harder for many young Australian women, particularly as they navigate lower average earnings, career breaks, and rising living costs,” Cotality Australia chief commercial officer Lisa Jennings noted. 

Ongoing expenses add another hurdle

Aside from upfront costs, ongoing expenses create further hesitation among young women. 

Nearly one in three non‑owners (29%) say they have delayed buying due to concerns over mortgage repayments, council rates, and other ongoing costs. 

Among Gen Z, that proportion rises sharply to 40%, reflecting the cohort’s vulnerability to rising living costs. 

Mortgage eligibility is another hurdle, with 21% of non‑owners saying they cannot qualify for a loan, while 19% report they are simply not ready or not actively looking to buy.

Ms Jennings highlighted early entry into the market is critical for long-term financial security, and warned that current conditions risk leaving young women further behind.

“If we want property ownership to remain an achievable goal, it’s critical that governments, industry, and employers work together to remove the barriers and provide targeted support that helps women enter the market with confidence,” she said.