The 2025 CoreLogic Women and Property report has revealed that while property ownership is nearly equal between genders, women – especially low-income earners – face greater challenges with housing affordability and property investment opportunities.

The new research found that more women than men prioritise home ownership, highlighting the need for supportive policies at all levels of government.

The report revealed that 64.4 per cent of men and 62.7 per cent of women own residential dwellings – generally with their partner or spouse – but only 11.4 per cent of women invest in property compared to 14.2 per cent of men.

And, among low-income earners, only 58.9 per cent of women own homes, highlighting a significant gender investment gap.

Why does home ownership matter?

According to the report, about 56 per cent of Australians’ wealth is held in residential property, with a 159.1 per cent growth in home values over two decades.

• The wage price index grew by only 81.7 per cent, indicating homeowners have built wealth faster than those relying on income and savings.
• Two-thirds of renting retirees live in poverty, highlighting the critical role of home ownership in retirement strategies.
• The current gender pay gap in Australia is 11.9 per cent, affecting women’s ability to attain home ownership, particularly among Gen Z.
• Homeowners report higher wellbeing and living standards compared to renters, with declining home ownership rates particularly affecting lower-income households.

Residential property ownership

The research also identified gender disparities in property ownership, income levels, and investment types among Australian adults.

• In 2025, 63.0 per cent of Australian adults owned at least one dwelling, with 62.7 per cent of females and 64.4 per cent of males owning property.
• Among those earning less than $100,000, 58.9 per cent of women owned property, while 85.5 per cent of women earning above this threshold owned property.
• Only 12.7 per cent of respondents owned at least one residential investment property, with 14.2 per cent of males and 11.4 per cent of females reporting ownership.
• Co-ownership of investment properties was more common among men (48.2 per cent) than women (42.2 per cent), with 90 per cent of joint owners sharing with romantic partners.
• The greatest ownership discrepancy in investment properties was among Gen Z, with 13.8 per cent of young men and 6.4 per cent of young women owning properties.
• Women had a higher rate of no investments at all (40.0 per cent) compared to men (27.8 per cent), highlighting a significant investment gap.
• Men reported a higher average superannuation balance ($232,372) than women ($153,887), with an 11.5 percentage point gap between genders.

Gender differences in attitudes, motivations, and barriers

The report also discussed gender differences in property ownership importance, challenges faced, and motivations influencing buying decisions.

• 63.2 per cent of Australians rank property ownership as highly important (8 to 10 on a scale of zero to 10).
• 44 per cent of females rated property ownership as 10/10, compared to 33.5 per cent of males.
• Only 48 per cent of Generation Z view property ownership as highly important, versus 76.4 per cent of Baby Boomers.
• 78.9 per cent of female property owners rated home ownership as highly important, compared to 38.4 per cent of non-owners.
• 41 per cent of women identified “too expensive/rising prices” as a challenge, slightly higher than 37.1 per cent of men.
• 52 per cent of non-property owners cited insufficient savings for upfront costs as a barrier, with 54.7 per cent being females.
• 29 per cent of women identified ongoing costs as a barrier, compared to 16 per cent of men, showing a significant gender gap.
• 23.2 per cent of women faced issues qualifying for a mortgage, while only 13.7 per cent of men reported the same challenge.

The key takeaways

Importantly, the report outlined the income divide in property ownership and the gender investment gap affecting women.

• The income divide in property ownership is more significant than the gender divide, with higher incomes enabling property purchases.
• Low-income earners face challenges in home ownership due to high housing costs and interest rates, limiting their access to the market.
• Women report greater difficulties in accessing the housing market, with a notable portion citing challenges related to saving deposits and loan approvals.
• A survey found that 40 per cent of women have no investments, compared to 27.8 per cent of men, highlighting a ‘gender investment gap.’
• Among women earning over $100,000, 20.7 per cent own at least one residential investment property, while only 9.7 per cent of those earning less than $100,000 do.
• 45.3 per cent of women earning under $100,000 reported having no investments, compared to 34 per cent of those earning over $100,000.

So, what does this all mean?

Well, alas, none of this data is new, but what is different today compared to years gone by is a woman’s ability to do something about it via education and working with qualified advisers.

The gender investment gap is the reason why I co-wrote The Female Investor – Creating Wealth, Security, & Freedom Through Property in 2022.

Women must take charge of their financial futures as soon as possible, including via strategic property investment, if we have any hope of achieving parity with men during our lifetimes and I am doing my utmost to help as many as I can.

While policymakers are also encouraged to address the barriers that women uniquely face in investing to improve their long-term financial outcomes.