Homeownership out of reach for many Australians
New research from Agile Market Intelligence’s Consumer Pulse survey (March to June 2025) reveals a bleak outlook for homeownership among Australians without a primary residence. The findings uncover significant financial and structural barriers preventing many from entering the housing market, with nearly as many opting out entirely as those still aspiring to buy.
Key stats you need to know
- 34% of non-homeowners say they do not plan to buy a home at all.
- Among 18–34 year olds, 44% want to buy but are not financially ready.
- In South Australia, 41% of non-homeowners have no intention of buying a home, the highest proportion nationally.
Financial readiness is the biggest barrier
- Over one third (34%) of non-homeowners want to buy but are not financially ready. This figure rises to 44% among both young women and young men (18–34). Males aged 55 and over are least likely to be interested in buying (67% say they do not plan to buy).
- The barrier remains consistent across states, peaking at 40% in Victoria. Only 14% of non-homeowners nationwide plan to buy within 12 months.
Although younger Australians still want to own property, the data shows they are overwhelmingly priced out or otherwise unable to buy. A combination of high deposit requirements, rising interest rates, and cost-of-living pressures appears to be creating a persistent affordability gap.
“We're seeing a widening disconnect between aspiration and affordability. People still want to own a home, but they’re frozen out by financial constraints that don’t appear to be easing,” said Michael Johnson, Director at Agile Market Intelligence.
Older Australians are stepping away from the housing market
- 59% of females and 67% of males aged 55+ say they do not plan to buy. This compares to only 19% of women and 16% of men aged 18–34. Only 6–10% of those aged 55+ plan to buy within the next 12 months.
- Even among 35–54 year olds, one third (32% of females and 21% of males) do not intend to buy.
Older Australians are more likely to have resigned themselves to long-term renting or are already accommodated through other means (e.g. living with family or in aged housing). The prospect of taking on debt later in life is proving unappealing, or unviable, for many.
“The sharp drop-off in buying intent among older demographics suggests we’re heading into a generational split in property ownership, with long-term renters becoming the norm for certain age groups,” Michael Johnson said.
State differences highlight deeper affordability issues
- South Australia and Western Australia lead the country in those not planning to buy, both at 41%. Queensland is close behind, with 39% not intending to buy.
- Victoria has the highest proportion of those who want to buy but aren’t financially ready (40%). Western Australia has the highest portion planning to buy within 12 months (18%).
- States with lower housing costs do not necessarily show stronger buying intent.
State-by-state breakdowns reveal that lower house prices alone are not enough to drive ownership aspirations. Broader economic factors, such as wage growth, employment confidence, and rent inflation, are shaping consumer outlooks more than house prices alone.
“Affordability isn’t just about price. The cost of living, wage stagnation, and deposit hurdles all feed into whether someone believes buying a home is realistic in their state,” Michael Johnson noted.
About the research
This article is based on findings from Agile Market Intelligence’s Consumer Pulse survey, conducted across March, April, May, and June 2025. The survey collected responses from 2,444 Australian consumers who do not currently own their primary residence. Results were weighted to reflect national population profiles by age, gender, and state.
The Consumer Pulse is a monthly tracker of over 1,500 Australian consumers developed by Agile Market Intelligence to monitor consumer sentiment, financial stress, and behavioural shifts across key household segments. The survey provides a real-time view of financial wellbeing in Australia, segmented by debt status and home ownership.
