More Australians have discarded their plans to purchase a home, up by 2 percentage points in Q2 from 40% in Q1. The latest results from Agile Market Intelligence’s Consumer Pulse survey show that homeownership plans have decreased in the second quarter of 2026. However, those who remain steadfast in their desire are the younger cohort (aged 18-34) and those living in SA and VIC.
Key stats you need to know
- Only 13% of first-home buyers plan to buy a house within the next 12 months, a 1 percentage point decrease from the previous quarter.
- Nearly 1 in 5 young Australians plan to purchase a new home in the next 12 months.
- Australians living in NSW and WA saw a decline in homeownership intent, but saw an increase for those living in SA and VIC.
In Q2 2026, the Reserve Bank of Australia raised the cash rate by 25 basis points to 4.35%. At the same time, major tax and housing policies were unveiled in the 2026-27 Federal budget, including changes to Capital Gains Tax and caps on negative gearing, both to be enforced in July 2027. While quarter-on-quarter changes were modest, the data points to a continuing decline in homeownership intentions among older Australians.
Over 2 in 5 Australians don’t desire to purchase a new home
- Fewer first-home buyers are planning to purchase a home within the next 12 months (13%), down 1 percentage point from Q1 2026.
- 42% of non-homeowners don’t have plans to buy a home, up 2 percentage points from the last quarter.
- The percentage of consumers who wish to purchase a home, but are not financially ready (29%) or are deterred by high interest rates and property prices (17%), has remained the same between the two quarters.
Less consumers wish to buy a home in the next 12 months (13%) in Q2 of 2026 compared to Q1 (14%). The vast majority, by contrast, do not wish to buy a home at all at 42%, up 2 percentage points from Q1. This shows a growing trend of Australians shifting away from homeownership this 2026, especially for potential first-time homeowners. The shifts from last quarter are subtle, but the decline in homeownership plans continues to persist.
“The uncertainties earlier in the year deterred many Australians from risky endeavours, which includes purchasing a new home,” Said Michael Johnson, Director at Agile Market Intelligence. “Although over half still plan to purchase a home, factors such as financial readiness, interest rates, and property prices are still looming barriers to potential first-time homeowners.”
19% of young Australians still have the drive to purchase a new home in the next 12 months
- Young Australians (those aged 18-34 years old) are the most optimistic demographic regarding purchasing their first home (19%).
- 4 in 5 young Australians desire to buy a home. However, over half of them are deterred by high interest rates and property prices or lack financial readiness.
- 77% of Australians aged 55 years and above do not plan to buy a home, a 4 percentage point increase from Q1.
The youngest cohort have the largest appetite and desire to own a home across the board. Four in five desire to buy a home, whether they have concrete plans to purchase or are currently impeded by external factors which may impact their decision. Of this segment, 19% report planning to purchase a home in the next 12 months, the percentage is unchanged from Q1. Interestingly, more feel financially ready to purchase a home, originally concerning 44% of this cohort in Q1, now only 39% are burdened with this issue in Q2.
Compared to the younger cohort, middle-aged Australians have a lower desire to acquire a home, with 3 in 5 having this wish to be first-time homeowners. Only 14% actually plan to buy within the next 12 months, a 2 percentage point decrease from Q1. As for those aged 55 years and above, the number of those who do not wish to buy a home has increased from 73% in Q1 to 77% in Q2, a steep rise from 65% in Q2 of last year.
Homeownership intent declines in NSW and WA, while SA and VIC spark hope
- Australians in NSW (44%) and WA (52%) have given up their plans to purchase a home, an increase of 5 and 10 percentage points from Q1, respectively.
- 64% in SA still desire to purchase homes, up 57% from Q1 in 2026.
- Homeownership intent grew by 2 percentage points overall for those living in VIC, despite a 1 percentage point decline in those planning to purchase a home in the next 12 months.
A significant number of Australians living in NSW (44%) and WA (52%) no longer plan to purchase homes. This is a massive increase from earlier numbers in Q1 2026, wherein 39% of those in NSW and 42% of those in WA had no plans to buy a house.
By contrast, those living in SA and VIC still retain the desire to purchase a home. In fact, the number of Australians in SA who wish to purchase a home increased from 57% to 64% between Q1 and Q2 2026, a 7 percentage point increase. Furthermore, from 67% in Q1 to 68% in Q2, there is a slight uptick of Australians in VIC who wish to purchase a home.
About the research
This article is based on findings from Agile Market Intelligence’s Consumer Pulse survey, conducted from 1 January to 30 June 2026, surveying 4,109 Australian consumers. A comparison of homeownership plans across age groups and states between Q1 and Q2 2026 was conducted.
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 age, gender, location, debt status and home ownership.
