New research from Agile Market Intelligence’s Consumer Pulse survey (July to September 2025) reveals a cautious shift for homeownership among Australians without a primary residence. While only 15% of non-homeowners plan to buy within the next 12 months, the majority (55%) still harbor purchasing ambitions despite affordability challenges.
Key stats you need to know
- 31% of non-homeowners say they do not plan to buy a home at all, down from 34% for March to June, and 55% who say they want to buy a home but are unable make the largest group.
- Across the population, plans to buy a new home in the next 12 months grew only by 1%, the biggest shift came from women aged 18-34 (up +5%) and women aged 35-54 (also up +5%).
- 44% of non-homeowners from WA have no intention of buying a home, the highest proportion nationally, followed by QLD (37%).
Financial barriers dominate homeownership challenges
- 55% of non-homeowners want to buy but face significant obstacles with 36% citing financial readiness concerns, while 19% point to high interest rates and property prices.
- Younger demographics are more likely to identify general financial readiness as their main hurdle with almost half of men (47%) and women (49%) aged 18-34 cite this concern.
- Despite challenges, only 31% have completely abandoned home ownership plans, suggesting latent demand remains strong.
The latest results from Consumer Pulse reveals that financial barriers, rather than lack of desire, are the primary obstacle to homeownership. The 55% of non-homeowners expressing a desire to purchase represents a pool of potential buyers who could enter the market if conditions improve. Respondents saying they have no plans to buy a home have decreased in the last 3 months (31%, where it was previously 34%) shows that the recent improvements in economic conditions also lead to measured optimism.
"What we're seeing is a market where aspiration exceeds ability. The 55% who want to buy but can't represent the potential for market growth if affordability improves, as well as pent-up demand," said Michael Johnson, Director of Agile Market Intelligence.
Young Australians lead homeownership optimism in the past 3 months
- Australians in the 18-34 age group showed the largest shift in sentiment in the past 3 months.
- In July to September, 18% of women and 24% of men aged 18-34 plan to buy a home in the next 12 months, this is up +5% and +1% from March to June.
- 14% of women and 13% of men aged 18-34 said they do not plan to buy a home, these figures are down -5% and -3% from March to June.
Younger Australians showed renewed optimism despite broader affordability challenges. The strongest buying intent comes from men aged 18-34, with 24% saying they have plans to buy a home in the next 12 months. With age, the desire to purchase a home decreases sharply. This is likely due to having a more diverse set of financial obligations and priorities. So, while general optimism has grown, the majority of Australians still fall within the category of wanting to buy, but being unable to due to financial constraints.
“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.
Only NSW and VIC increased in intent to buy a home in the next 12 months
- In the past 3 months, South Australians have shifted from saying “I do not plan to buy a home” to wanting to buy but have yet to overcome the financial hurdle.
- Western Australia has the highest proportion of those who don’t want to buy a home at 44%, up +3% from March to June.
- Only NSW and VIC grew the proportion of respondents saying they plan to purchase a home in the next twelve months by 2% and 5%, respectively.
NSW and Victoria’s improved sentiment reflects their diverse economies and employment opportunities, which provide more pathways to home ownership despite higher property prices. WA’s concerning trend toward opting out entirely reflects the state’s current economic vulnerability. The 3 percentage point increase in just three months suggests a decreasing confidence in the state’s housing market prospects. Meanwhile, South Australia’s positive shift is noteworthy, with residents moving from complete rejection of homeownership toward expressing desire but acknowledging financial barriers. Even if immediate purchasing power remains limited, hope is created by economic improvements in the state.
“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 to September 2025. The data presented are for 1,361 non-homeowners among the 3,276 Australian consumers surveyed between July to September. Results are 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.
