The fifth edition of the CoreLogic Women and Property report, conducted with Lonergan Research, revealed significant gender disparities in homeownership and property investment across Australia as of early 2025.
Although women showed strong parity with men in owning at least one dwelling, the report highlighted notable gaps, particularly among younger women and in investment property ownership.
One of the most striking findings is the discrepancy in property ownership among Gen Z.
The report showed that young women in this age group are significantly less likely to own property compared to their male counterparts.
This disparity is partly attributed to lower earnings and employment patterns, with more women in part-time roles, influencing their ability to save for a deposit and secure a mortgage.
According to the 2024 Gender Equality Report Card by the Australian government, 43.3% of employed women in Australia work part-time compared to 19.5% of men, highlighting a significant gender disparity often linked to caregiving responsibilities.
The gender gap is even more pronounced in investment property ownership.
The CoreLogic report revealed that only 11.4% of women own at least one residential investment property, compared to 14.2% of men.
The difference is most significant among Gen Z, where 13.8% of young men reported owning investment property compared to just 6.4% of young women.
This disparity is linked to lower disposable incomes and a more cautious investment approach among women.
Income remains a significant factor influencing property ownership.
The survey found that 84.5% of women earn less than $100,000 annually, compared to 67.8% of men.
Recent ABS data showed that the gender pay gap in Australia widened slightly to 11.9% in November, up from 11.5% in May 2024.
This income gap directly affects homeownership rates, with only 58.9% of women earning below $100,000 owning at least one property, whereas the rate jumps to 85.5% for women earning above this threshold.
The report highlighted a wider “gender investment gap,” revealing that women are underrepresented in nearly all investment classes compared to men, including superannuation, shares, and cryptocurrencies.
Notably, 40% of women reported having no investments at all, compared to 27.8% of men.
CoreLogic attributed this gap to lower earnings, risk aversion, and limited financial literacy among women.
Despite these challenges, the report showed that women place a higher value on property ownership than men.
Around 44% of women rated property ownership as “extremely important,” compared to 33.5% of men.
This sentiment was particularly strong among those who already own property, highlighting the perceived security and stability of homeownership.
CoreLogic’s report underscored the need for targeted policies to bridge the gender gap in property ownership and investment. Addressing the gender pay gap, providing better financial education, and promoting flexible investment opportunities could help women, particularly younger generations, achieve greater financial security through property ownership.
