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The Australian dream is out of reach

Australians are worried that future generations will not be able to enter the housing market, and most of those who don't yet own a home are worried they never will.

88 %

Most Australians are worried that future generations will not be able to buy a house with 88% very or somewhat concerned.

68 %

More than two-thirds of non-home owning Australians are concerned that they will never be able to afford a house within their lifetime.

22 %

Nearly a quarter, 22%, of those who haven’t yet purchased a home believe they will never afford one.

85 %

The majority of Australians (85%) believe that house prices will increase over the next five years.

Future Generations' Ability to buy Housing (March 2017)
Are you concerned or not concerned about future generations being able to afford to buy housing during their lifetime?
Sources & Methodology
Variable description By level of concern
Variable time span 2017 (March)
Published by ANU Poll
Publisher Link https://csrm.cass.anu.edu.au/research/publications/attitudes-housing-affordability
Data Source doi:10.26193/EL5WHN
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Very few Australians are not concerned about future generations being able to purchase their own home.

Very few Australians are not concerned about future generations being able to purchase their own home. Nine per cent are non very concerned and just under four per cent are not concerned. The overwhelming majority of people are worried about home ownership among future generations with more than half (53 per cent) very concerned and another third ( 35 per cent) somewhat concerned.

Non-homeowners' Concern for Affording Home Ownership in Their Lifetime (March 2017)
Are you concerned or not concerned about being able to afford to buy housing during your lifetime?
Sources & Methodology
Variable description By level of concern
Variable time span 2017 (March)
Published by ANU Poll
Publisher Link https://csrm.cass.anu.edu.au/research/publications/attitudes-housing-affordability
Data Source
CSV Data
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A majority is concerned they won't ever buy a home.

While fewer of those who haven't bought their own home are not concerned about the prospect of never doing so, still a majority is concerned they won't ever buy a home.

More than a third ( 36 per cent) are very concerned and just under a third (31.8 per cent) are somewhat concerned. Similar numbers are either not very concerned about never buying their own home (14.3 per cent) or not at all concerned about it (14 per cent).

Anticipation of House Price Changes (March 2017)
Do you think over the next five years housing prices will…
Sources & Methodology
Variable description By anticipated change
Variable time span 2017 (March)
Published by ANU Poll
Publisher Link https://csrm.cass.anu.edu.au/research/publications/attitudes-housing-affordability
Data Source doi:10.26193/EL5WHN
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Almost all of those who have already bought their home and those who haven’t agree that over the next five years, it’s going to cost more to do so.

Almost all of those who have already bought their home and those who haven’t agree that over the next five years, it’s going to cost more to do so. A strong majority (84.5 per cent) think prices will rise either significantly or a little.

Most of those think the price rises will be consequential (44.6 per cent) with the remainder (39.9 per cent) believing prices will increase a little.

Just over five per cent are optimists who think prices will decrease a little (3.7 per cent) or a lot (1.7 per cent).

Reasons for not Buying Housing (March 2017)
Which of the following would you say is the primary reason you are not currently buying housing?
Sources & Methodology
Variable description By reason
Variable time span 2017 (March)
Published by ANU Poll
Publisher Link https://csrm.cass.anu.edu.au/research/publications/attitudes-housing-affordability
Data Source doi:10.26193/EL5WHN
CSV Data
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Cost is by far the biggest factor in the decision of those who don't own their own home to be in the housing market.

Cost is by far the biggest factor in the decision of those who don't own their own home to be in the housing market. Nearly 40 per cent didn’t believe they would be able to afford their own place at the time they were surveyed. Nearly a quarter (22.4 per cent) didn't think they would ever be able to afford to buy.

All other reasons for not entering the housing market rated under ten per cent. Not feeling the need to buy their own home was at 7.4 per cent, currently saving for a deposit at 6.7 per cent, and not being able to get a loan at 4.3 per cent.