Women & property

New Zealand women remain under-represented in investment property ownership, with financial barriers rather than attitudes holding them back, CoreLogic’s latest Women & Property Report 2025 reveals.

The fifth edition of the report, released in March, finds female home ownership rates are closing the gap to male-only ownership, yet women continue to lag in investment property.

For the first time, the survey also explored attitudes towards home ownership, barriers to property investment, and financial literacy levels across gender groups, while examining the impact of income levels and employment status on property investment trends.

CoreLogic NZ Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson says the findings highlight the strong presence of women in home ownership, while also underscoring an ongoing imbalance in property investment.

Analysis shows that female-only owner-occupiers outnumber their male counterparts, making up 23.1% of sole ownership. This compares with 20.9% for men, and with mixed-gender ownership accounting for 56%.

The gap widens when it comes to investment properties, where women trail men by 4.2 percentage points. “Financial barriers continue to limit their ability to invest, which has long-term implications for wealth accumulation. Our data shows female-only investment property ownership sits at 21.9%, compared to 26.1% for men, a persistent gap that reinforces the need for financial strategies that support women’s investment opportunities.”

To download a copy of the CoreLogic NZ Women & Property Report 2025 visit: www.corelogic.co.nz/news-research/reports/women-and-property-2025

Key findings include:
– While female-only home ownership rates have inched closer to male-only ownership, women continue to lag in investment property, limiting their success in building long-term wealth through real estate.
– Women’s property ownership is more concentrated in more affordable regions, while men have more diverse and resilient property portfolios.