Report finds men more likely to invest in property than women

New Zealand women remain under-represented in investment property ownership, with financial barriers rather than attitudes holding them back, according to CoreLogic's fifth annual Women & Property Report.

When it comes to owner-occupiership, women outperform men – women make up 23.1% of sole owners and men 20.9%, with mixed genders accounting for the other 56.0%.

However, when it comes to investor ownership rates, women represent 21.9% of sole owners and men 26.1%, with mixed genders representing 52.0%.

One reason men are more likely to invest in property than women is because they earn more money. According to the report:

• 68% of women earn less than $70,000 per year, compared to 49% of men.
• 13% of women earn more than $100,000, compared to 26% of men.

The report also noted that women are more likely to buy in more affordable locations, while men tend to have more diverse property portfolios, which tend to be more resilient in the face of economic downturns.

Those factors mean that women end up building less long-term wealth through real estate than men.

Gender wage gap creating long-term wealth gap

CoreLogic Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson said the investment property ownership gap between the genders reinforced the need for financial strategies that supported women's investment opportunities

“Better access to investment education, combined with policies addressing income disparity, could help more women leverage property for wealth creation,” he said.

“Women are not risk-averse to buying property; instead the data suggests they are financially constrained. More transparent financial literacy programs, employer pay equity initiatives, and targeted property investment education could help bridge the gap.”

CoreLogic Head of Research Eliza Owen said the fact that women, on average, earned less than men had serious flow-on effects.

“The gender wage gap means women take longer to save for deposits, have lower borrowing capacity and are more likely to prioritise housing security over investment risk. These factors compound over time, making it harder for women to build intergenerational wealth through property,” she said.

“The trends suggest affordability is a key barrier, with men having greater access to investment in premium markets. The pay gap is directly linked to property investment, as higher wages give men an earlier and greater ability to leverage property as an investment vehicle. This advantage enables them to acquire multiple properties, benefit from compounding returns, and build passive income streams. Over time, this not only accelerates individual wealth accumulation but also positions men to pass on greater financial security to future generations, reinforcing long-term inequality.”

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