Young Australians and the housing aspirations gap

Abstract

This research investigated the short and longer term housing aspirations and the housing aspirations gap among ‘emerging adults’ aged 18–24 years and ‘early adults’ aged 25–34 years in order to better understand how their aspirations are linked to a ‘broader life project’ across areas such as education, employment and family formation.

Sustained growth in house prices in major cities combined with demographic and labour market restructuring over the past 20 years has altered the ability of many young adults to realise their housing aspirations in both private rental and home ownership markets.
This report investigates the extent and nature of the short and longer term housing aspirations gap among young emerging (18–24 years) and early adults (25–34 years).
Examining how aspirations differ among young people living with parents, in shared group households or living independently reveals how aspirations are linked to a broader ‘life project’ in education, work and household formation and the policy mix of assistance required to enable young adults to move towards secure independence