International Women’s Day: Confidence, Action and the Property Gap

Today on International Women’s Day, I’ve been reflecting on a question that came up during a women’s leadership panel discussion at CUB recently.

The question was simple but powerful.

Which comes first. Confidence or action?

It struck me because in my work as a Mortgage Mentor and Financial Educator, I see this play out all the time when it comes to money and property ownership.

For many women, the conversation about financial independence often leads to one big milestone: property ownership.

And if we’re honest about it, the path is not always equal.

Property is harder to buy on your own. Full stop.

Two incomes used to be a nice-to-have.

Today, for many properties across Australian cities, they are often the difference between getting in or staying out.

And if you go down the government scheme route with a smaller deposit, servicing becomes even more important.

The numbers simply have to work harder.

The data reflects this reality.

A recent Women and Property Report 2026 shows that fewer than 4 in 10 Gen Z women see property ownership as an important goal, compared to almost half of Gen Z men.

At the same time, 56% of women say upfront costs such as deposits and stamp duty are their biggest barrier.

So yes, the gap is real.

But this is where I want to challenge the narrative slightly.

Harder does not mean impossible. It simply means we need to be more strategic.

Right now I’m helping two sisters buy a property together. Individually it would have been difficult.

Together, it works.

I’ve also seen a woman in her mid-40s, recently divorced and initially declined by two banks, buy her first property within a year.

Nothing magical changed. She simply got clear on her finances, found the right lender and built a plan.

And that brings me back to the panel discussion.

Many people say confidence comes from taking action.

In finance, I often see another step before that.

Education creates clarity.

Clarity builds confidence.

Confidence allows you to take the right action.

That action can change your financial trajectory.

One of the biggest barriers I see is not lack of ambition. It’s lack of access to clear, practical information about how the system works.

When people understand lending rules, government schemes, borrowing capacity and financial strategy, they start seeing possibilities instead of obstacles.

So if you are a woman thinking about property right now, here are three simple starting points.

1. Get educated before you get overwhelmed.

2. Understand what you actually have to work with.

3. Know your numbers.

And if buying alone does not work right now, explore other paths. Buying with family, siblings or trusted partners is becoming more common and can be a practical way to enter the market.

The door may be harder to open than it used to be. But it still opens.

On International Women’s Day, I am reminded again that financial independence does not start at settlement.

It starts with education, clarity and the confidence to take action.

Because when women understand money and property strategy, they do not just change their own future.

They influence families and the next generation as well.

Happy International Women’s Day.

Source: Cotality Women and Property Report 2026

https://www.cotality.com/au/resources/reports/women-and-property-2026