A tough property market has not deterred owner-occupiers, with new analysis showing rising owner-occupier levels in Western Australia, Queensland and Victoria.

Nationally, the proportion of owner-occupier households was 65.9% in 2025, according to the KPMG analysis. This is down slightly following drops in Sydney and Regional New South Wales.

The proportion of Western Australians who live in a home they own rose to 69.9% in 2025.Queensland is up to 64.9%, and Victoria remains steady at 68.7%.

KPMG Urban Economist Terry Rawnsley says these states were particularly appealing during the pandemic as they were affordable markets and appealed to people who could work remotely from anywhere.

He says there are positive signs for home ownership with the number of loans issued to first-home buyers up from 117,200 in the year to March 2025 to 120,500 in the year to March 2025.

“The dream of owning a home is far from dead. Australians are adapting, relocating and working hard to get into the market, and the combination of more housing supply and targeted support is creating a pathway to home ownership for more households.”