Originally published: Australian Broker, 02 July 2026
Rising costs and tax reform are ending the property inheritance dream
For decades, bricks and mortar has been the default vehicle for Australian families hoping to build wealth and leave something behind for their children. New research commissioned by Money.com.au suggests that confidence is cracking, and affordability, not sentiment alone, is doing most of the damage.
Affordability is driving the shift
A nationally representative survey of more than 1,000 Australians, conducted by Pureprofile in June, found that just over half of respondents (51%) cite high property prices and mortgage costs as the main barrier to building wealth through property. A further 27% point to wages failing to keep pace with housing costs, and 22% blame government taxes and policy settings for weakening investment returns.
That squeeze is moving fast: Cotality data shows would-be buyers in Perth needed an extra $16,500 in annual income in just five months to May 2026 to qualify for a mortgage, with Brisbane buyers needing an extra $17,000 over the same period.
