Women believe they put more importance on the kitchen when hunting for a home compared to men, First National Real Estate’s annual Newspoll survey of women and property shows.
As well, women feel the bathroom and the size and number of bedrooms are a higher priority for them than men when buying a home. Women are also more likely to rate proximity to friends and family as extremely or very important. But expect men to be checking whether a home has a garage or a workshop – more men than women say these would be a priority when buying a home.
The survey, of 1,207 Australians (603 male and 604 female), conducted in March this year looked at key factors influencing home purchase decisions as well as differences between men and women.
Respondents were asked to rate the importance of a range of features that would influence their selection of a home. Overall:
- 73 per cent said having a garage would be extremely or very important;
- 71 per cent said the quality of the kitchen;
- the home having water saving systems or equipment, such as a grey water recycling system or rain water tank, was considered extremely or very important by 67 per cent of respondents;
- 65 per cent said the quality of the bathroom; and
- 56 per cent said a low maintenance garden or courtyard.
At the bottom of the list were: the home having good potential to improve or renovate (38 per cent), proximity to friends and family (36 per cent) and the home having a security alarm system (31 per cent).
But when couples were asked what things they believe they would prioritise more than their partner, clear gender differences emerged.
- Far more women (28 per cent) placed a greater emphasis on the kitchen than men (three per cent);
- Women also said they would place a greater emphasis on the bathroom – 17 per cent compared to two per cent of men);
- 10 per cent of men said the garage or the size of the garage would be a priority, compared to four per cent of women and the same number nominated a shed or a workshop, compared to only one per cent of women;
- 43 per cent of women compared to only 28 per cent of men said proximity to friends and family is an extremely or very important factor and 46 per cent said proximity to where people in the household work was extremely or very important, compared to 36 per cent of men;
- Women seem more environmentally aware than men – 72 per cent said water saving systems would be an important feature, compared to 63 per cent of men.
And despite becoming an important buying power in the property market, some women say they are still discriminated against. Thirty four per cent of female home owners said they had experienced gender discrimination from tradespeople around the home and 25 per cent said they had experienced it from real estate agents. Only 11 per cent said they had been discriminated against by their mortgage lender.
First National Real Estate initiated the women and home ownership Newspoll study in 2006 and the annual survey is the first to look at real estate trends and buying patterns among women.
“We know from our initial survey that about 20 percent of female homeowners who bought in the past 20 years were the sole purchaser,” First National Real Estate CEO Ray Ellis said. “With this year’s survey we can see that women pay more attention to the kitchen and bathroom and the number or size of the bedrooms. The majority of our offices say that women buyers are more thorough and patient than men and clearly they are prepared to hunt down they layout and finishes they want in a home.”
He said the fact that overall both women and men consider water-saving equipment and features to be of significant importance also points to an emerging trend.
“A home that has good green credentials is likely to now be a more attractive proposition and this can only increase given the present levels of concern about, and interest in, environmental issues,” he said. “It’s also interesting that more women than men say water saving features in a home would be very important. We suspect this is because they have an eye on the longer term implications of current water and climate issues.”
Mr Ellis said the importance women placed on proximity to friends and family is not surprising.
“In surveys this year and last year, women are stressing safety and a sense of community as factors in where they choose to live,” he said. “As well, many need support and help from friends and family with childcare and babysitting, given the demands of work and lifestyle.”
