Greater Sydney’s home ownership rate fell to 59.9% in 2025, according to KPMG research reported by ABC News.
KPMG said the level was comparable with ownership rates last seen in the 1950s, leading ABC to describe it as a roughly 70-year low. The historical comparison comes from KPMG’s research series rather than a complete official chart reproduced in the public report.
The Sydney result contrasted with improvement in some other Australian states and territories. It highlights that national averages can mask large differences between markets, especially where purchase prices, income growth and housing supply have moved at different speeds.
A lower ownership rate describes the share of households that own their home; it does not by itself identify one cause or show whether prices will rise or fall next. Affordability, mortgage access, household formation and the availability of suitable homes can all affect the measure.
For prospective buyers, the data underline the importance of comparing local income, deposit and repayment conditions rather than relying only on an Australia-wide housing narrative.
References
ABC News — Home ownership rates in some states are improving, Sydney is going backwards
