Revealed: Gender Pay Gap Directly Impacts Property Investment

The 2025 Women & Property Report from CoreLogic highlights that New Zealand women are still underrepresented in investment property ownership due to financial barriers rather than personal attitudes. While women are increasingly participating in homeownership, they continue to lag behind men in property investment, limiting their ability to build long-term wealth through real estate.

Key findings in this report show: 

• Women make up 23.1% of sole homeownership compared to 20.9% for men, but the gap widens when it comes to investment properties.
  
  
• Women own 21.9% of investment properties, while men own 26.1%. The report suggests that the gender pay gap directly impacts property investment.
  
  
• Women earn less on average, making it more difficult to save for property deposits, access higher borrowing capacity, and take investment risks. This financial divide further limits women’s ability to build wealth through property.
  
  
• Moreover, women tend to buy in more affordable regions, with ownership rates higher in places like Kawerau and Whanganui, while men tend to have more diverse and resilient property portfolios. As a result, men are better positioned to withstand economic downturns and accumulate wealth through property investments.
  
  

The report stresses the need for greater financial education and wage growth to close the gender gap in property investment. Policies addressing income disparity, improved access to investment education, and initiatives promoting pay equity are essential for enabling women to leverage property as a wealth-building tool.

Financial advisers can play a critical role in helping women overcome these barriers by offering tailored financial strategies that take into account the unique challenges women face, such as the gender pay gap and financial constraints. 

A Financial Adviser can support women in overcoming deposit hurdles, improving borrowing capacity, and understanding investment risks. Providing education on property investment options, diversifying portfolios, and empowering women with knowledge on leveraging property for wealth creation will be key in helping them bridge the investment gap. Additionally, advisers can advocate for pay equity and explore options for improving financial literacy, ultimately enabling more women to invest in property and build long-term wealth.

Click here to download a copy of the CoreLogic NZ Women & Property Report 2025.

Our team of female qualified Advisers are eager to help unlock opportunities for woman to feel empowered, informed and able to invest in property just as much as anyone else, and independently securing a financial future for themselves and loved ones.

Let’s get started!