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Home buyers in Australia are facing mounting pressures in an increasingly volatile property market, with new research revealing widespread stress, financial strain, and a sense of being misled during the purchase process.
According to the Real Property Report 2025, commissioned by Real Insurance with MyMavins, 60 per cent of home buyers encountered unexpected property issues after purchase, despite commissioning third-party inspections.
A further 66 per cent said they felt misled by real estate agents, citing undisclosed damages (21 per cent) and hidden fees (17 per cent) as key frustrations.
The emotional toll is also significant. Forty per cent of buyers reported experiencing stress or anxiety during the process.
Common stressors include the challenges of moving (42 per cent), unexpected building problems (35 per cent), and dealing with real estate agents (34 per cent). Additionally, nearly six in 10 felt pressured to bid above their budget during property auctions.
Despite the obstacles, some optimism remains. Thirty-one per cent of buyers said they still feel positive about achieving home ownership.
However, affordability concerns continue to shape decisions, with over half (51 per cent) saying they had to compromise on location to make buying possible.
Renters, meanwhile, are also facing immense challenges, with high demand and rising prices creating fierce competition for available properties.
The report found that 73 per cent of renters feel pressured to enhance their applications due to market competition, while 77 per cent believe they must find ways to make their applications stand out.
Over half (57 per cent) reported being pressured to offer above the listed rent, in some cases by as much as $124 per week, equating to more than $6,000 annually.
Pet owners are particularly affected, spending over nine hours a week searching for pet-friendly rental options.
Poor experiences with leasing agents are also widespread, with 60 per cent of renters expressing frustration and 68 per cent saying negative interactions had deterred them from applying for certain properties.
Financial strain from rent hikes is also evident. Sixty-one per cent of renters have faced two or more rent increases in the past two years.
As a result, 48 per cent have reduced their savings, 45 per cent report heightened financial stress, 38 per cent have cut non-essential spending, and 34 per cent have struggled to pay bills.
Joel Dignam, executive director of Better Renting, said the findings revealed a deeply problematic rental environment.
“We are hearing all the time from renters about a deep dissatisfaction with their renting experience, whether that be applying for properties, facing rent increases, or dealing with leasing agents,” Dignam said.
“It’s particularly concerning that so many renters feel pressured to offer more than the asking rent, and it goes to show the weakness of current protections around rent bidding.”
He said that the issues in the rental market are closely tied to challenges faced by would-be home buyers.
“Expensive rents are trapping renters. The cost of everyday essentials, including housing, has got to a point where many renters face little chance of saving up a house deposit, especially when house prices are increasing,” Dignam said.
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