What do Aussies want in a home? Compare the Market Australia has conducted a new survey to found out, by speaking to 1,000 respondents across the country.
The study found that 73.8% of Australians find detached houses the most appealing to live in, followed by apartments (15.4%), townhouses (9.5%) and duplexes (1.3%) being the least favoured.
| Which type of home is the most popular to own/live in? | |
| Australia | |
| Detached house | 73.8% |
| Apartment | 15.4% |
| Townhouse | 9.5% |
| Duplex | 1.3% |
Note: Values may not add to 100% due to rounding
Multiple bedrooms was the most popular home attribute, with 39.0% of respondents reporting it as their most desired. In fact, Australians tended to place a high value on comfort inside the home, with air conditioning / heating (37.0%), large bedrooms (28.3%) and ensuites (25.9%) following up as most desired.
| Which home attribute/s are valued the most? | |
| Australia | |
| Multiple bedrooms | 39.0% |
| Air conditioning / heating | 37.0% |
| Large bedrooms | 28.3% |
| Ensuite | 25.9% |
| Backyard | 24.4% |
| Storage spaces | 23.8% |
| Enclosed garage | 22.7% |
| Multiple bathrooms | 22.5% |
| Walk-in robes | 12.7% |
| Balcony | 8.3% |
| Pool | 7.1% |
| Full-size laundry | 5.9% |
| Front yard | 5.2% |
| Deck | 5.0% |
| Car port | 4.7% |
Note: Multiple answers (max. 3) could be selected, as such total exceeds 100%
Keeping with the trend in the most desirable traits, Australians tended to place low value on assets outside of the home. Pools (43.1%), balconies (26.6%), car ports (25.4%) and decks (19.4%) ranked as the home attributes they were least interested in.
Note: Multiple answers (max. 3) could be selected, as such total exceeds 100%
| Which home attribute/s are valued the least? | |
| Australia | |
| Pool | 43.1% |
| Balcony | 26.6% |
| Car port | 25.4% |
| Deck | 19.4% |
| Walk-in robes | 19.2% |
| Full-size laundry | 14.4% |
| Front yard | 14.1% |
| Multiple bathrooms | 12.8% |
| Ensuite | 11.5% |
| Multiple bedrooms | 9.3% |
| Large bedrooms | 7.4% |
| Backyard | 7.3% |
| Storage spaces | 7.0% |
| Enclosed garage | 7.0% |
| Air conditioning / heating | 3.9% |
Note: Multiple answers (max. 3) could be selected, as such total exceeds 100%
Compare the Market’s General Manager of Money, Stephen Zeller, notes the importance of comparing your options when looking for a home loan that suits your budget.
“Whether your dream home is a house, apartment, townhouse or duplex, it’s important to shop around,” Mr Zeller said.
“A house with a lot of desirable attributes may cost more. Therefore, it’s important for people to find out what their ‘must-haves’ are and what their budget is. It’s possible that when you’re ready to buy, the perfect dream home won’t exist – or will be very expensive.
“You might need to compromise to find a property that has most of what you want and is in your budget.
“What can help you save money is comparing home loans to find a better deal. Saving a few basis points off a percentage could potentially save you thousands over the life of the loan.“
For full data, assets and methodology, please visit: Home Must-Haves
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Compare the Market commissioned PureProfile to survey 1,010 Australian, 1,009 Canadian and 1,004 American adults in February 2025.
For interviews and more information, please contact:
Lachlan Moore | [email protected]
About comparethemarket.com.au
Compare the Market is a comparison service that takes the hard work out of shopping around. We make it Simples for Australians to quickly and easily compare and buy insurance, energy, and home loans products from a range of providers. Our easy-to-use comparison tool helps you look for a range of products that may suit your needs and benefit your back pocket.
