I’m in my 30s and worried about property prices. Should I still buy?

July 7, 2026 — 4:00pm

I don’t currently own any property. I have a small pool of savings, which I’ve been thinking about doing something with. I had considered buying an investment property previously, but now with all the talk after the budget, I’m not so sure as I’m hearing people are losing value on their properties now. So that makes me think maybe property isn’t a good investment. I’m also enjoying the flexibility of renting currently, so I’m not too sure about buying a home. I’m in my 30s, and I am trying to figure out the best way to create some security for my financial future.

So, let’s talk about what’s happening. Are property prices coming down? It would seem so. How long will they continue declining for? Will the market crash? No one has a crystal ball – although whenever there is a big market movement like this, you will see every expert jumping behind a microphone with some predictions. Take them with a grain of salt.

Is this a good thing? It depends. If you’ve been sitting on cash, wanting to get into the market, it might be a good thing. If you bought an over-priced property at the top of the market and are worried about the value of your property plummeting, you probably think it’s a bad thing.

If you bought a good asset that you have a high conviction will perform well long-term, you are likely sleeping well at night and are unaffected by short-term movements.

For years, this is something I’ve been, well, not quite “shouting from the rooftops” but at the very least “whispering aggressively from the corner”. Many people have been lulled into a false sense of security assuming that all property is good property, and it will eventually do well.

This cultural obsession with owning a property has led many people to jumping into property preemptively, before they really understand what they’re signing up for. This is something the property industry profits from – everyone from mortgage brokers and buyers agents, to developers and banks - regardless of whether your property ever appreciates or not.

If you do these three things well – you’re set. That’s all you need for a financially secure future.

The idea that all property always goes up in value only holds true if you actually hang onto that property long-term. And by long-term, I’m talking decades, not years. The problem is that for most people, life gets in the way – a divorce, moving countries, growing your family, etc.

This might “force” you to sell before the property has appreciated enough to make a profit. This is particularly true if you bought an over-priced property to begin with.

So, it’s not that all properties will suddenly become a bad investment. But I do think people will now have to work harder to assess whether a specific property is, in fact, a good long-term investment, instead of jumping in and then “hoping and praying”. This is, ideally, what people should have been doing all along.

What should you do? Here is the simple road map that has worked well for many of my clients: first, optimise your superannuation (the most tax-advantageous investment vehicle you have in Australia); second, create a low-maintenance, low-fee portfolio of ETFs/index-funds to complement your superannuation (because super is only accessible after a specific age); and third, aim to have a fully paid-off home by the time you retire (which takes care of your biggest expense – housing).

If you do those three things well, you’re set. That’s all you need for a financially secure future. If you are really keen, you can also work on increasing your income to fast-track your progress. But that is, more or less, the entire playbook.

What order is it best to do those things in? Usually, I like to prioritise superannuation first. It’s the lowest hanging fruit. You already have superannuation, anything you learn in the process of optimising your super will help you later in starting to your investment portfolio outside super, and you ideally want to take advantage of the tax benefits as early as possible. Plus, with the First Home Super Saver Scheme, you can access some of your super to help purchase a home.

Then, once you’ve optimised your superannuation, learn how to create your investment portfolio. Firstly, because it helps you build wealth outside your home, so you don’t put every spare dollar into a property. Also, in the future, that portfolio can be used to help you afford a property – either by selling it, or through the income you earn from the investments.

Then, when you’re ready to commit to living in a specific location for the long term, consider buying a home. If you’ve followed the playbook, then by that point, you’ll have some money in super and some investments to help you fund it.

Paridhi Jain is a money and mindset coach who combines practical strategies with mindset transformation to help clients create more freedom and fulfilment in wealth, work and life. Find Paridhi at: skilledsmart.com.au

• Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that takes into account their own personal circumstances before making any financial decisions.

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