SIMON JOHANSON June 21, 2012
Fewer households across Australia own their home outright than did five years ago, a snapshot of the nation shows.
While the proportion of households saddled with a mortgage has remained the same, more people are renting, about 1.5 per cent more than were five years ago, data from the 2011 Census shows.
The trend towards fewer people living in stand-alone houses has accelerated, with more people opting to live in terraces, townhouses or apartments, particularly in NSW and Victoria.
This was also true in the Northern Territory, where a significant proportion - about 17.3 per cent of households - are choosing an apartment lifestyle.
By contrast 27.6 per cent of Sydneysiders live in apartments and only 16.6 per cent of Melburnians.
The median rent paid by households in Melbourne rose $100 over five years to $300. Median monthly mortgage payments across the city rose 26 per cent to $1811.
By contrast, median mortgage payment in Sydney rose by 17 per cent to $2167, and median rents by $101 to $351.
Owned outright: 2011 = 32.1%, 2006 = 34%
Owned with mortgage: 2011 = 34.9%, 2006 = 34.1%
Rented: 2011 = 29.6%, 2006 = 28.1%
Other: 2011 = 0.9%, 2006 = 0.8%
NSW
Separate house: 2011 = 67.9%, 2006 = 69.1%
Terrace/townhouse: 2011 = 10.7%, 2006 = 9.8%
Flat/unit: 2011 = 20%, 2006 = 19.5%
VIC
Separate house: 2011 = 75.8, 2006 = 76.2%
Terrace/townhouse: 2011 = 9.6%, 2006 = 9.2%
Flat/unit: 2011 = 13.7%, 2006 = 13.6%
Source: The Age