Home ownership important but unaffordable

Almost nine-in-10 Australians believe home ownership is important to a person's financial security, yet two-thirds believe housing is out or reach for someone on an average income.

Respondents to the latest Essential Research online poll thought renters (77 per cent), young people (83 per cent) and people on low incomes (85 per cent) would be worse off if house prices rise further.

As for solutions to the housing affordability problem, almost three-quarters of respondents back increased restrictions on foreign nationals purchasing existing residential properties, while 56 per cent supported providing tax incentives for older homeowners to downsize from the family residence.

Over half said more land should be made available on the fringes of cities for housing development, while 44 per cent said interest-only loans for property investors should be banned and the same proportion said first home buyers should be allowed to use a portion of their superannuation for a home deposit.

A fraction less (43 per cent) said negative tax concessions should be removed for property investors.