ABSTRACT
Both Australia and New Zealand have seen home ownership as a social and political project that contributed to building strong families and communities and serving as a bulwark against political extremism. The high rates of home ownership achieved are now showing signs of change with significant decline amongst younger cohorts and for those entering housing for the first time. The question is explored as to whether this is a long-run structural and life-course change or a temporary adjustment brought on by current market conditions. This chapter addresses the question of the strength of home ownership sentiment in settler societies drawing primarily on the experiences of New Zealand, but also in the context of comparable developments in Australia.
