Women became more financially literate and bought more property than ever during Covid, studies find


Women used successful podcasts and online research to become more financially literate during Covid – leading to a spike in females buying properties

  • Women utilised time at home during Covid to become financially literate
  • Entourage Finance found 65 per cent of their clients in 2020 were women
  • Podcasts like She’s On The Money and online research gave women insight

Women have utilised their extra free time during Covid to become more financially literate and independent, a Melbourne financial brokerage company found.

Entourage Finance found trends for 2020 showed women were pre-approved and subsequently approved for home loans at a significantly higher rate than men.

In fact, 65 per cent of their clients who were ready and able to purchase a home in 2020 were women – and the trajectory so far in 2021 appears to be heading up.

The female-led business hosted 140 women at a luncheon in Melbourne last Thursday to celebrate the achievement.

Entourage Finance said trends for 2020 showed women were pre-approved and subsequently approved for home loans at a significantly higher rate than men

Director of Property at Entourage Antoinette Sagaria told Daily Mail Australia the brand has grown every year since it was founded and 2020 was no different despite a global pandemic.

‘Women are more financially literate than ever,’ she explained. ‘Women are just so resourceful, in a crisis like a global pandemic they saved, sought guidance from professionals and secured their financial wellbeing.’

‘2020 was the year where women bought themselves some property.’

Entourage employs 18 people in total, including 13 women and five men. Of those employees, two men and two women are employed as company directors.

Ms Sagaria said it was unsurprising the spike coincided with the rise of women’s movements globally, and said females are increasingly considering it crucial to have their own money and a thorough understanding of finance. 

Director of Property at Entourage Antoinette Sagaria (pictured left) told Daily Mail Australia the brand has grown every year since it was founded and 2020 was no different despite a global pandemic

Director of Property at Entourage Antoinette Sagaria (pictured left) told Daily Mail Australia the brand has grown every year since it was founded and 2020 was no different despite a global pandemic

Podcasts like She’s on the Money and The Budget Mom have made learning about money, how to save, invest and spend wisely is more accessible than ever. 

With interest rates at a record-low of just 0.1 per cent, the ANZ bank is now forecasting a 17 per cent jump in capital city median house prices in 2021 alone.

Sydney and Perth are tipped to see an even more dramatic 19 per cent rise.

This would see Sydney’s median house price, based on Domain sales data, surge from a record $1.2million at the end of 2020 to $1.4million by Christmas.

Mid-point house prices are already $13,000 above the previous peak set in 2017.

ANZ expected Hobart house prices to surge by 18 per cent as Melbourne and Brisbane values climbed by 16 per cent and Adelaide prices increased by 13 per cent. 

Pictured: Dr Chantel Thornton

Pictured: Sally Cooper

A ladies luncheon celebrating female success featured guests including Dr Chantel Thornton (left) and performer Sally Cooper (right)

According to Ms Sagaria, women will likely be the biggest benefactors of the low interest rates.

‘2021 we have already had three record breaking months… We’re expecting to see this trend continue and have more women buying than men for the foreseeable future.’ 

The women’s luncheon was sponsored and attended by females from all walks of life who inspire, assist or support the company, and featured Mamamia founder and editor Mia Freedman as the keynote speaker. 

Freedman used the opportunity to congratulate the women in the room before discussing her own rise to the top of her field, how she juggled a career and motherhood and how she copes with her anxiety disorder. 

To read more about Freedman’s experience, click here. 

To read more about luncheon guest and breast cancer surgeon Dr Chantel Thornton, click here. 

Podcasts like She's on the Money (founder Victoria Devine pictured) and The Budget Mom have made learning about money, how to save, invest and spend wisely is more accessible than ever

Podcasts like She’s on the Money (founder Victoria Devine pictured) and The Budget Mom have made learning about money, how to save, invest and spend wisely is more accessible than ever

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