How Property Empowers Women to Take Control of Their Financial Future
- Jan 31, 2025
- 6 min read
Written by Annette Densham, Chief Storyteller
Multi-award-winning PR specialist Annette Densham is considered the go-to for all things business storytelling, award submission writing, and assisting business leaders in establishing themselves as authorities in their field.
As a woman in this modern age, it’s hard not to feel let down. The quotas for gender diversity, legislation for paid maternity leave and superannuation, changing workplace structures, and the systems meant to support us really weren’t designed with our realities in mind. They look good on paper. In reality, many of us are not getting ahead. The prospect of an impoverished retirement, especially for single women, is very real.
The burden of the mental load for Gen X and Millennial women is oppressive. Working, managing children and households, and picking up side hustles to make ends meet, if there’s time, leaves many exhausted and burnt out. The mental load is real and intolerably heavy. Many women are slaves to it, not paid what they’re worth, and that does not look like it will change anytime in the next 50 years.
The gender pay gap persists, and childcare costs are rising in line with housing prices, making financial independence an unattainable fantasy. Women are more likely to take pauses to have children or look after aging parents, making financial advancement nearly impossible.
Varsha Banker, an IT specialist and co-founder of Real Estate For Women (R4W), loves data. But when she looks at the data on women’s financial futures, it makes her want to cry.
Women retire with nearly 47% less superannuation than males - the median superannuation balance for women 65 and over is $168,000, compared to $208,200 for men
Female homeowners have increased by 30% since the 1960s, but only 29.5% of us are investing in property, compared to men 36.3%. Women in the UK have to wait 5.3 years longer before buying an asset compared to men.
The gender pay gap still exists - women earn 89 cents for every dollar earned by men.
31% of single women say they’re struggling or just getting by, compared to 24% of men.
Women are more likely to work part-time or in precarious employment due to unpaid caregiving responsibilities, further limiting their financial stability.
34% of retired women depend on their partner's income to meet living costs, compared to 7% of retired men
40% of older single women live in poverty during retirement.
In 2021, women over 55 accounted for 37.8% of the homeless population.
“While we are being told things are getting better, it is taking way too long. While we wait for the world to catch up, it is time to take the bull by the horns and take charge of our financial futures, especially for single women,” she said.
“When I look at my journey, this issue is personal, and it scared me. After my divorce, I felt completely untethered, trying to secure my son’s future while working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Burdened by the weight of responsibility, knowing I did not have time or space to get a third job, I started looking into property investing. It became my lifeline. I did not have to get a second job to make it happen, but I did have to invest time into learning.
“I knew next to nothing about the industry. The idea of investing was daunting. I had always assumed property investment was reserved for people with loads of cash, insider knowledge, or some kind of innate business sense I did not have. As a single mother juggling two jobs, I did not feel like I had the time, energy, or skills to even begin.”
Varsha had to start from scratch, learning terms she had never heard before, like "yield," "equity," and "cash flow strategies."
“I did not know how to calculate whether a property was a good investment or if I was about to throw my savings away. But I was determined. I immersed myself in property, reading everything I could find, attending workshops, and asking questions, even when I felt embarrassed by how little I knew,” she said.
“One of the hardest things for me was understanding how to make my money work for me. I had always been a saver, tucking away what little I could for emergencies, but the idea of using that money to buy an investment property felt risky.”
Varsha also had to unlearn the fear of taking calculated risks and start thinking long term.
“I realized that staying stagnant out of fear would leave me exactly where I did not want to be, working myself to the bone with no real security for the future,” she said.
“I learned to analyze markets, spot growth suburbs, and calculate returns. I discovered that property was not just about luck or gut feelings; it was about strategy and research. Most importantly, I learned to trust myself. The first property I bought was not perfect, but it was a start. That start turned into a second property and then a third as my confidence grew.”
This journey of learning inspired Varsha to co-found Real Estate for Women (R4W). She knows what it is like to feel completely out of her depth and to question whether she is capable of making it in an industry that feels inaccessible.
“The most powerful lesson I learned was that I did not need to know everything to get started. I had a willingness to learn, to ask for the right support, and the courage to take that first step,” Varsha said.
“Breaking free from these systemic challenges starts with financial literacy. Too often, women are left out of the financial conversation, leading to a lack of confidence when it comes to managing money or making investments.”
Property investment is not about luck; it is about strategy. Women need to understand how to start small, leverage their savings, and look for opportunities in growth suburbs or co-living investments that generate cash flow.
Knowledge and planning are just part of the solution. The biggest hurdle for many women is mindset. Women often put themselves last, like eating the piece of burnt toast, focusing on the needs of family, work, or community without prioritizing their own financial future. Taking responsibility does not mean women are to blame for systemic failures, but it does mean stepping into their power and taking deliberate steps to change the trajectory.
Even with the right knowledge, many women face overwhelming barriers. Childcare costs, the mental load of balancing family and career, and societal expectations all play a role in keeping women stuck. Then there is the emotional side. Fear of failure, imposter syndrome, and a lack of visible role models in property investment can make the path seem daunting.
Varsha said community is critical when it comes to investing in property.
“Having a network of women who have been through the same challenges can be life changing. Building those connections, whether through workshops, mentoring, or sharing success stories, helps other women see what is possible. They start to believe in their own potential,” she said.
“Women need to take ownership of their financial futures. That means educating ourselves, seeking out supportive networks, and being willing to take calculated risks. It is not about doing it all alone; it is about finding the right tools, mentors, and strategies to make progress possible.
“It is also about demanding change. While we take responsibility for our own futures, we must also advocate for policies that support working mothers, close the pay gap, and make property ownership more accessible.”
For too long, women have been told to settle for less. It is time to flip the script. Property is a way to reclaim independence, build wealth, and create a legacy for the next generation. The future may not be designed for women, but with the right steps, they can design it themselves.
Annette Densham, Chief Storyteller Multi-award-winning PR specialist Annette Densham is considered the go-to for all things business storytelling, award submission writing, and assisting business leaders in establishing themselves as authorities in their field. She has shared her insights into storytelling, media, and business across Australia, UK, and the US speaking for Professional Speakers Association, Stevie Awards, Queensland Government, and many more. Three times winner of the Grand Stevie Award for Women in Business, gold Stevie International Business Award, and a finalist in Australian Small Business Champion awards, Annette audaciously challenges anyone in small business to cast aside modesty, embrace their genius and share their stories.
