Property ownership has become Australians no.1 priority, with buying a home now regarded as even more important that having children, according to new research released today.

In a survey of 1,000 RAMS Home Loans customers aged 25-45, 62 per cent of respondents said they considered buying a home their most important achievement while just 31 per cent of respondents stated having children topped their priority list. The remaining 7 per cent were unsure.

RAMS Chief Executive Officer, Melos Sulicich, said the data indicates owning property is not only considered the most important achievement – it also has significant social implications.

“We see a sense of urgency in many people when it comes to getting into the market, with Australians delaying other major personal life decisions such as weddings and children to become property owners, as lenders we are often in the position of handling the most important event in someone’s life,” Mr Sulicich said.

For many Australians the prospect of buying a home now has a major influence on whether they get married and how much they might spend on a wedding. For those planning marriage and children, buying a home can seem like a necessary basis to cement a relationship or create a sense of security.

For others, it can be one of the reasons why people might decide to opt for smaller families.

Debt, which was once considered a social stigma, is also now regarded as a fact of life that holds major influence in the decision making of many Australians, according to Mr Sulicich.