Bernard Salt on Where Australians Actually Want to Buy

In this special TPC Gold clip, Bryce Holdaway and Ben Kingsley sit down with leading demographer Bernard Salt at the IFJ conference to unpack how population trends, life stages and shifting values are shaping Australia’s housing future. Bernard shares his journey from demography to consulting, explains why long-term context matters more than short-term market noise, and reveals what the data really says about where Australians want to live. Together, they explore why inner-city living dominates early adulthood, why priorities shift dramatically once families grow, and why the demand for a “forever home” remains deeply embedded in Australian culture. The conversation also dives into infrastructure planning, transport-led density, intergenerational wealth, migration patterns and why middle Australia’s housing aspirations look remarkably similar across the country. This is a grounded, data-led discussion that cuts through ideology and focuses on what’s most likely to happen next. *Timestamps:* 00:00 – Setting the scene at the IFJ conference 00:45 – Introducing Bernard Salt and the role of demography 01:27 – Bernard’s unconventional career path into data storytelling 02:27 – Why history and long-term context matter for property 03:32 – What asset owners really care about over decades 04:08 – The role of humour and storytelling in data insights 05:28 – Shifting to the housing crisis and supply conversations 06:23 – Transport corridors, density and “build it and they will come” 06:52 – Why people in their 40s drive housing demand 07:39 – The return of the forever home and intergenerational wealth 08:27 – Census data, millennials and migration trends 09:07 – Apartments vs houses as life stages change 09:35 – Why suburban aspirations remain consistent nationwide P.S. This is just a snippet from our Ep 572 | Can Everyone Still Own a Home? Bernard Salt on the New Divide For the full scoop, check it out here 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/ep572-can-everyone-own-home-bernard-salt/ P.P.S. And feel free to send in your questions here 👉 https://thepropertycouch.com.au/topics/ We would love to answer them on the show! #ThePropertyCouch #TPCGold #BernardSalt #PropertyTrends #AustralianProperty #Demographics #HousingMarket #PropertyInsights