No wonder investors are piling into property. New research confirms that housing has outperformed shares in six of the past ten years – and the gains are impressive.

There’s a lot to love about bricks and mortar, and a growing number of Australians have been building their wealth through bricks and mortar in recent years.

In September 2024 (the most recent figures available) the value of new loans to investors was 29.5% higher than September 2023, and only slightly below the record high of January 2022. 

More importantly, these investors have been well rewarded. 

2024 delivered property price growth of 8.3%. And that was in a year which CoreLogic describes as “underperforming”[2].

Investing is a long term game

For even more impressive growth it pays to look long term.

Seen through this lens, property has clearly trumped shares for strong returns.

According to CoreLogic, housing has outperformed equities in six of the past ten years and, cumulatively, has delivered total returns of 132.6% over the past decade compared to 126.4% for shares.

It goes to show that with both shares and property, time in the market beats trying to time the market.

But only property offers valuable added extras.

Property offers additional pluses

Both shares and property offer advantages to investors including potential capital gains tax savings when the asset is held for longer than 12 months.

However, property has unique upsides, including:

Cashflow benefits – rents are paid weekly whereas a company typically pays dividends only twice a year.

The ability to add value – no matter how the overall market is performing, property investors can improve their asset’s market value (and rent) through renovations and improvements or even subdivision. The value of shares, by contrast, is out of an individual investor’s control. 

The savings of non-cash tax deductions – building allowances and depreciation can help property investors save on tax even when they haven’t paid an expense from their own pocket.

Control – feedback from Raine & Horne investment clients shows they love the control that property offers.  You can drive past your rental investment, see it, touch it, and know it is all yours.  While shares represent a small ownership stake in a large company, shareholders can’t walk into the office and decide the place needs a new coat of paint or a better printer. Moreover, a company's board of directors can issue additional shares, diluting the value of existing shares.  

The verdict

Property and shares are both heavyweights of the investing scene.

And both can help Australians grow their wealth.

But if you are interested in an investment with a track record for outstanding capital growth and regular income returns that gives you 100% control over your asset, it’s hard to beat property.

Companies may come and go, but people always need a place to live. And this underpins the strength of bricks and mortar as an investment.

Talk to your local Raine & Horne property expert to discover the wealth of quality investment properties to pick from in your area.

 
[1] https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/investor-loans-295-cent-year-ago
[2] https://www.corelogic.com.au/news-research/news/2025/equities-outpace-property-in-2024-but-fall-short-over-the-long-run