While traditionally dominated by men, the property investing world has seen an increasing number of women entering, eager to grow their wealth and achieve financial freedom.
While obstacles such as soaring prices, limited financial knowledge, and fear can make the path seem daunting, women who take charge of their finances can still achieve lasting security and success.
According to Reshmi Kumar, co-founder of Right Property Group, women should remember that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work in property and tailor their strategy to their needs and life stage.
“Each property choice depends on your situation. In your twenties, a property can be a seed; in your 40s or 50s, you need to be actively building and managing your portfolio,” Kumar told SPI.
“But you can’t look at someone else’s results or success and try to compare yourself… You’ve got to look at your own scenario and decide for yourself what properties suit your needs and be happy with your own results.”
While more women have been wanting to enter the market, Kumar pointed out the stark reality that property prices keep rising, making building a portfolio tougher for everyone.
“It’s just getting harder and harder not only for women, but generally. It’s because the prices are just really rising all the time.”
Additionally, she said rising interest rates and a scarcity of investment-grade properties have been putting pressure on prospective investors, making patience and long-term thinking key to success.
“One of the things is you’ve got to think that it is a long-term thing and allow that time and patience and be open-minded for opportunities.”
For women navigating the high-stakes property market, Kumar said that viewing investment as a marathon rather than a sprint can make all the difference.
Career breaks, income gaps, and life stages
According to Kumar, in addition to market pressure, structural and life-stage factors have also been affecting women’s ability to build wealth through property.
She said that time out of the workforce to raise children can interrupt financial progress and reduce borrowing capacity, leaving women feeling financially behind or unsure about restarting their wealth-building journey.
“The challenges they face, regardless of whether they’re a single income earner or with a partner, the income isn’t enough when it comes to property investing, not all, but the pay gap is definitely there.”
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“When they’re coming out of the workforce to raise children and then when they want to go back, these are the challenges; they’re feeling inadequate, and it’s like starting all over.”
Kumar emphasised that women need to consider their personal situation, including their lifestyle, age, and current financial position, before making property decisions.
“How much money will they really need for their lifestyle, and what is their current situation really, and how do they see their lives? So you really have to dig deep.”
Kumar said that personal financial development should be a priority, encouraging women to take ownership of their financial literacy rather than relying on a partner or family.
She encouraged women to start early and develop a long-term property strategy tailored to individual circumstances, noting that investment approaches need to adapt over time as priorities and resources change.
She stressed that financial security does not necessarily require a large portfolio, as a small number of well-planned investments can still create long-term stability.
“So many different ways to have future security. It may not necessarily be building a portfolio, but having one or two properties is enough.”
Fear, confidence, and emotional barriers
Kumar said that, similarly to financial barriers, psychological barriers, fear, and lack of confidence can be as challenging for women as financial constraints when it comes to property investing.
Many women feel intimidated by the responsibility of making large financial decisions, especially when they worry that mistakes could affect their families.
“A lot of women who actually put investing off because they feel like it’s a big, scary thing because they’ll be directly responsible for money,” Kumar said.
“They’ve got a lot of other issues like children, and they don’t want to be responsible for messing it up for them and their family.”
Kumar emphasised that women should surround themselves with the right people and seek education as critical to overcoming these barriers.
“The thing is, you should go find people where you can learn from and then read up a lot about the topic. You have to immerse yourself in the knowledge.”
“And then find the supportive environment.”
She encouraged women to join networks, attend workshops, and connect with like-minded investors to gain both knowledge and reassurance.
Kumar highlighted how family responsibilities can cause women to neglect their own financial growth.
“Women lose themselves, and then when they go back to work, they find that they’re starting their whole life. It’s so hard.”
She said that women should remember they are their own person, not just a parent or a wife, and take action to secure their financial future.
Kumar urged women to let go of the notion that investing requires a partner or dual income, emphasising that while building a portfolio as a single woman can be more challenging, it is entirely achievable with a long-term perspective.
She also noted that many women often defer financial decisions to their partners, not because of a lack of knowledge, but out of habit or wiring.
“I don’t think they lack literacy. Women have gotten smarter over the years. But I think they just leave it to the man. It’s not something they feel responsible for.”
She said that women should take full ownership of their financial literacy, understand personal finances, and treat money management as an essential part of individual growth and self-development.
“Learn about money really, and understand your financial position, you’ve got to make that financial literacy as part of your own personal development.”
While she encourages women to invest in property, Kumar stressed that property investing requires patience and a long-term mindset, as success rarely happens overnight.
She highlighted that there is no instant gratification in building wealth through property, and women need to accept that progress takes time, careful planning, and consistent effort.
“Remember that you are in it for the long run instead of looking at the right here, right now,” she concluded.