More women are entering the market, arming themselves with education, strategy, and purpose. They're not just participating in the game, they're changing it.
One of the most powerful examples of this shift is Real Estate for Women (R4W), an initiative led by single mum and IT professional, Varsha Banker, in partnership with property strategist Moxin Reza, founder of Investor Partner Group. Together, they are rewriting the narrative around who gets to build wealth through property, and how.
Varsha's story is one many women will relate to. When her marriage ended, she assumed the emotional fallout would be the hardest part. What she didn't expect was the crushing weight of financial responsibility, especially as a mother.
"Being a single mum in a high-pressure job, I knew I needed a side hustle that worked around my life. I didn't want to miss out on raising my child, but I also didn't want to struggle forever," she shared.
Like many Australian women, Varsha faced a grim reality. On average, women retire with 42% less superannuation than men, a gap driven by career breaks, part-time roles, and a persistent gender pay gap. Single mothers are particularly vulnerable to financial insecurity, often forced to make difficult trade-offs between earning a living and caring for their children.
Varsha turned to property investment, not through flashy deals or risky strategies, but through education. Alongside Moxin Reza, she helped launch R4W, an initiative focused on empowering women with practical, real-world knowledge about property investing.
"Most women aren't looking for a get-rich-quick scheme. They want tools, confidence, and a clear path," Mr Reza said. "R4W gives them that."
Delivered through the Australian Property Academy, R4W offers targeted courses like Real Estate for Beginners, Investor Grade Secrets, and Buyer's Agent Essentials, all designed to demystify property and make investing more accessible to women.
Unlike traditional buyers agent models that prioritise transactions, R4W places education at the centre. The goal is long-term empowerment, not short-term profit.
To date, more than 150 women have completed R4W programs and gone on to invest with confidence. An additional 20 women have become licensed buyers agents, building their own careers while helping others enter the market.
"We focus on trust, education, and community. That's what makes the difference," Ms Varsha said. "R4W isn't just a business. It's a mission to help women build financial futures they can rely on."
Image by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash, Varsha Banker image courtesy of Real Estate for Women
