I'm the person to least worry about owning a home. Yet this is an issue for me. As Kup open acknowledges, it's not easy. TF habit or not. Investment properties aren't easy either. They are very speculative and require large sums for entry plus gearing to generate an advantage.

I do agree w/ Fungal that some sacrifices must be made. But as Dirge points out, the system does not make it easy for the average Australian to get a foot in the market. The basics are what's frightening.
Based on 2007 statistics:
Average mortgage: $400,000
10% deposit: $40,000
Stamp duty: $20-30,000.
Average monthly repayments: $2,400.

Average Wage: $850 a week. x 4 = $3,400.

What? That leaves you w/ a $1,000. Throw in basic bills and food. Pretty tough to even save. As Dirge points out, marriage definitely helps but that too brings up issues of kids and the like. And these are just average figures. You have to keep in mind that a lot more people are earning less than the average wage and the average is positively skewed b/c of the high income eaners bringing the average up.

And that comes back to my point. Though some of us might be good positions and are proud of how we've managed to buy or homes and succeed, we shouldn't wield that as a righteous baton. We need to recognise this is an issue that needs addressing.