There are two conflicting stories about Australian real estate ownership making the rounds in the media.

One popular narrative is that the Great Australian Dream is dead, with young Australians supposedly unable to afford homes anymore. The other, backed by data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, shows a different picture—suggesting that the dream is not only alive but thriving.

The latest ABS figures reveal an uptick in home purchases. More people are buying homes, whether as first-home buyers, other owner-occupiers, or investors. According to Hotspotting, sales volumes surged in the June Quarter.

Lending for home purchases jumped 19% in June compared to the previous year. Loans to owner-occupiers rose by 13%, and even more so to investors. First-home buyer loans also increased, though not as dramatically.

If people truly couldn’t afford homes, lending and sales wouldn’t be rising, including among first-home buyers. The property market remains lively across most of Australia, with active buyers across the board.

So, the next time you come across a headline claiming the Great Australian Dream is dead, remember the facts don’t always support it.