Almost one third of Australians will buy a property before 2009 is over, despite the current financial conditions causing many people to revisit their financial plans.

Many of those will be investors taking advantage of a buyers' market, according to the annual Consumer Sentiment Survey conducted late last year by Mortgage Choice.

The survey also revealed that job security has overtaken interest rates as the biggest concern.

Almost two thirds of the respondents said the credit crunch has made property seem safer than shares.

The independent online survey was completed in early November by 1,006 Australians, 86 per cent of whom were property owners and 75 per cent of whom had a mortgage.

Almost one third of respondents plan to enter the property purchase process in the next year, while just over a third (41 per cent) of property owners will renovate their existing property rather than purchase a new one.

Mortgage Choice Senior Corporate Affairs Manager, Kristy Sheppard said that today's global financial situation has certainly affected consumer confidence but the survey results show that the slide in sentiment is perhaps not as marked as some would expect, nor is the percentage of those deterred from buying property.

"63 per cent said the credit crunch has made property seem safer than shares and 31 per cent will buy within 12 months, with 65 per cent of these purchasing investment properties", Ms Sheppard said.

"Overall, housing prices are relatively steady and to many consumers the property market appears more stable than the stock market, while interest rates are falling and rental vacancies remain historically low.

At present, a large number of regions are experiencing a 'buyer's market' - many people recognise that and plan to take advantage of it", Ms Sheppard concluded.