Home Investment: Why America Never Stopped Trusting Real Estate

Home investment has been the most trusted choice in America for 14 consecutive years – and it is not even close. When Gallup asks Americans to name the best long-term investment, real estate has won every single time since 2012, beating out stocks, gold, savings accounts, and bonds. In North County and across the country, people are not just saying homeownership is a smart move. They are feeling better about it than they have in years.

Home Investment Takes the Top Spot Again

That is not a hot streak. That is 14 straight years of the same answer, through rising rates, market swings, election years, and everything else life has thrown at the economy. Through all of it, the home investment case stayed consistent – and Americans kept picking real estate every single time. As Michelle Egan, Head of Credit Solutions at JPMorgan Chase, explained, owning a home has long been one of the most reliable paths to building wealth – an asset that appreciates over time, builds equity, and can serve as a financial resource for generations.

You may have seen headlines suggesting home prices are falling and wondered if that changes the home investment picture. It really should not. Nationally, home prices are still rising, just at a slower pace than a few years ago. Some local markets are seeing slight dips, but those dips are small compared to how much values have grown over the past five years. As we covered in our look at home price history, values have historically trended upward over the long term. As long as you plan to stay for a reasonable length of time, the chance to build equity is still very much there.

More People Say Buying Beats Renting

While homeownership has long been seen as a worthwhile goal, something interesting is happening right now: confidence in it is actually growing. According to Bank of America’s latest Homebuyer Insights Report, 53% of people now say it is better to buy a home than to rent or move in with family – the first time buying has taken the lead since 2023.

In that same report, 90% of people say a home is a valuable investment, up from 79% the year before. And 94% say owning a home provides stability, up from 83% the prior year. Those are significant jumps in a short period of time, and they signal a real shift in how people are thinking about home investment right now. As we covered in our look at strategies for buyers in a tough rate environment, even when conditions feel difficult, the long-term case for homeownership stays strong.

It Is About More Than Money

Affordability is still tight and some markets are hard to break into. But that has not changed what people fundamentally feel about homeownership as a goal. And the reason is simple: the home investment decision is not just financial. It is a lifestyle choice. As Sheharyar Bokhari, Principal Economist at Redfin, explained, a home is more than shelter for most people. It is a reflection of identity, a way to put down roots and build a life that no brokerage account can offer.

You cannot get that from a savings account or a stock portfolio. A home investment gives you something no other asset class does: it builds your wealth and gives you a place to call your own at the same time. If you have been thinking about what that first step looks like, our guide to down payment options is a good place to start.

Bottom Line

For 14 straight years, Americans have chosen real estate as the best long-term home investment – and confidence in homeownership is growing. The data is consistent, the sentiment is shifting upward, and the reasons people choose to own go well beyond the financial return.

If you have been weighing whether buying is worth it in North County, let’s connect and talk through what the first step could realistically look like for you.

The information contained, and the opinions expressed, in this article are not intended to be construed as investment advice. Jess & Co. Real Estate, LLC does not guarantee or warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions contained herein. Nothing herein should be construed as investment advice. You should always conduct your own research and due diligence and obtain professional advice before making any investment decision. Jess & Co. Real Estate, LLC will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on the information or opinions contained herein.