Gallup Poll Puts Real Estate First at 38% as Stocks Trail at 20%
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 30
Gallup Poll Puts Real Estate First at 38% as Stocks Trail at 20%
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Jun 30
Summary
Gallup’s 2026 survey found 38% of Americans view real estate as the best long-term investment, far ahead of stocks or mutual funds at 20%; gold ranked third at 18%.
That lead reflects familiarity and perceived safety: about two-thirds of U.S. households own a primary home, while only 21% hold directly owned stocks, and memories of the 2007-09 market crash still weigh on sentiment.
Real estate has topped Gallup’s ranking every year since 2013, while savings accounts led during the 2008 financial crisis and gold won in 2011 and 2012.
Market professionals still favor equities, citing S&P 500 average annual returns of 10.4% from 1992-2024 and 11.5% over the 40 years through 2025, versus roughly 5.5% yearly home-price growth.