Why Real Estate Continues to Be a Long-Term Favorite for Americans & What That Means for South Dakota Buyers and Sellers

For the 14th consecutive year, Americans have named real estate as the best long-term investment.

According to Gallup’s 2026 survey on long-term investing, 38% of Americans chose real estate as their top investment choice—more than stocks and mutual funds, gold, savings accounts and CDs, bonds, or cryptocurrency.

For those of us who work with buyers and sellers every day in Tea, Sioux Falls, Huron, Miller and communities across South Dakota, this statistic is more than an interesting national trend. It reflects something we see firsthand: people continue to view real estate as an important part of their long-term financial picture and their plans for the future.

Of course, buying a home is about much more than an investment. It’s where your family lives, where memories are made, and where your life unfolds. But for many homeowners, real estate can also become an important long-term asset.

Real Estate Continues to Lead the Pack

Gallup asks Americans each year which investment they believe is the best option over the long run. In 2026, real estate once again came out on top.

Here’s how Americans ranked their preferred long-term investments:

• Real estate: 38%
• Stocks and mutual funds: 20%
• Gold: 18%
• Savings accounts and CDs: 12%
• Bonds: 4%
• Cryptocurrency: 2%

While other investments have experienced significant changes in popularity over the years, real estate has remained remarkably consistent.

In 2026, stocks and mutual funds gained ground, rising from 16% in 2025 to 20%. Gold, meanwhile, declined from its 2023 high of 25% to 18% this year.

Real estate remained in the top spot.

A 14-Year Streak

Real estate has ranked as Americans’ preferred long-term investment every year since 2013.

That’s 14 consecutive years at the top.

The streak has only been interrupted twice since Gallup began tracking the question. During the financial crisis in 2008 and 2009, savings accounts and CDs took the lead. In 2011 and 2012, gold ranked first.

Real estate reclaimed the top position in 2013—and hasn’t given it up since.

That consistency is notable because the real estate market, stock market, interest rates, and overall economy have all changed significantly during those years.

Why Does Real Estate Continue to Resonate?

There are many reasons people continue to see real estate as a valuable long-term investment.

It’s tangible. You can see it, use it, improve it, and live in it.

It can build equity. As homeowners pay down their mortgage and, over time, if the property appreciates, they may build wealth through home equity.

It can provide stability. For many families, owning a home creates a sense of permanence and gives them more control over their living situation.

It can serve different purposes throughout life. The home that works for a young family may not be the right fit 20 years later. Real estate can evolve with you—from a first home to a move-up property, an acreage, an investment property, or a home that better fits your lifestyle during retirement.

Here in the Sioux Falls, Huron and surrounding South Dakota communities, we’ve seen firsthand how important these decisions can be.

A first-time buyer may be thinking about building equity instead of continuing to rent. A growing family may be looking for more space in Tea or the Sioux Falls metro. Someone relocating to South Dakota may be searching for the right community and home to put down roots. And a homeowner entering a new season of life may be considering downsizing to simplify and make the most of the equity they’ve built.

Each situation is different.

Real Estate Is Personal—Not Just Financial

While national statistics can help us understand broader trends, real estate decisions are ultimately personal.

The best time to buy or sell isn’t determined by a national headline alone. It’s influenced by your financial situation, your goals, your timeline, your family, and the type of property you’re considering.

That’s why having a knowledgeable real estate professional by your side matters.

Whether you’re considering a first home, move-up home, downsizing, relocation, acreage, farm, land, investment property, or commercial real estate, the right guidance can help you understand your options and make a decision that fits your long-term goals.

At Faith Realty Brokers, we believe real estate is about more than transactions. It’s about helping people make confident decisions about some of the biggest moves of their lives.

So, what does the 2026 Gallup survey tell us?

It tells us that Americans continue to have a strong belief in real estate as a long-term investment.

But the more important question is this:

Could real estate be the right long-term move for you?

If you’re thinking about buying, selling, moving, downsizing, relocating, or investing in real estate in Tea, Sioux Falls, Huron, Miller or the surrounding South Dakota communities, we’re here to help you explore your options and understand what makes sense for your next chapter.

Buy. Sell. Move. Downsize. Relocate. Invest.

Whatever your next move looks like, we’re here to help you make it with confidence. Let’s Connect!