We’ve always maintained that real estate is a solid investment opportunity, and it’s looking like it will be a better return on your money than ever in the years ahead.

We’re not alone in admiring the many financial benefits of homeownership. In fact, a 2015 survey from the Joint Center of Housing Studies at Harvard University revealed that families buying property considered the financial benefits just as much as the social benefits.

Per Keeping Current Matters, survey respondents tended to believe that:

• Paying rent does not make sense
• Owning a home helps you build family wealth
• Buying a home is investing in your retirement
• Home equity gives you something to borrow against

Speaking to the first point, we’ve long argued that homeownership, in many cases, makes more financial sense than renting. After all, while rents have been skyrocketing here in Chicago (and nationwide), interest rates have continued to sit near historic lows, meaning that buying may be less expensive than renting – while also offering homeowners tax incentives, all the benefits of living in a strong community, and, yes, the opportunity to invest in their future, including building equity for a retirement fund.

As to the other survey ideas about wealth accumulation, buying a home, by many metrics, is actually the most sound investment a consumer can make, offering the highest return on your investment by far.

For proof, check out this great graph from Keeping Current Matters:

What this tells us is that, in the last year, homeownership offered consumers a greater return on investment than playing the stock market or even investing in precious metals like silver and gold (which have long been considered a consistent, stable investment).

And the profitability of real estate, fortunately, seems to be a lasting trend: It was named the best long-term investment by a 2014 Gallup poll, for instance, beating out gold, stocks/mutual funds, bonds, and savings accounts.

So, to wrap it up, buying a home offers not just short-term social and economic benefits, but a sound, secure, well-leveraged investment opportunity with a proven ROI in the long-term. And the best part? There’s never been a better time to buy a property and get started down the road to a brighter financial future.

Ready to start living in your dream home – and investing in your future - today? Real Group is here to help set you on the path to your perfect Chicagoland property. Why not check out some of our listings or drop us a line to get started?