By Jim Norman | GALLUP
Real estate, already Americans’ top pick as the “best long-term investment” for the last two years, has increased its lead over four other investment choices. Thirty-five percent of Americans now choose real estate, compared with 22% for stocks and mutual funds, 17% for gold, 15% for savings accounts/CDs and 7% for bonds.
Real estate and gold have switched positions over the last five years as gold prices tumbled and home sales recovered from the 2007-2009 housing market collapse. In August 2011, 34% of Americans named gold as the best investment for the long term, compared with 19% for real estate.