Homeownership Gets High Marks

Most Americans rate homeownership as the best investment they can make--far ahead of the 401(k), retirement accounts and stocks, according to an annual survey of homeownership attitudes conducted by Fannie Mae.

Economists and demographers have said that baby boomers, minorities and immigrants will be important forces in the housing market.

Thirty-one percent of baby boomers said they were very or fairly likely to buy a home in the next three years, as did 42% of African Americans, 37% of Latinos and 34% of Latino immigrants.

Among the two in five respondents who said they follow the housing market, 76% said that buying a home is a safe investment with a lot of potential.

Seventy-eight percent said that it is a somewhat or very good time to buy a home.