These poll numbers were released earlier today by Rasmussen Reports -- "an electronic publishing firm specializing in the collection, publication, and distribution of public opinion polling information."
47% See Buying A Home As Family's Best Investment
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Most Americans continue to believe now is not a good time for someone to sell their house. At the same time, confidence that buying a home is the best investment a family can make has fallen to a new low.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 47% of American Adults say buying a home is the best investment a family can make down five points from last month and the lowest level ever recorded. Prior to the current numbers, this finding had ranged from a low of 51% to a high of 73% since September 2008.
Thirty-two percent (32%) don't believe purchasing a home is the ideal choice for a family to make, while 22% are not sure. (To see survey question wording, click here .)
New homeowners are far more inclined to believe buying a home is the best investment for a family than those who've purchased a house two or more years ago.
Only 11% of all adults say it's a good time for someone in their area to sell a house, a finding that has ranged from a low of nine percent (9%) to a high of 19% since April 2009. Seventy-two percent (72%) say it's not a good time for someone to sell their home, while 16% are not sure.
The survey of 1,000 Adults was conducted on June 17-18, 2011 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC . See methodology.
Overall confidence in housing values among homeowners has plummeted , with the number who say their home is worth more than what they owe on their mortgage lower than ever.
Adults making over $60,000 annually are more confident in a home as the best investment for a family than those earning under that amount. Wealthier adults are more likely to believe it's not a good time for someone to sell their home compared to those in lower income ranges.
Fifty-two percent (52%) of investors say buying a home is the best investment a family can make, a view shared by just 41% of non-investors.