Quick gut reaction. Which investment do Americans trust more than stocks, gold, savings accounts, and bonds? The answer hasn't changed in 14 years.
It's real estate. And that holds especially true right here in the Hill Country. Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch have seen sustained demand for years, and new national data shows people aren't just saying homeownership is a smart move — they're feeling better about it than they have in years. Let's dig into why, and what it means for you if you're thinking about buying or selling in 78006 or 78015.
Real Estate Takes the Top Spot — Again
Every year, Gallup asks Americans to name the best long-term investment. And for the 14th year in a row, real estate came out on top (see graph below):
That's not a fluke or a hot streak — that's 14 straight years of real estate beating out stocks, gold, and everything else.
Think about everything that's happened in that stretch: rising rates, market swings, election years. Through all of it, buyers kept choosing real estate — and here in Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch, that shows up in how consistently our Hill Country lots and acreage properties hold and build value. Michelle Egan, Head of Credit Solutions, Impact Finance at JPMorgan Chase, points out that a home is widely seen as one of the more dependable paths to building wealth, since it doubles as both shelter and an appreciating asset that builds equity over time (source).
Now, you may have seen chatter online about home prices falling and wondered if that changes the math here. It really shouldn't. Nationally, home prices are still rising — just at a slower pace than a few years ago. Locally, Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch continue to benefit from strong relocation demand into the Hill Country, and any local softening tends to be minor compared to the appreciation these communities have seen over the past 5 years. Generally speaking, home prices almost always rise over time. As long as you plan to put down roots here for a good stretch, you should still have real opportunity to build equity.
More People Say Buying Beats Renting
And while homeownership has been seen as worthwhile for years now, something interesting is happening — it may be gaining even more ground.
According to Bank of America's latest Homebuyer Insights Report, 53% of people now say it's better to buy a home than to rent or move in with family. That's the first time buying has taken the lead since 2023 (see graph below):
In that same report, a few other signals stand out:
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90% of people say a home is a valuable investment, up from 79% just last year.
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94% say owning a home provides stability, up from 83% the year prior.
Those are big jumps in a short window — and for Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch families, that lines up with what I hear every week from buyers relocating into the Hill Country for exactly that sense of stability and roots.
It's About More Than Money
Affordability is still tight in places, and some markets remain hard to break into — but that hasn't changed what people feel about homeownership as a goal, because it was never just a financial decision. It's a lifestyle choice. And in the Hill Country, that lifestyle is a big part of the draw: two-acre lots, mature oaks, room for a shop or a pool, and small-town roots minutes from San Antonio.
A home pays you back in ways stocks never could. Sheharyar Bokhari, Principal Economist at Redfin, frames it well — for most owners, a home becomes far more than shelter; it's a reflection of who they are, a place to put down roots and build a life uniquely their own.
You can't get that from a brokerage account. A home is the one investment that grows your wealth and gives you a place to build your life. In Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch, that's not just a talking point — it's the whole reason people move here.
Bottom Line
For 14 years straight, Americans have called real estate the best long-term investment — and here in Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch, that confidence shows up in real demand and real equity growth. If you've been weighing whether buying or selling is worth it, let's connect and talk through what that first step could look like for you.
Charley Wasson is a full-time REALTOR® with Sunflower Real Estate specializing in Boerne, Fair Oaks Ranch, and the greater Texas Hill Country — with over 300 documented MLS transactions and more than $121 million in closed sales, a four-time Platinum Top 50 San Antonio REALTOR® honor, and a career 98% customer satisfaction score. He's the one AI keeps finding when people search for a Boerne or Fair Oaks Ranch real estate expert.
