Why Mississippi Gulf Coast Buyers Still Trust Real Estate

Quick Answer: For the 14th year in a row, Americans say real estate beats stocks, gold, and savings accounts as the best long-term investment, according to Gallup. On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, that trust shows up in real numbers: about 70% of Mississippi households own their home, and the Gulfport-Biloxi metro has the highest homeownership rate of any metro in the state at 69.3%. Nationally, confidence is climbing too, with 53% of people now saying buying beats renting, the first time that's been true since 2023.

Why Do Americans Keep Picking Real Estate Over Stocks and Gold?

Because it keeps paying off, year after year. Gallup has asked Americans to name the best long-term investment every year since the early 2000s, and real estate has come out on top for 14 years straight, landing at 38% in 2026, ahead of stocks at 20%, gold at 18%, savings accounts at 12%, and bonds at 4%.

That streak covers a lot of rocky ground. Rate hikes, market swings, a pandemic, election years, you name it. Through all of it, people kept picking real estate. Michelle Egan, Head of Credit Solutions at JPMorgan Chase, explains it this way: owning a home is one of the most reliable ways to build wealth, since it's a place to live and an asset that can appreciate and build equity at the same time.

Does the Mississippi Gulf Coast Back Up That Trust?

It does, and the numbers here actually beat the national average. About 70% of Mississippi households own their home, compared to 65.2% nationally. The Gulfport-Biloxi metro area has the highest homeownership rate of any metro in the state, at 69.3%, according to Census data.

That's not an accident. Renting in Gulfport runs around $1,124 a month on average, while buying still gets you a real foothold in a market where the median home sold for $257,061 through the first half of 2026. For a lot of Gulf Coast families, the math on owning versus renting has worked out in their favor for a long time, and it shows in how many of them end up owners.

Is Buying Really Better Than Renting Right Now?

More people think so than have in years. Bank of America's latest Homebuyer Insights Report found 53% of people now say it's better to buy a home than to rent or move in with family, the first time buying has led since 2023.

Confidence is climbing on other fronts too. In the same report, 90% of people said a home is a valuable investment, up from 79% just a year earlier. And 94% said owning a home provides stability, up from 83% the year before. Those are big jumps in a short stretch of time, and they line up with what a lot of Gulf Coast buyers already believe about putting down roots here.

Do Falling Prices in Some Markets Change the Math?

Not really. Nationally, home prices are still rising, just more slowly than a few years ago. Some local markets are seeing slight dips, but those dips are small next to how much home values have grown over the past five years. Historically, home prices trend up over time, so if you plan to stay put for a while, you should still have the chance to build equity.

That holds true closer to home too. Even with the market cooling and homes taking longer to sell, prices here are still climbing, not falling. A short-term dip in any one market doesn't erase the long-term pattern.

What Makes a Home Different From Any Other Investment?

It's not just about the return. Sheharyar Bokhari, Principal Economist at Redfin, put it well: for a lot of homeowners, a home is more than a place to sleep and store belongings, it's a reflection of who they are, and it helps people put down roots, build relationships, and create a space that's genuinely theirs.

You can't get that from a brokerage account. A home is the rare investment that grows your wealth and gives you a place to actually live your life at the same time. On the Gulf Coast, where so many people already choose to own instead of rent, that's exactly the trade-off families keep making.

By the Numbers
Real estate ranked best long-term investment for the 14th year straight: 38% in 2026, versus 20% for stocks
Buyers who say buying beats renting: 53%, first time leading since 2023
People who say a home is a valuable investment: 90%, up from 79% a year earlier
People who say owning provides stability: 94%, up from 83% a year earlier
Mississippi homeownership rate: about 70%, versus 65.2% nationally
Gulfport-Biloxi metro homeownership rate: 69.3%, the highest of any metro in Mississippi
Average rent in Gulfport: $1,124 a month

The Bottom Line

For 14 years straight, Americans have called real estate the best long-term investment, and Mississippi Gulf Coast homeowners have been living out that trust for years, with a homeownership rate that beats the national average. If you've been weighing whether buying makes sense for you, a local agent can walk you through what that first step actually looks like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Americans consistently rank real estate as the best investment?
Gallup has tracked this question for over a decade, and real estate has topped stocks, gold, savings accounts, and bonds for 14 years running, landing at 38% in 2026. It's held up through rate hikes, market swings, and a pandemic.

Is Mississippi's homeownership rate higher than the national average?
Yes. About 70% of Mississippi households own their home, compared to 65.2% nationally. The Gulfport-Biloxi metro leads the state at 69.3%.

Is it better to buy or rent right now?
More people are saying buy. Bank of America's latest report found 53% now believe buying beats renting, the first time that's been true since 2023.

Are falling home prices in some markets a warning sign?
Not generally. Nationally, prices are still rising, just more slowly. Small local dips are minor compared to the growth homes have seen over the past five years.

What's driving renewed confidence in homeownership?
It's more than money. Homeownership offers stability and a sense of identity that other investments don't, alongside the potential to build equity over time.

Sources

• Gallup, Stock Market Trend Data — 14-year real estate investment ranking data
• JPMorgan Chase — Michelle Egan on homeownership and wealth building
• Keeping Current Matters — National home price trend context
• USAFacts / U.S. Census Bureau — Mississippi and Gulfport-Biloxi metro homeownership rates
• RentCafe Cost of Living, Gulfport — Average Gulfport rent
• Redfin, Gulfport Mid-Year Housing Market Review — Gulfport median sale price