The stock market has been bouncing around more than usual with all the economic uncertainty. And if you’ve been watching your 401(k) or investments lately, you’ve probably felt that pit in your stomach. One day it’s up. The next day, it’s not. And that may make you feel a little worried about your finances.
But here’s what you need to remember if you’re a homeowner. According to Investopedia:
“Traditionally, stocks have been far more volatile than real estate. That’s not to say that real estate prices aren’t ever volatile—the years around the 2007 to 2008 financial crisis are just one memorable example—but stocks are more prone to large value swings.”
While your stocks or 401(k) might see a lot of highs and lows, home values are much less volatile.
A Drop in the Stock Market Doesn’t Mean a Crash in Home Prices
Take a look at the graph below. It shows what happened to home prices (the blue bars) during past stock market swings (the orange bars):
Home prices don’t always come down even when the stock market falls more substantially.
Big home price drops like those in 2008 are the exception, not the rule. But everyone remembers that one. That stock market crash was caused by loose lending practices, subprime mortgages, and an oversupply of homes – a scenario that doesn’t exist today. That’s what made it so different.
In many cases, home values went up before and after that time while the stock market went down, showing that real estate is generally much more stable.
This graph shows how stock prices go up and down (the orange line), sometimes by more than 30% in a year. In contrast, home prices (the blue line) change more slowly (see our latest graph).
Basically, stock values jump around a lot more than home prices do. You can be way up one day and way down the next. On the other hand, real estate isn’t usually something that experiences such dramatic swings.
That’s why real estate can feel more stable and less risky than the stock market.
So, if you’re worried about your stock portfolio’s recent ups and downs, rest assured: Your home isn’t likely to experience the same volatility.
And that’s why homeownership is generally viewed as a preferred long-term investment. Even if things feel uncertain, homeowners win in the long run.
What Are Real Estate Pros Saying?
A lot of people are feeling nervous about their finances right now. But there’s one reason for you to feel more secure – your investment in something that’s stood the test of time: real estate.
