Real Estate Voted Best Investment in 2025

As we close out 2025, the winner for the best investment is clear: Americans trust real estate more than any other investment. According to Gallup's latest poll, 37% of U.S. adults say real estate is the best long-term investment. This marks the 12th year in a row that real estate has held the top spot!

Stocks have dropped in popularity. Gold has gained some ground. But real estate stays firmly at number one.

If you've been watching your stock portfolio go up and down with every news headline, this matters. If you're wondering whether there's a better way to build wealth for you and your family, pay attention. Real estate offers something stocks and bonds can't: real property you can see and touch, monthly rental income, and a proven path to financial freedom. Ready to build wealth through Dallas-Fort Worth real estate? RFP Homes connects you with off-market exclusive investment opportunities and expert guidance to achieve your investing goals.

Let's look at why Americans keep choosing real estate and what this means for your investment future.

Why Americans Trust Real Estate More Than Stocks

The numbers tell an interesting story. Stock preference fell from 22% to just 16% in 2025. Gold jumped to 23% as people looked for safety during market uncertainty. Through all the economic ups and downs - tariffs, market crashes, recession fears - real estate stayed at the top. This isn't luck. It's based on decades of real results.

You Can See It and Touch It

Stocks are just numbers on a screen. Real estate is an actual physical object. You can drive by it. You can improve it. You can rent it out. This makes a big difference in three ways:

You're in control. Stock investors have no say in what companies do. You just hope the CEO makes good decisions. Real estate investors can improve their properties, choose better tenants, and make smart choices that directly increase their profits.

You make money four different ways. Stocks only make money when the price goes up or they pay dividends. Real estate makes money through monthly rent, property value increases, your mortgage getting paid down by tenants, and big tax breaks. All four happen at the same time.

Inflation actually helps you. When prices go up everywhere, rents go up too. Your mortgage payment stays the same, but your rental income keeps growing. This protects your money better than almost any other investment.

Rich and Middle-Class Investors Both Choose Real Estate

Here's something interesting from the Gallup poll: people at all income levels pick real estate as their top choice. Whether you make $30,000 or $300,000 a year, real estate appeals to you.

Why? Because real estate offers both safety and growth. It's stable enough for careful investors but powerful enough for serious wealth builders. Not many investments can do both.

Why Dallas-Fort Worth Makes Real Estate Investing Even Better

National data shows Americans love real estate. But the Dallas-Fort Worth market shows exactly why that love is justified.

More people keep moving here. About 100,000 new people move to DFW every year. More people means more renters and buyers. More demand means your property values and rents keep going up.

Strong rental market. DFW rental prices have grown faster than most other cities. For investors, this means steady monthly income that keeps increasing year after year.

Jobs in many industries. Dallas-Fort Worth has tech companies, hospitals, banks, warehouses, and factories. When one industry has a bad year, others stay strong. This protects your investment better than cities that depend on just one type of business.

Texas is investor-friendly. No state income tax means you keep more of your profits. Property rules favor landlords while staying fair to tenants. This makes investing easier and more profitable.

RFP Homes gives you access to off-market properties perfect for your rental portfolio or fix-and-flip projects, opportunities you won't find on the MLS.

Real Estate Creates Real Financial Freedom

The Gallup poll shows what Americans think. But it can't show how real estate actually changes lives.

Financial freedom means controlling your time. It's not about getting rich. It's about choosing how you spend your days instead of being forced to work for someone else. Real estate creates this freedom through rental income that keeps coming whether you're working, on vacation, or spending time with your kids.

How Real Estate Builds Wealth That Lasts

Monthly rent covers your bills. Let's say you own five rental properties. Each one brings in $500 profit per month after all expenses. That's $2,500 every month in passive income. For many families, that covers groceries, utilities, car payments, and insurance.

Property values go up over time. While tenants pay your mortgage, your property value typically grows every year. In fast-growing areas like Dallas-Fort Worth, values often increase even more. When you combine rising values with the mortgage paydown, wealth builds quickly.

Taxes help instead of hurt. Real estate investors get tax deductions that stock investors don't. You can deduct mortgage interest, property depreciation, repairs, and management costs. Special rules let you sell properties and avoid capital gains taxes if you buy another property. These tax breaks mean you keep more of your profits.

You're building generational wealth. A 401(k) runs out when you use it in retirement. Real estate keeps producing income forever. You can pass rental properties to your children and grandchildren. They inherit wealth that keeps paying them monthly income for their entire lives.

Moving from Stocks to Real Estate

If you're ready to stop watching your stocks bounce around and start building real wealth, the switch is easier than you think. But here's the challenge: most first-time investors make costly mistakes because they don't know what they don't know.

That's where RFP Homes comes in. We specialize in helping first-time investors get started the right way, avoiding the expensive mistakes and finding properties that actually build wealth from day one!

Different Ways to Invest in Real Estate

Regular rental properties in good Dallas-Fort Worth neighborhoods provide steady monthly income and reliable value growth. They also attract qualified tenants that will stay for extended periods of time, allowing you to reap the benefits of owning the property long term.

Fix and Flip properties let you create supplemental income. First, you buy a property that needs work at a discount. Then, you renovate it to support the market comparables in the area. Lastly, you sell the property on the retail market and net a profit for your time and services. Our investor advisors will help guide you into properties that are suitable for your expertise and targeted profit amount. 

Visit the RFP Homes marketplace to explore discounted off-market properties that come in daily, whether you're looking for rentals or value-add fix-and-flip opportunities!

Paying for Investment Properties

Many new investors think they need $100,000 in the bank to start. That's not true. Several options make real estate investing accessible:

Hard money loans focus on the property's value and profit potential, not your credit score or income. These short-term loans are ideal for fix-and-flip projects where you need quick funding to secure a deal and complete renovations fast.

Cash offers give you the strongest negotiating position. You close faster, avoid appraisal issues, and often secure better purchase prices. Many successful investors use cash from previous deals, partnerships, or lines of credit to fund their purchases.

At RFP Homes, we connect investors with off-market properties that perform well under both hard money financing and cash purchases, giving you the speed and flexibility to compete in the Dallas–Fort Worth market.

If you’d like a deeper breakdown of funding strategies, check out our related blog: How to Finance Your First Investment Property in DFW → . It covers loan options, down-payment structures, and real-world examples to help you choose the right approach for your next investment property.

Why Dallas-Fort Worth Knowledge Matters

National statistics prove real estate works. But local knowledge determines whether YOUR investment succeeds.

Dallas-Fort Worth isn't one market - it's dozens of different neighborhoods. Each one has different growth potential, rent prices, and opportunities. This is where RFP Homes' expertise becomes invaluable.

We know the DFW market inside and out. Our team lives, works, and invests in Dallas-Fort Worth. We track which neighborhoods are growing, which properties cash flow best, and where the hidden opportunities exist. This local knowledge is the difference between a good investment and a great one.

Location timing is everything. Some DFW areas are exploding with growth as new companies move in. Others offer stable, proven rental histories. RFP Homes helps you identify which neighborhoods match your goals and timeline. We're not just selling you a property - we're helping you build a strategy.

Off-market deals provide advantages. The best properties often never get listed publicly. RFP Homes gives you access to exclusive off-market deals that other investors never see. These properties typically have less competition and better prices, giving you an immediate advantage.

Analysis prevents expensive mistakes. First-time investors often miss important details like property taxes, HOA fees, insurance costs, and neighborhood rental demand. Our investor advisors walk you through every number so you understand exactly what you're buying and what returns to expect.

We connect you with the right financing. Finding the right loan can be confusing. RFP Homes works with dozens of vetted lenders who specialize in investment properties and can help you find financing that fits your situation - whether that's your first property or your tenth.

Your Next Steps Toward Financial Freedom

As 2025 ends, the message couldn't be clearer: Americans trust real estate, and the data proves they're right. The question isn't whether real estate belongs in your wealth-building plan. The question is how you'll use this proven investment to create financial freedom for yourself and your family.

RFP Homes exists to answer that question. We help investors like you get started the right way and build wealth through Dallas-Fort Worth real estate.

Take Your First Steps to Financial Freedom

Browse available properties. Check out RFP Homes' marketplace of investment properties across Dallas-Fort Worth. Filter by price, neighborhood, and investment strategy to find properties that match your goals. See what's possible when you have access to both traditional listings and exclusive off-market opportunities.

Schedule a consultation with an investor advisor. This isn't a sales pitch, it's a conversation about your financial goals and how real estate fits into your plan. Whether you're transitioning money from stocks, using savings for your first property, or exploring different investment strategies, our advisors provide honest guidance tailored to your situation.

Use our investment calculators. Before you make any decisions, run the numbers. RFP Homes' calculators show you potential cash flow, appreciation, and total returns for specific properties. Understanding the math removes emotion from the decision and ensures each investment moves you toward financial freedom.

The Best Time to Start Is Right Now

Real estate has been voted the best investment for 12 straight years. But knowing this doesn't build wealth - taking action does. Every month you wait is another month of lost rental income, lost equity building, and lost property appreciation.

RFP Homes removes the barriers that stop most people from getting started. We provide the knowledge, access, and support you need to make your first investment with confidence. You don't have to figure this out alone.

The Dallas-Fort Worth market offers exceptional opportunities for investors ready to move beyond stock market stress and into wealth-building assets you can actually control. With RFP Homes' guidance, the right property, and smart financing, you're not just buying real estate, you're building the financial freedom that changes everything for you and your family.

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