Is buying a home still the best way to build wealth?

There’s no question that homeownership in the United States has long been a proven vehicle for building wealth. In nearly every neighborhood, you'll hear stories of couples who bought a home decades ago, raised their children and eventually “cashed out,” walking away with a bundle.

But with elevated mortgage rates and stagnant home prices in many regions, the decision to rent or buy has become more complex—especially when compared to another common wealth-building strategy: investing in the stock market.

To explore this, KTLA analyzed single-family home sales data from the past decade and compared it to the performance of major market indexes. We also spoke with experts in business, real estate and consumer finance. Here’s what we found.

The case for homeownership

Over the past 10 year