Homeownership remains very alluring to most Americans — including those who currently rent. Among adults who rent, fully 81% would like to buy a house at some point in the future. Only 17% say they would prefer to continue to rent. This is in spite of the fact that renters (31%) are less likely than homeowners (41%) to strongly agree that purchasing a home is the best long-term investment a person can make. Most renters rent as a result of circumstances. Fully 75% say that they cannot afford to own a home right now, while 24% say that they could buy a home but choose to rent instead. Read More

Russell Heimlich  is a former web developer at Pew Research Center.