Less than a decade after the U.S. housing bust almost blew the world economy to smithereens, Americans are once again looking at real estate as their best long-term investment — better than gold, stocks, savings accounts and bonds.

That’s according to a Gallup poll taken this month in which 30 percent said real estate is the best long-term investment compared with 24 percent who said the same about stocks, and 24 percent who said gold.

Americans aren’t quite as bullish on homeownership as they were in 2002, when half said real estate was the best investment. But 38 percent of those with incomes of $75,000 said real estate was their best long-term bet, followed by stocks (3o percent) and gold (18 percent). Gold was most popular among those with incomes of less than $30,000.

Source: Gallup.com & Inman News