Study: 81 percent still think home is best investment

Despite the housing bubble and subsequent crash, more than 80 percent of Americans still think buying a home is the best long-term investment a person can make.

That's according to a recent Pew Research Center study, which found that 37 percent strongly agreed with that idea and 44 percent somewhat agreed with it.

About half of homeowners in the survey said they believe their home has dropped in value since the recession began, while 31 percent said it worth about the same. Seventeen percent said they though their home had increased in value over the last few years.

Of the renters in the survey, 81 percent said they intend to buy a house at some point. Only 17 percent they plan on continuing to rent.