Americans still feel homeownership makes financial sense

Despite lingering instability in the national real estate market following the recession, a survey from the National Association of Realtors finds that most Americans still feel that buying a home makes sense.

According to the poll, 95 percent of homeowners and 72 percent of renters said that owning a home made more sense than renting over several years. In addition, 82 percent of current homeowners said they would prefer to buy a home if they had to relocate in the next few months.

"Homeowners and renters agree that home ownership benefits individuals and families, strengthens our communities, and is integral to our nation's economy," said National Association of Realtors president Ron Phipps.

However, respondents also realized that buying a home in the current economy may not be easy. Among renters who were polled, 60 percent said they saw job security and tight lending conditions to be an obstacle.

Job concerns are less of a factor in the Houston real estate market than in many other cities. A recent report from ABC News using data from Moody's Analytics and Monster.com listed Houston as one of the strongest cities in the country for job opportunities.