Let's assume a couple has the down payment and good credit that would allow them to buy a home.  We'll compare some alternatives to see where their best outcome may be.

If a person put $6125 in a certificate of deposit that earned 2% annually, it would be worth $6,762 in five years and the profit would be taxed as ordinary income. 

If a person could take a little more risk and pick the right stock, the $6,125 might grow to $7,817 and the profit would be taxed at favorable long-term capital gains rates if they held the stock for more than one year.

On the other hand, if the $6,125 were used as a down payment for a $175,000 home that went up in value only 1% per year, the equity would grow to $30,575 in the same five year period of time based on appreciation and amortization.  In most cases, the gains on principal residences are excluded from income tax subject to limits.

The difference is dramatic and is one more reason that buyers should be taking advantage of the great selection of homes, the lower prices and incredibly low interest rates to fix thier cost of housing for years to come.  There may never be a better time to buy a home than now.

Seems that the odds are that investing in real estate would be a good bet moving forward.