Despite rising prices and low inventory, the majority of Americans – 67 percent – continue to believe that it’s a good time to buy a home, according to the Gallup U.S. Economic Confidence Index.

Not surprisingly, 74 percent of residents in the West are optimistic that home prices will continue to rise.

Those in the West are also more likely to prefer real estate as a long-term investment over stocks, bonds, gold or savings compared with the rest of the country.

Overall, Americans remain confident in the U.S. economy, although the Confidence Index has been declining in recent weeks.