Equities Have Surpassed Housing in Household Net Worth

As stock holdings grow, your home now accounts for a smaller share of total household wealth compared to previous years.

Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Residential

Isometric editorial illustration showing a wooden house block beside a polished metallic coin, representing shifting household wealth. — Corporate equities now comprise nearly 40 percent of total U.S. household net worth, officially outpacing real estate for the first time in recent years. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Is now a good time for individuals to prioritize stock investments over owning a home?

Corporate equities have reached 39.9 percent of total United States household net worth, while owners' equity in residential real estate has slipped to 19.3 percent. This shift in wealth composition follows significant market returns that have outpaced housing gains since the third quarter of 2022.

Why it matters

The change reflects how financial market performance now carries more weight in your overall household financial picture than property ownership. This divergence highlights a pivot in how families accumulate and maintain wealth in the current economic environment.

Total household net worth now stands at $185.65 trillion, with equity exposure rising 12.6 percentage points and housing's share falling 3.5 percentage points since the third quarter of 2022.

The players

Federal Reserve

The central banking system of the United States that tracks and reports on national household wealth and financial health.

The details

Owners' equity in residential real estate is calculated by subtracting total mortgage debt from the current market value of a home. The recent shift is primarily attributed to strong market returns, with the S&P 500 closing at 7,764.70 and the Nasdaq at 27,122.09 as of September 21, 2026. While home prices have seen modest growth, rising 1.5 percent in the year through June 2026, corporate stock holdings have grown to represent a dominant portion of the $185.65 trillion in total net worth.

Q3 2005: Real estate exposure peaked at 24.1 percent.
Q3 2022: Start of the current divergence in household wealth.
June 2026: Case-Shiller home price index annual rise of 1.5 percent.
September 21, 2026: Nasdaq and S&P 500 market close.
December 2026: Next Financial Accounts report release.

Residential
Sept. 18
30-Year Mortgage Rates Rose to 6.95 Percent
Residential
Sept. 23
30-Year Mortgage Rates Rose to 7.12 Percent
Commercial
Sept. 21
Commercial Lending Market Became More Selective

The Home Front

This trend represents a pivot from the housing-heavy wealth profile seen during the 2005 real estate peak. It underscores how the household financial landscape has transitioned from being primarily driven by home equity to being heavily influenced by equity market performance.

Check your annual property tax statements or mortgage documents to keep a current record of your home's equity position relative to your investment portfolio. Because your net worth composition is shifting, consider meeting with a financial professional to discuss how this balance affects your long-term goals.

The takeaway

While your home remains a significant asset, its share of your net worth is currently eclipsed by equity holdings. Review your personal financial statements this quarter to ensure your asset allocation aligns with your family goals during this period of market expansion.

What happens next

The Federal Reserve will provide an updated analysis of household wealth distribution in its next Financial Accounts report, scheduled for release in December 2026.