CHICAGO (Realtor.org) – Safety and educational quality are among the reasons why 65 percent of Americans would rather own a home than rent one, according to Fannie Mae's national housing survey.

Of those Americans, 43 percent state that safety is a primary reason to buy, and 33 percent say they think schools are better in neighborhoods where most homes are owned by their residents.

However, buyers and renters are more cautious in today’s economic climate than in the past, according to the survey, with 23 percent of renters reporting that they will buy a home but later than they once thought.

A full 70 percent of respondents believe buying a home is one of the safest investments available, but 60 percent think that it will be more difficult for them to secure a mortgage than it was for their parents.