Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate 

Respectfully, this question presents a false equivalency.   Bank investors are institutional investors, and generally not the everyday consumer shopping for the best investment facilities.* 

More to your point, banks offer investment products that may, more accurately, be weighed against real estate investment.   I suppose you'd need to factor the intended duration of the investment and its respective tax benefits and liabilities.  Fixed income securities products--backed by the full faith and credit of the US government--could be weighed against real estate for a comparable hold period.  

For example, you can easily gain a 5% return on a number of 5-year products, but real estate may offer tax benefits in addition to whatever appreciation may or may not occur over the same period. 

If a lifestyle choice is involved, however, you can't live in a CD or a Treasury Bill.  

*(I'm not sure if you were suggesting an equity investment in banks versus real estate.   I didn't address the question in this regard because equity investors are typically more diversified). 

Real Estate is always the best investment IMHO

It can be, or it may not be. There are as many answers to that question as grains of sand at the beach. It depends.

I light of the recent bank failures (due to the interest rates) it's a no brainer Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate . I think we are going to see a lot more just in the next 30 days.

They are very different types of investments. Apples and oranges. And I don't think people make such binary decisions. It's more a question of stocks versus real estate... and each carries its own risks.

Hard assets are best for long-term wealth preservation and growth

my wife says, buy land they aren't making any more of it.

Hello Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate it depends on the timing and the investor. However, in the long term real estate is better investment.

I'd say real estate is a more solid investment, Fred.

Who can argue with the principal of shelter? It is a necessary. To own or rent forms the two camps. LAND is a constant. Everything else comes and goes. Long term investing is near guaranteed to make sense for many reasons. In the end, you own, absolved from rent or owning obligations and paying taxes & utilities is the ending.  Short term, not so much

No-one should be asking US that question...

I say that over time, real estate has historically been an amazing investment.  There may be dips and valleys, but overall in Oregon, since 1991, home values have increased over 500%.  What interest rate at a bank could top that?

I am not a fan of Banks.  Years ago, I moved from a Big Bad Bank to a small local credit union.  I do not feel my money is safe anywhere. 

My investments are safest in real estate Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate 

Well, I had a well-thought-out response but, decided to scroll down, which I rarely do!! Sir Brian L. Sirota, Esq. most accurately summed up my response. I agree wholeheartedly. 

And, for a short answer, I tell buyers (including my hubby) all the time, real estate should be a big part of your portfolio but, I still encourage diversified investments!

Lastly, for a story (a short one, I promise) - I am preparing to list a home I sold in 2019 - less than 4 years later - they will be realizing a nearly 40% return. They do also realize that real estate has been a great investment for them!!

The top 1% have the majority of their holdings in real estate.  Heck, Zelensky has several homes worth into the millions each.

Short answer: excellent location without natural hazard risks is a good real estate investment.

Buying Real Estate is all about timing and personal needs.  I personally wouldn't buy an investment property at this time.  High prices and interest rates makes it virtually impossible to get enough of a return on they investment dollar.  It is always a good time to buy a place to live but some times are better than others.  Renting is paying for someone else's investment.  Leverage allows the buyer to pay very little to control a lot.

To invest in banks is to own bank stock. You cannot compare that investment with real estate of any kind unless it is real estate that has been securitized such a REITs. Even then, it is like saying is it better to invest in one stock vs. another stock.

To borrow from a bank or deposit funds into a bank is not an investment unless you consider a bank saving vehicle to be an investment... which cannot be compared to investing in real estate.

Compared to the S&P 500, housing has done historically very well in terms of predictable returns

I have no investment in banks, thankfully.

No broad correct answer to this one! One man's crap is another man's treasure. For the most part people are not savvy investors so real estate may be a better solution since inflation can cure many mistakes.

Both can be good investments, both can be very bad.

I prefer to have my money in something that I have more control over and something that I understand.

For the banker, he knew when to bail out and sell his stock, unfortunately everyone else did not.  Best to be in control.

Unfortunately for the banker, he may be spending most of his fortune on legal fees, and maybe a bit of prison time.