I was taught to always bring a hostess gift when spending the night in another’s home - so we bring flowers, or candy, or some other small gift that I know the host/hostess will like. Call me crazy, but not only do I think hostess gifts are polite, I also like shopping for some small gift that I think my host will enjoy.
I think it’s rude not to bring something, just as I think it’s rude not to send thank-you notes. For those keeping score: yeah, I’m an old fuddy-duddy and I was raised in the South. However, my Midwestern-born-and-bred husband was also taught to bring a hostess gift and to write thank-you notes.