Global Scans · Homes · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The number of smart homes is expected to grow further and by 2020 it is expected 46.2 million homes in the US and 44.9 million in Europe will be classed as smart homes. By 2022 there could be nearly 500 smart devices that can be connected to a smart home.

• [New] 80% of homeowners expect home prices in their area to rise in 2026. housingwire
• [New] Rising home insurance costs are intensifying housing affordability pressures, with premiums up 24% since 2021 and most homeowners expecting further increases in 2026. housingwire
• [New] Nearly all homeowners surveyed - 93% - expect climate-driven extreme weather to damage their homes within the next three years. housingwire
• [New] By 2026, home batteries will be more about function. Energy Matters
• [New] In 2026, many solar households will no longer have a fixed cap on how much energy they can export at all times. Energy Matters
• [New] Home-based care will play an even more critical role across the post-acute and chronic care continuum in 2026. CareVoyant
• [New] The home care and home health care industry will continue its rapid evolution in 2026, driven by demographic shifts, workforce constraints, expanding care models, regulatory complexity, and increasing pressure to reduce the total cost of care. CareVoyant
• [New] Home health care in 2026 will be defined by rising demand for home-based services, persistent workforce shortages, expanding higher-acuity care, and increasing regulatory complexity. CareVoyant
• [New] In 2026, remote monitoring will shift from a niche solution for high-risk patients to a standard component of discharge planning, empowering individuals to recover safely at home. Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare
• [New] Smart home gadgets are a big category at CES, and consumers could expect a string of new robot vacuum cleaners, smart locks, security cameras, and even humanoids. Stocktwits
• [New] Posts on X from users like Farzad predict useful humanoid robots by 2026, expensive initially but ubiquitous by 2040, transforming work and home. WebProNews
• [New] Cutting bureaucratic red tape could lower costs by up to 61%, enabling 20 million more U.S. families to install solar by 2040 and save $1.2 trillion on energy bills. Yahoo News
• [New] A new report has cast a spotlight on a simple solution that could allow millions more U.S. households to take advantage of home solar. Yahoo News
• [New] Home sales across Canada are forecast to rise modestly, with price growth staying fairly contained. Mortgages for Less
• [New] The National Association of Realtors released a forecast predicting that in 2026 home sales will increase by 14%. The Independent
• [New] 2026 will see the median listing price of homes to increase by 4%. Rate
• [New] About 88% of prospective home buyers plan to buy a home in 2026 despite delays caused by high costs and economic uncertainty. WDIV
• [New] Home wellness technology is seeing rapid adoption, with mental wellness apps expected to reach $17.5 billion by 2030 and sleep tech growing to $68.8 billion by 2032. Netguru
• [New] Home wellness tech accelerates adoption: Mental wellness apps will reach $17.5 B by 2030 while sleep tech grows to $68.8 B by 2032, as consumers prioritize preventive health solutions at home. Netguru
• [New] Long-term US yields could rise as inflation expectations climb, spilling over into higher European bond yields and raising borrowing costs for households and firms. ABN AMRO Bank
• [New] Looking at transactions, UK Finance has said that it expects around 1.20 million house sales to take place in 2026 and 2027, down from 1.21 million in 2025. The Gazette
• [New] Federal cutbacks to funding for Medicaid and New York's Essential Plan will directly reduce spending throughout the health industry - and especially in the home health subsector that particularly relies upon the Medicaid program. Office of the New York City Comptroller Mark Levine
• [New] New York City begins FY 2026 facing unprecedented risks to Federal funding flowing through its budget and going to its public hospitals, public housing, subways and transit systems, nonprofits, and people. Office of the New York City Comptroller Mark Levine

Last updated: 10 January 2026