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] Year-over-year spending on home renovation and repair will rise by 2.4% in early 2026 before easing to 1.9% in the third quarter of next year. Joint Center for Housing Studies
• [New] Economists have predicted a slight fall in house prices in 2026 under the weight of interest rates, the federal budget's tax reforms and declining household confidence. The Guardian
• [New] Interest rates are the main influence on the speed of price growth, when asked on Insiders about projections house prices could fall up to 10% from their peak before steadying and rising again. The Guardian
• [New] First home buyers who recently purchased using the Albanese government's 5% deposit scheme are most at risk of falling into financial stress, since they borrowed large amounts and have seen mortgage rates rise and, in Sydney and Melbourne, home prices fall. MacroBusiness
• [New] Florida counties like Palm Beach and Miami-Dade have numerous homes worth more than $250,000 and even $500,000, meaning they likely will not face as sharp a decline in revenue. Insurance Journal
• [New] Target 9 b: By 2031, all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander households: within discrete communities receive essential services that meet or exceed the relevant jurisdictional standard. AIHW Indigenous HPF
• [New] By 2050, 92% of homes will overheat, peak river flows will be up to 45% higher and water supply shortfalls could exceed five billion liters per day. / UK Engineering and Technology Magazine
• [New] Australia's undersupply of homes will push prices back up once interest rates ease and the tax shock passes. The Guardian
• [New] Home healthcare settings are emerging as the fastest-growing end-user segment through 2033, as aging populations increase demand for remote rehabilitation and assisted living solutions. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The NT Remote Housing Federation Funding Agreement will deliver up to 2,700 new homes and aims to halve overcrowding in 73 communities and 27 Town Camps. / Australia AIHW Indigenous HPF
• [New] Target 9 a: By 2031, increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in appropriately sized housing to 88%. AIHW Indigenous HPF
• [New] Ensuring access to suitable housing is key to achieving equitable health outcomes and meeting national commitments under Closing the Gap, which includes a target for 88% of First Nations people to live in appropriately sized housing by 2031. AIHW Indigenous HPF
• [New] While electricity from public DC fast chargers would be the most utilized in urban areas, in rural and suburban areas, L1 and L2 chargers in single-family homes are expected to meet the majority of EV electricity needs. Energy.gov
• [New] Heading into 2026 the consensus from government and industry data points to a partial recovery in single-family activity: starts are expected to bottom and trend upward as mortgage rates moderate and builders work through excess speculative inventories in several markets. Thunderbird Products
• [New] 27% of adults have served as caregivers in the past 12 months, 21% of adults are currently caregiving, and nearly 60% of adults in the United States expects to be a caregiver for a family member or friend in the future. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Although 70% of older adults are expected to develop physical or cognitive disabilities that are severe enough to require long-term care, nearly half do not anticipate long-term care needs, and 62% incorrectly believe Medicare will pay for nursing home care. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Victorian customers on standing offers could expect a price fall, with bills expected to fall by 5% on average for households and 6% for businesses. The Guardian
• [New] South Australian households on a flat rate could expect an increase of 1.4%. The Guardian
• [New] The online pharmacies segment is esteemed to grow at an anticipated CAGR of 16.8% from 2026 to 2034 with the increasing availability of biosimilars that can be self-administered at home, such as subcutaneous injections for autoimmune diseases. Market Data Forecast
• [New] The Slovak government plans to develop energy communities through a partnership with the Energy Communities Cluster of Slovakia, aiming to increase energy self-sufficiency in cities, municipalities, and households. Energy Digest

Last updated: 06 June 2026