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 for home renovation and repair will increase by 2.5% to reach a record $526 billion by the first quarter of 2026. Joint Center for Housing Studies
• [New] AB 1294 will create a single, statewide application process for new home construction in California, making it faster, cheaper, and easier for home builders to complete. California YIMBY
• [New] Vacation rentals are still considered by many to be a home-away-from-home option, but the reality in 2026 is that travelers do not want to stay just anywhere, especially if a destination is exposed to hurricanes, flooding, wildfires, or other climate-related disruptions. StayFi
• [New] New Hampshire needs 90,000 new housing units by 2040, as home prices climb to $535K vs. ~ $103K median income, highlighting how supply shortages are pushing affordability further out of reach. Churchill Mortgage
• [New] The national average home price is expected to edge up 0.9% from 2026 to $695,094 in 2027, subject to an upward revision if the current oil shock and associated inflation end up being short lived. BNN Bloomberg
• [New] With national house prices forecast to rise 7.7% in 2026 and Brisbane's median house value hitting $1,175,981 in February, the traditional advice of buy and hold is being challenged by a new reality. Big News Network.com
• [New] As Utah continues to experience rapid population growth and rising housing costs, housing policy will remain central to how communities across the Wasatch Region plan for the future. Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities
• [New] The passage of HCR6 represents an important acknowledgement that closing the growing gap between housing supply and demand in Utah will require coordinated statewide leadership and stronger alignment across the policies that shape how housing is planned and delivered. Wasatch Advocates for Livable Communities
• [New] The cost of houses in Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, Adelaide and Hobart is expected to outpace annualised wage growth - 3.4% last year - by the end of 2026. SBS News
• [New] Singapore uses smart technologies to plan, develop and manage newer Housing & Development Board (HDB) towns to create better living environments for residents. Centre for Liveable Cities Knowledge Hub
• [New] SINGAPORE - Nearly 29,000 households living in HDB flats across Singapore will get upgrades to their neighbourhoods under two schemes. ST
• [New] The latest batch of Silver Upgrading Programme projects will commence in the second half of 2026, upgrading 10 precincts for 9,000 households. ST
• [New] Leading End-user: Households are projected to dominate, holding approximately 73% share in 2026, driven by sustained home-cooking trends, rising family wellness prioritization, and direct-to-consumer accessibility. Persistence Market Research
• [New] The Government Push: New standards will require solar panels to be automatically fitted in most newly built homes in England. youth4planet
• [New] The READI-Home Innovation Challenge presents a valuable opportunity for device developers to engage early with FDA and shape regulatory strategy for home-use technologies aimed at reducing readmissions. FDA Law Blog
• [New] Low-income households will be worst-hit after crude oil prices surged to more than $114 a barrel earlier in 2026, alongside increased shipping costs, insurance fees and delivery delays. UN News
• [New] The New York City Housing and Preservation Development Department requires Enterprise Green Communities or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold certification for all new construction and substantial rehabilitation projects that it finances. ESG Dive
• [New] Recent estimates suggest a shortfall of more than 200,000 homes by 2030. The Times
• [New] Median house prices will increase in most capital cities, putting further pressure on borrowers. SBS News
• [New] House prices in two cities will lift by more than $50,000 by the end of 2026 despite rate hikes putting a handbrake on borrowing power. Sky News Australia

Last updated: 25 April 2026