A recent study from EnergySage revealed that solar panels could also boost home resale values by tens of thousands of dollars. Homes with owned solar panels tend to sell for five to 10% more than homes without solar panels. When applied to today’s average California home prices, solar panel installation could significantly increase a property’s overall worth. According to EnergySage, “For the average $790,000 California home, that’s an eye-popping $39,500 to $79,000 boost in resale value.” Read More
Read MoreMonth: February 2026
Ohio builder and remodeler elected as 2026 NAHB Chairman
The 2026 chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) was elected at the International Builders’ Show. Bill Owens a remodeler and home builder based in Ohio was selected for the leadership position. Owens is the founder and principal of Owens Construction, a design+build firm he founded in 1982. Throughout his 40 year career, Owens held roles in NAHB leadership structure at the local, state and national levels. Before being elected chairman, Owens served on the NAHB Leadership Council and is a member of the NAHB Board of Directors.…
Read MoreWood becomes top choice for kitchen cabinets
For the first time in recent years, wood has emerged as the top choice for kitchen cabinets, selected by 29% of renovating homeowners, marking a six percentage point jump from 2025. The previously popular sleek, minimalistic white tone in kitchens is being replaced with wood finishes for kitchen cabinets. Medium wood tones are becoming increasingly popular, followed by light wood then dark wood in 2026 kitchen remodeling trends. Wood is also taking over kitchen countertops in renovations. Renovators increasingly are choosing a contrasting countertop material for kitchen islands apart from…
Read MoreRenovation influx expected in 2026
A national survey conducted by a leading research company found that, out of 2,000 homeowners, one in five have renovation or home upgrade plans in 2026. The survey found that 43% of homeowners completed a renovation in 2025, while an additional 32% report plans to renovate in 2026. Nearly six in 10 respondents said they plan to update interior spaces, while 43% cited landscaping projects. “These findings reflect how strongly homeowners connect personal fulfillment with their living spaces,” said Chris Freeborg, VP and Chief Marketing, Communications & Product Development Officer.…
Read MoreNAHB predicts remodeling growth throughout 2026
At a panel hosted by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) during the International Builders’ Show (IBS), industry experts discussed the NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI). This quarterly survey administered by the NAHB to their members reported over 50 points for 24 consecutive quarters. Their data supports that confidence in the remodeling industry is stronger than their multi-family and single-family counterparts. They predict that residential remodeling activity is expected to increase 3% in 2026 with an additional 2% in 2027. “There are many factors contributing to the continued…
Read MoreRemodel of the week: Peter Zaitzeff and Robert Dean
A Harry Bates-designed home scheduled for the wrecking ball was renovated by SERHANT Sales Director Peter Zaitzeff and Architect Robert Dean into a stylish, mid-century modern home in the East Hamptons, N.Y. Zaitzeff and his wife, Annie Dean, bought the home in 2018 with the renovation vision in mind, prompting them to step into the home renovation industry. “It was a teardown basically,” said Zaitzeff. “But we said no, the bones of the house are amazing. We were in love with it because of the pedigree—it was Harry Bates.” Beginning…
Read MoreSoftPlan AI Enhanced Render Released
SoftPlan Systems, Inc. has released an update to SoftPlan 2026 that includes new AI rendering functionality. With a single click of the mouse, SoftPlan’s AI Enhanced Render tool uses AI processing to turn any simple 3D model into a stunning, realistic rendering. SoftPlan’s latest innovation, AI Enhanced Render, can create photorealistic visuals from basic 3D concepts in minutes. Once an exterior or interior view is selected for processing, SoftPlan’s AI analyzes the lighting and materials of the design model and then generates a beautiful, lifelike image that includes complex elements…
Read MoreKitchen remodels shift towards longevity and efficiency
Kitchen remodels are drifting away from being aesthetically impressive for a moment and more towards being built for everyday work life in 2026. Homeowners researching Kitchen Remodeling are looking past dramatic finishes and focusing on layouts, materials and planning methods for daily efficiency. Kitchens are being designed with long-term use in mind, reflecting a growing understanding that a kitchen is not a showroom, but one of the hardest-working rooms in the home. The most noticeable shift in 2026 kitchen renovation design is the move away from decorative excess. Oversized islands,…
Read MoreConstruction employment stalls in December
A recently released report from the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) reported that construction job growth was limited in an estimated more than half of all metro areas. Their report cites that construction employment throughout 2025 remained stable in only 55 metro areas and declined in 129 metro areas. The largest construction employment losses were in the Las Vegas (-11 percent), New York City (-8 percent) and Riverside ( -7 percent). While the largest increase was in Washington (12 percent), Kansas City (9 percent) and Arlington ( 6 percent).…
Read More2026 Construction Outlook
Construction activity is expected to stay strong heading into 2026, with data centers, manufacturing and infrastructure projects leading the way. Contractors are still dealing with high material costs, labor shortages and tariffs, but the new tax law may offer some relief to the construction industry. Economic conditions are showing signs of improvement, though many construction companies are still facing higher costs and tighter margins. For reference, prices are rising at about 3% per year, much lower than the spikes in 2022, but still above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target. In…
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