As of Aug. 30, 2026, pending home sales remained essentially unchanged from the prior week, down 0.1%. The metros with the biggest year-over-year increase in pending home sales were Milwaukee at 8.8%, Virginia Beach, Va. at 3.4%, Cincinnati at 3.2%, Chicago at 2.9% and Montgomery County, Pa. at 2.8%. As of Aug. 28, touring activity was up 7% from the start of the year. This time last year, touring activity was up 22% from the start of 2025. Meanwhile, new listings of U.S. homes for sale rose 2.1% from a…
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Remodel of the Week: Hyperpeak Remodeling
Located in Washington, Utah, Hyperpeak Remodeling transformed this outdated home into a refreshed living space. Challenges emerged during the renovation, such as overlapping stages and delays on construction material deliveries. Removing existing cabinets, flooring and bathroom fixtures had to be done carefully to preserve the rest of the home. Despite such challenges, the company was determined to deliver the client’s vision of a modernized version of their existing home. Every room was updated with new flooring, paint, fixtures and finishes without compromising the existing home’s layout. The result is a…
Read MoreWhy the largest generation is choosing to stay and renovate
Baby boomers, ranging from 60 to 80 years old, are America’s largest group of both homeowners and homebuyers. According to recent Redfin data, this generation holds nearly twice the share of large homes compared to millennial families with small children, but the reasoning is not what we would expect. Baby boomers are choosing to stay in their homes and upgrade due to an increase in multigenerational living. With rising economic costs, a difficult job market and a competitive housing economy, young adults are either struggling to move out of their…
Read MoreConstruction jobs increase in 28 states
In 2026, seasonally adjusted construction employment rose in 28 states from June to July. According to the Associated General Contractors of America’s (AGC) analysis of BLS data from Aug. 21, Illinois added the most construction jobs during this time period, at 3,200 jobs. Ohio led closely behind with 3,000, followed by California with 2,900, Florida with 2,900 and Louisiana with 2,300. For the first seven months of 2026 combined, compared to January-July 2025, the value of construction starts, not seasonally adjusted, climbed 5.9% year-to-date (YTD). However, residential starts decreased 17%…
Read MoreRemodel of the Week: Silver Oak Remodel
Silver Oak Remodel transformed a dark home with a segmented floor plan into a warm, open retreat. The result is filled with natural light, thoughtful craftsmanship and timeless design. Located in Brookfield, GA, the original home’s layout offered little light, limited storage, and poor flow for the clients. The clients hoped for an open layout that encouraged visibility and improved daily function. The remodeler created a design direction centered on clean lines, warm textures and simplicity. To enhance functionality, more storage was added throughout the space. Each piece of custom cabinetry…
Read MoreWhy you should join our free live webinar
In today’s housing market, general contractors and remodelers face a persistent dilemma: how to scale revenue without stretching their existing businesses past their limits. The answer increasingly lies in targeted, high-margin residential niches, none more lucrative right now than bathroom remodeling. Driven by accelerating aging-in-place demand and a national shift toward practical home upgrades, bathroom renovations offer swift turnarounds and reliable profit margins. Yet entering or expanding within this category without a clear blueprint can quickly lead to operational friction and costly missteps. That is why the upcoming Lunch &…
Read MoreHomeowners prioritize smart upgrades over design trends
While design trends come and go, one theme remains: Homeowners are prioritizing upgrades that have long-lasting value. Rather than chasing aesthetic trends, contractors, designers and remodelers are recognizing a growing sense of urgency for functional, practical renovations among their clients. Flexible spaces are replacing single-purpose rooms as more homeowners work from home or need rooms that can be adapted into guest rooms. The kitchen remains one of the strongest places to invest, but the trend is less about oversized features and more about better function. Homeowners are choosing deeper drawers,…
Read MoreHere’s what 20 years of data reveals about remodeling industry
New research from Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies analyzed 20 years’ worth of data within the remodeling industry. According to the analysis, U.S. remodeling activity increased significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2023, homeowners spent over $600 billion annually making improvements, replacing broken systems, repairing damage or conducting routine maintenance on their properties, up from $400 billion in 2019. As for industry growth, the number of residential remodeling contractor establishments grew by a quarter between 2017 and 2022, reaching over 128,000 businesses. The geographic distribution of remodeling establishments…
Read MoreRemodel of the Week: Blue Sound Construction
Blue Sound Construction had great bones to work with in this renovation, but the project needed a contemporary makeover. The original structure was designed by architect Ralph Anderson and the builder wanted to preserve as much of his spirit as possible in the renovation. A new floating staircase with solid wood treads was rerouted into a doug fir stringer; a true testament to craftsmanship. Throughout the stairs and living area walls, custom-made wood slats elongate the home, while replacing the original tambour panels added texture. Hot-rolled steel fireplaces add a…
Read MoreDaily living elevations drive Texas’ kitchen renovation activity
Texas is one of the three states driving up renovation activity, according to a recent analysis from the National Association of Home Builders. In Dallas, kitchen renovations are primarily driven by homeowners’ desire to enhance their daily routines, rather than strictly related to aesthetics. Homeowners want kitchens that support cooking, entertaining, storage and work-from-home routines while still looking cohesive with the rest of their residence. One of the top trends driving kitchen renovation activity is more hidden, smarter storage. Storage is one of the strongest reasons homeowners remodel a kitchen.…
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