Despite mortgage rates continually dropping throughout 2025, much of the market is looking to upgrade their current spaces rather than moving. Consumers shifting their focus mean that remodelers must be ready to tap into the current market moment. Advisory from Daniels Design & Remodeling is clear guidance to their clients on why remodeling is the right move for them. This form of conversation to clients before they even make a phone call sets remodelers up for a productive conversation. Their expertise allows for expectations to be set, like on terms…
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The Remodeling Labor Market
The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) released a study on the role immigrant labor plays on the remodeling industry. While immigrants account for an estimated one in five workers nationally,in the construction trades they represent about one in three workers. With the recent tightening of immigration laws, standards and work permits the team at JCHS predicts this could potentially strain the building and remodeling labor market. This is especially true in large metro areas. Their research shows that in the seven metros that issued at least 150,000 building…
Read MoreRemodel of the Week: Alder House
SHED Architecture reimagines a 1990s home with passive building techniques and contemporary style. Located in Seattle, Wash., the 2,820-square-foot project planned for a deeper immersion with its ecological surroundings. SHED worked in collaboration with Thomas Jacobson Construction, structural engineer Swenson Say Fagét and energy modeling from Atvaga Building Modeling for this project. Modernizing the building required the reconfiguration of living spaces. This includes opening up the kitchen to the other living spaces and expanding the square footage by 20 feet. This transformed the home’s livability. On the exterior the cornice was replaced with…
Read MoreTariffs on Furniture and Kitchen Cabinets Delayed
Projected to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026, the White House announced the delay of tariffs on furniture and kitchen cabinets. In October, the White House imposed a 25% tariff on kitchen cabinets, furniture and vanities with a planned increase in January of furniture to 30% and 50% of kitchen cabinet and vanity levies. By invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (Act) this move extends potential increases in tariffs for upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for another year. A White House fact sheet stated, “The…
Read MoreFed’s rate cut boosts existing construction projects
Contractors are cautiously optimistic after the Federal Reserve delivered its third interest-rate cut of 2025, lowering its benchmark rate by another 25 basis points. The move reinforces a gradual easing trend that developers hope will reduce borrowing costs as 2026 approaches. Industry leaders say the cut boosts confidence and supports projects already in planning, but it is not large enough to immediately spur a wave of new nonresidential construction starts. While planning activity dipped slightly in November, it remains significantly higher than last year, suggesting continued momentum even as financing…
Read MoreWhen will housing prices drop?
New data from Realtor.com shows the U.S. housing market is cooling, with homes staying on the market longer and prices softening in many areas. In November 2025, the typical home spent 64 days for sale, three days longer than a year earlier and nine days longer than in 2022. Price trends vary by location, but nationally there are clear signs of easing: annual price declines were recorded in 28 of the 50 largest metro areas, while six others saw flat prices. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the median home price…
Read More5 home renovation trends that Interior Designers are ditching in 2026
As 2026 approaches, interior designers are urging homeowners to rethink certain once-popular renovation trends that are now falling out of favor. Experts Jennifer Cataldo, Tennille Burnup and Alyssa Anselmo say flat, builder-grade drywall is being replaced by textured, handcrafted wall finishes like limewash and Venetian plaster, which add warmth and dimension. Waterfall kitchen islands, long seen as a modern luxury statement, are also losing appeal in favor of more custom, inviting designs that mix materials, incorporate furniture-style bases and emphasize subtlety over flash. Light blonde oak is giving way to…
Read MoreWhat’s Hot in Construction and Interior Remodeling
In 2025, homebuilding and remodeling will be shaped by a strong focus on sustainability, smart technology, flexibility and personal comfort. Smart-home features are now expected rather than optional, with AI-driven lighting, climate control, energy management and integrated wiring becoming standard. At the same time, eco-friendly construction leads the market, with solar-ready roofs, energy-efficient windows, low-VOC finishes, high-performance insulation and water-saving systems increasingly built into both new homes and renovations. Natural and reclaimed materials, biophilic design elements and indoor-outdoor connections reflect homeowners’ desire for healthier, nature-connected living environments. Design trends are…
Read MoreStable Construction Labor Market
Analysis from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shows that the construction labor market remained relatively unchanged through October. This information originates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). However, the current level of open jobs is down measurably from two years ago. This decline aligns with the decrease in residential construction activity. While majorly unchanged the labor market was at 7.67 million in October compared 7.66 million the month prior. There is some notice that Federal Reserve’s decision to reduce interest rate…
Read MoreSingle-Family Construction Loan Volume Rises in the Third Quarter
Single-family construction lending strengthened in the third quarter, even as the broader real estate lending environment continued to cool. Loans for 1–4 family construction rose to $91.2 billion, the first annual increase in more than two years, showing a small but meaningful uptick in residential building activity. Overall AD&C lending, however, continued its decline for the seventh consecutive quarter, dropping to $463 billion, driven mostly by reduced lending for other types of real estate development. Despite the modest improvement in single-family construction loans, lending levels remain far below historical highs…
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