California legislature just passed the bill SB 1117, which restructures how fees are paid for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). The current law exempts ADUs under 750 square feet from local impact fees. However, projects over 750 square feet are required to pay the full impact fee per square foot. The bill proposes a marginal fee structure instead. AIA California supports this measure, citing that it would increase demand for design services and improve project feasibility. SB 1117 currently awaits Governor Newsom’s signature. “Homeowners and builders across California have made accessory dwelling…
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Daily 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.…
Read MoreHomeowners plan for major investments within next 5 years
New research found that 66% of homeowners are planning for major investments within the next five years. Major investments entail many goals, from a big renovation or system upgrade to preparing a home for an eventual sale. Major renovation projects are a reflection of homeowners choosing to remodel and improve their forever home, rather than relocate. “Economic pressures, including inflation, high interest rates and income uncertainty, are likely driving this stay-put, let’s-just-improve-our-home mentality,” said Tammy Crosby, CEO of The House Designers in Monroe, Conn. Read Full Article
Read MoreHow builder size impacts material costs
A majority of builders agree that building a home is 15% more expensive now than it was this time last year. According to the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) July 2026 NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), builders feel the pain of these increases, but especially the smaller builders. The HMI results aligned with reality, with 28.4% of builders reporting that common material prices increased by 5% to 9.99%. Analysis of July’s PPI indicated that the price of goods increased 6.7% year over year. “Not all builders experienced the…
Read MorePending home sales soften as summer winds down
According to a new Redfin analysis, home buying is softening as summer winds down. Pending home sales fell 1.3% week over week, while new U.S. home listings rose 1.2%. Home-buying demand remains strong in California’s Bay Area and South Florida. However, an opportunity remains as summer winds down: New home listings and slower demand could draw out more potential home buyers. Touring activity remains up 10% from the start of the year, as of Aug. 15, 2026. “Some homeowners have been waiting for mortgage rates to fall and demand to…
Read MorePending home sale tour activity up 12%
According to a Redfin analysis, as of Aug. 8, 2026, touring activity for pending home sales is up 12% from the start of the year. U.S. pending home sales edged up 0.4% week over week during the four weeks leading up to August 9 on a seasonally adjusted basis, offering a boost to this summer’s slow housing market. Pending sales remain lower, but the latest weekly uptick may reflect normal week-to-week changes, showing signs of a steadying market. On a year-over-year basis, pending sales are down 1.6%. While rising mortgage rates…
Read MoreSmart shower trends
As summer comes to a close, clients are looking to refresh their bathrooms, especially showers, with features focusing on wellness, luxury and convenience. At Innovative Building Services in Maryland, Rich Haislip, Founder and President, says that homeowners are looking to expand their showers’ footprint. Aligned with the uptick in wellness and self-care features in home design and remodels, Haislip notes that this decision also pairs well with inclusivity. “The best of these come with steam units and bench seating for an even more relaxing experience,” said Haislip. “Zero-threshold entries ensure…
Read MoreNostalgia drives new renovation design trend
More homeowners are renovating to incorporate their personal story into their spaces. Interior designers have seen more homeowners pull inspiration from their childhoods, heavily influenced by nostalgia. While many retro- or vintage-inspired interior design elements are somewhat outdated, some are making a return this year as homeowners seek to bring back fond memories from their past. “We are seeing a massive return to crafted, handmade items like macramé wall hangings, crochet blankets and embroidered textiles,” said Andy Yates of Andy Yates Design. “It ties heavily into that chic ‘Grandma-core’ or…
Read MoreMassachusetts housing bill approves over 2,000 ADUs
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey’s administration announced that municipalities statewide have approved 854 accessory dwelling units (ADUs) during the first six months of 2026, following the signing of the Affordable Homes Act. This brings the statewide total to 2,084 approved ADUs since the start of 2025. “We wanted to make it easier… to build ADUs because we knew they were an effective tool for building the type of housing people need and lowering costs,” said Healey. “We’re seeing homeowners across Massachusetts take advantage of this new opportunity, whether it’s creating space…
Read MoreRemodel of the Week: Amplified Renovations
Amplified Renovations completed a full transformation of the kitchen and dining area in this Northwest Portland, Ore., home. The six-week-long project involved structural modifications and detailed coordination to deliver a clean, modern result that feels both intentional and timeless. The original kitchen and dining areas were divided by multiple interior walls, while a side room was used primarily for storage. The previous layout limited natural light, obstructed views and made the space feel smaller and more compartmentalized. The remodel focused on removing physical and visual barriers while reinforcing the home…
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