Newsletter Stories

• Goodbye cool interiors, hello earthy tones
  Throughout 2026, we have seen interior design move away from cool interiors and clean lines and instead towards spaces that feel warmer and more personal. There has been a growing emphasis on natural materials, earthy tones and pieces that bring individuality into the home. Warm, earthy tones continue to influence interiors in 2026, bringing depth […]
• Home Building Outlook
  The near-term outlook for home building is difficult, even as the long-term supply story remains favorable. Single-family construction weakened in 2025, with starts falling 6.9% to 943,000 units and 2026 data points to another soft year for the industry. Through May, single-family starts were down 6.3% on a year-to-date basis. The three-month moving average of […]
• KBIS 2027 Calls for Presenters
  The Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) is now accepting speaker submissions for NEXTStage and the LUXURY Lounge at KBIS 2027. Additionally, the KBIS Podcast Studio is seeking hosts to record live on the show floor. KBIS 2027 will be at the Las Vegas Convention Center from Feb. 2- 4, 2027. Experienced professionals are encouraged […]
• California scores most expensive mid-year home sale
  The most expensive U.S. home sale of July came from a Bel Air estate in California, known as Casa Encantada. The luxury home sold for $130 million, making it the second-most expensive home sale of 2026 so far. The other three top sales also came from Southern California: a beachfront Malibu mansion, an architectural gem […]
• Mortgage rates average 6.67%
  According to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Survey (PMS) released on Aug. 13, 2026, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.67%, a slight decrease from the previous week’s average of 6.69%. “Mortgage rates remained relatively stable this week at 6.67%,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “Housing affordability has improved from a year ago and […]
• The importance of curb appeal in home purchases
  New data from John Burns Research and Consulting found that 34% of homeowners said that curb appeal played a significant role in home purchases. According to the New Homes Trends Institute, 15% said that lack of curb appeal was a deal-breaker. Most potential buyers will not make it past the front yard. From the 1,240 […]
• Landmark housing law urges for zoning guidelines
  The newly enacted 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act directs the Department of Housing and Urban Development to develop voluntary federal guidelines for state and local zoning best practices. Such guidelines will help shape how communities are evaluated for federal grants and give states a model for developing their own enabling legislation. According to the […]
• Builder confidence edges higher in August
  According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released on Aug. 17, 2026, builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes inched up one point to 35 in August. “While builder sentiment edged higher in August, builders continue to contend with high construction costs and broader economic […]
• July building permits 5% above June estimate
  The United States Census Bureau released the Monthly New Residential Construction for July 2026. Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,443,000, 5% above the revised June rate of 1,374,000 and 3.1% above the July 2025 rate of 1,400,000. Privately owned housing starts were […]
• How California kitchen designs are evolving
  In Southern California homes, kitchen designs are moving away from cold, showroom-style spaces toward warmer, more livable rooms. While indoor-outdoor flow remains the defining feature, warm wood and natural materials are becoming just as important in kitchen designs. Large glass pocket doors connect the kitchen directly to the patio, allowing entertainment to flow naturally between […]