Global Scans · Homes · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The number of smart homes is expected to grow further and by 2020 it is expected 46.2 million homes in the US and 44.9 million in Europe will be classed as smart homes. By 2022 there could be nearly 500 smart devices that can be connected to a smart home.

• [New] The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has recently published the Warm Homes Plan, which aims to upgrade 5 million homes with technologies such as heat pumps, solar panels, batteries and insulation to reduce bills. GOV.UK
• [New] Social homes will need to meet either the new EPC fabric performance, smart readiness or heating system metric at band C by 2030, followed by one of the remaining metrics at band C by 2039. GOV.UK
• [New] The Construction category is expected to exhibit a CAGR of approximately 3.7% over the forecast period, supported by the housing development sector, which accounts for 40% of global concrete consumption. Claight Corporation (Expert Market Research)
• [New] Single-family mortgage originations will jump 24% this year to $1.96 trillion, including both home purchases and refinancing. ICBA.org
• [New] Across the Middle East, families have endured fear, uncertainty and violence. Al Jazeera
• [New] The main challenges currently facing the Croatian banking and financial sector include digital transformation, cyber resilience, outsourcing risk, household indebtedness, and compliance with new EU digital finance and crypto-asset regulations. CEE Legal Matters
• [New] At the regulatory level, the Croatian National Bank has increasingly focused on macroprudential measures aimed at addressing risks associated with strong household lending activity and maintaining financial stability. CEE Legal Matters
• [New] The UK's biggest ever national home defence exercise will take place in 2027, featuring hundreds of officials wargaming Britain's preparedness for hybrid attacks and ensure Britain is in alignment with its NATO allies against a backdrop of rising threats. The Guardian
• [New] John Lewis's move could mark a wider inflection point in the UK retail services landscape, signalling that even premium, trust-led brands are reassessing the viability of complex aftercare and in-home support. Marketing, Retail, Construction & Business News
• [New] By mid-century, over 90% of existing homes could overheat during severe heat waves. Wired
• [New] Energy-efficient improvements are expected to account for 30% of all home improvement spending in 2026. Home Craft Hub
• [New] The dominant risk factors are 54% tariffs on Chinese fireworks (99% of U.S. supply), persistent food price inflation, depressed consumer confidence among lower-income households, and a projected $12.5 billion shortfall in international tourist spending. Edhat
• [New] The median single-family home price could reach $1 million by 2050, though modest gains of 3% to 4% per year are expected for now. Chicago Tribune
• [New] In Chicago, home prices in July are expected to be nearly 6% higher than last year. Chicago Tribune
• [New] The median U.S. household income will grow 3.9% in 2026, surpassing the initial prediction of 3.6%. Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com
• [New] Existing-home sales prices will rise just 1.2% through the end of the year, down from an initial projection of 2.2%. Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com
• [New] 1.319 million Australian households, representing 26.6% of all mortgage holders, are at risk of mortgage stress, a figure nearing a 14-year high. WizWealth Finance
• [New] 1.319 million Australian households (26.6% of all mortgage holders) are now classified as at risk of mortgage stress - nearing a 14-year high that could climb to 1.6 million if the RBA delivers even one more rate hike. WizWealth Finance

Last updated: 18 July 2026