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 affordable housing we do have is fragile: more than half a million homes financed through Low-Income Housing Tax Credits could lose rent protections in the coming decade, even as rising costs for food, healthcare, and other essentials squeeze already limited incomes. leadingage
• [New] Already, 28% of households age 65 and older are cost burdened - that is, they spend more than 30% of their income on rent - and, as the older population grows to 71 million by 2030, millions more are at risk. leadingage
• [New] For homes, EU countries will have to put in place measures ensuring that the average energy use of the residential building stock is reduced by 16% in 2030 in comparison to 2020, with higher targets for the following decades. Energy
• [New] We still have a viable path to getting at least 95% of U.S. homes capable of electric heating by 2050 - but it's rapidly narrowing. Latitude Media
• [New] After years underestimating the risks posed by climate-fueled disasters, the U.S. home insurance industry is in turmoil. Forbes
• [New] Evidence shows that living in cold homes is associated with poor health outcomes and an increased risk of morbidity and mortality for all age groups; furthermore, studies have shown that more than one in five (21.5%) excess winter deaths in England and Wales are attributable to cold housing. Institute of Health Equity
• [New] Most rental homes could cut energy bills by up to 50% through insulation, efficient electric appliances and rooftop solar, generating $107 billion in energy bill savings by 2050. SolarQuotes Blog
• [New] CAMBRIDGE, MA - Annual expenditures for improvements and maintenance to owner-occupied homes are projected to remain steady through the end of this year and into the middle of 2026. Joint Center for Housing Studies
• [New] Once the Osman Gazi platform becomes operational in 2026, daily gas production in the Black Sea will increase to 20 million cubic meters, sufficient to meet the needs of around 8 million households. Caliber.az
• [New] The US Department of Housing and Urban Development will now only consider animals trained to provide disability-related assistance as reasonable accommodations under the Fair Housing Act, excluding untrained emotional support animals from most complaints. Access Information News
• [New] Lower mortgage rates could provide support for housing activity, while energy markets remain an area to watch closely as the second half of 2026 unfolds. FTR | Transportation Intelligence
• [New] Melbourne's median auction price for houses of $1,098,000 in the confirmed week reflects sample composition - the homes going to auction in any given week skew toward higher price points. Integrated Finance Group
• [New] Of the non-defense discretionary amount, the budget requests $73.5 billion in discretionary budget authority for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for 2027, a $10.7 billion (13%) decrease from the 2026 enacted level. Novogradac
• [New] The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 80.6 in June - among the weakest in its 50-year history - with house price expectations dropping 14.9%, the share of consumers expecting price rises falling from 66% to 52% in a single month. Australian Broker
• [New] Home healthcare settings are anticipated to be the fastest-growing segment, fueled by federal policy priorities favoring community-based care delivery and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Enhancing Oncology Model promoting home-based clinical monitoring. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Home buying and building will remain on ice throughout much of 2026 and into 2027. KPMG
• [New] Within the U.S., drought conditions have caused severe disruption to needed housing development in drought-prone areas. ClimateCheck
• [New] The residential segment is the anticipated to grow at a fastest CAGR of 4.5% from 2026 to 2034 owing to the ongoing housing shortage and the shift towards single family home construction. Market Data Forecast
• [New] The ENVISION blueprint shows that homes, both new and old, can play an important role in improving health and wellbeing while also reducing energy costs and emissions. UKAuthority
• [New] Social housing landlords will be able to evict domestic abuse perpetrators under a new bill, which will also increase the length of tenancy required before residents qualify for the right-to-buy scheme from three to 10 years in England. The Guardian
• [New] The New South Wales government said it will increase the maximum capacity for outdoor events from 5,000 to 6,000 for low- and medium-scale events, and from 6,000 to 7,000 for major events, as part of changes to the Sydney Opera House. The Guardian
• [New] Purpose-built, easy-to-use home humanoids will become widely available in 2027-2028. Robozaps
• [New] 467 solar and storage projects have permits pending and are vulnerable to politically motivated delays or cancellations, further noting that if federal permitting bottlenecks persist, household electric bills will continue to rise and China will surge further ahead in the race for AI leadership. Energy-Storage.News

Last updated: 20 June 2026