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] Across the U.S., home price growth is expected to slow but remain positive overall. Howard Hanna Blog
• [New] Sizewell C is projected to supply six million homes with nuclear energy, while the Teesside-based Lighthouse Green Fuels plant would become Europe's largest SAF facility. no2nuclearpower
• [New] If rates stabilize and inventory continues to edge upward, 2026 could mark the beginning of a more balanced housing landscape - and for the millions of sidelined buyers who have been patiently waiting, that alone may be enough to draw them back in. Fortune
• [New] Cement and concrete are vital to the built environment, from housing and commercial buildings to data centers and transportation networks, and global demand for cement is expected to increase to 6.2 billion tons by 2050. Center for Green Market Activation
• [New] Oregon plans to launch both HOMES and HEAR programs in Spring 2026, with $113 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. EnviroSmart Solution
• [New] Picking smart home devices in 2026 could be very confusing. Digital Orbitals
• [New] AI-driven economic changes could erode the tax base that supports programmes such as Social Security, Medicaid, SNAP and housing assistance, as corporate profits and capital gains increase while reliance on labour income declines. Storyboard18
• [New] OpenAI warns that as AI automates more work, the wage and payroll tax revenue that funds Social Security, Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance could collapse. Fortune
• [New] Geographically targeted tax incentives will play a prominent role in promoting affordable housing development. Novogradac
• [New] In British Columbia, home prices are forecast to fall 0.8% in 2025 and 0.1% in 2026. Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty
• [New] The price of a typical Canadian home will increase by 0.7% in 2025 before falling 0.7% in 2026. Coldwell Banker Horizon Realty
• [New] Affordability is a key focus of Canada's 2026 housing plan, with measures that could directly impact pre-construction buyers in the GTA. PreconFactory
• [New] Discover how Canada's 2026 housing plan, including the Housing Accelerator Fund, could reshape pre-construction buying in the GTA. PreconFactory
• [New] Apple is planning to significantly expand its presence in the connected home, with several new devices expected later in 2026. eWeek
• [New] Household energy bills are expected to leap by 18% after June, as energy consultancy firm Cornwall Insight forecasts the price cap to jump by £288. City AM
• [New] Households could spend an additional $740 on gasoline in 2026 due to global oil price increases linked to geopolitical tensions. Economic Times
• [New] Pest activity is expected to rise compared with last year, particularly in parts of the West and Central U.S. that experienced milder winter conditions, with increases across all five major household pest categories, including ants, spiders, rodents, roaches and wasps. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Retrofitting the UK's homes could generate £140 billion in benefits for the wider economy by 2040. Eventbrite
• [New] The UK government has published some truly excellent new national building standards (explicitly citing the Iran War shock), mandating new solar panels and heat pumps on around 90% of new homes in England starting in 2028! Your Dose of Climate Hope
• [New] Other measures include mandating solar panels and heat pumps in all new homes in England from 2028. Positive News
• [New] Most new homes in England will need to include solar panels and heat pumps from 2028. CPA | The Credit Protection Association
• [New] Property prices in Darwin could increase 10.5% for houses and 13.4% for apartments in 2026, with 2027 showing slightly softer growth. Zippy Financial

Last updated: 11 April 2026