Fix It Notes Bulletin · Industry, Remodeling
Harvard housing researchers project home improvement spending growth slowing through 2026
Published April 15, 2026 · Source: Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University
The short version: The Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity from Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies projects owner spending on improvements and maintenance growing about 2.1 percent by mid-2026 and easing to 1.6 percent by year end, reaching about $518 billion.
What happened
Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies publishes the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA), a quarterly projection of spending on improvements and maintenance to owner-occupied homes. The edition first released January 26, 2026 and revised April 15, 2026 projects growth gradually slowing through the year.
According to the release, annual growth is projected at about 2.1 percent by the middle of 2026, easing to 1.6 percent by the end of the year, with spending reaching about $518 billion in the fourth quarter.
The Center ties the outlook to modest gains in single-family home sales and permitting from very low levels.
Why it matters if you fix things at home
Whatever the national trend, the cheapest repair is often the one you can do with hand tools. Fixes like a running toilet or a drywall patch rarely need a service call.
Read the full notice at Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University