As homeowners gain more equity, they are expected to continue heavily investing in home improvement projects and repairs through the third quarter of 2018, according to the latest Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity report released by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. The LIRA index projects annual gains in home renovation and repair spending of 6.3 percent for the fourth quarter of 2017 and up to 7.7 percent by the third quarter of next year.
“Recent strengthening of the U.S. economy, tight for-sale housing inventories, and healthy home equity gains are all working to boost home improvement activity,” says Chris Herbert, managing director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies. “Over the coming year, owners are projected to spend in excess of $330 billion on home upgrades and replacements, as well as routine maintenance.”
Abbe Will, a research associate in the Remodeling Futures Program at JCHS, says that recent hurricanes and other natural disasters have the potential for strengthening remodeling activity even more over the next year than forecasted. Major reconstruction and repairs will get underway in affected regions and likely lead to elevated activity, Will says.
For homeowners looking to remodel for resale, the National Association of REALTORS® publishes a report looking at the costs of some of the top remodeling projects. Take a look at the 2017 Remodeling Impact Report.
Source: “Growing Momentum Expected for Remodeling Spending,” Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University (Oct. 19, 2017)
