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Construction costs account for 64.4% of the average price of a home, according to NAHB’s most recent Cost of Construction Survey. In 2022, the share was 3.6 points lower, at 60.8%. The latest finding marks a record high for construction costs since the inception of the series in 1998 and the fifth instance where construction costs represented over 60% of the total sales price.
The finished lot was the second largest cost at 13.7% of the sales price, down more than four percentage points from 17.8% in 2022. The share of finished lot to the total sales price has fallen consecutively in the last three surveys, reaching a series low in 2024.
The average builder profit margin was 11.0% in 2024, up less than a percentage point from 10.1% in 2022.
At 5.7% in 2024, overhead and general expenses rose when compared to 2022 (5.1%). The remainder of the average home sale price consisted of sales commission (2.8%), financing costs (1.5%), and marketing costs (0.8%). Marketing costs were essentially unchanged while sales commission and financing costs decreased compared to their 2022 breakdowns.
Construction costs were broken down into eight major stages of construction. Interior finishes, at 24.1%, accounted for the largest share of construction costs, followed by major system rough-ins (19.2%), framing (16.6%), exterior finishes (13.4%), foundations (10.5%), site work (7.6%), final steps (6.5%), and other costs (2.1%).
Explore the interactive dashboard below to view the costs and percentage of construction costs for the eight stages and their 36 components.
Table 1 shows the same results as the dashboard above in table format. Please click here to be redirected to the full report (which includes historical results back to 1998).
This article was originally published by a eyeonhousing.org . Read the Original article here. .
Remote work may no longer dominate the U.S. labor force as it did during the height of the pandemic in 2020, but it still represents a substantial share of employment today. According to the latest data from the Current Population Survey (CPS), approximately 34.3 million employed people teleworked or worked at home for pay in April 2025. The telework rate, which represents the number of people who teleworked as a percentage of people who were working, was 21.6% in April, and it has consistently ranged between 17.9% and 23.8% between October 2022 and April 2025.
Of those who teleworked in April, more than half teleworked for all their working hours, while the remaining teleworked for some, but not all, of their work hours.
The distribution of telework across the U.S. workforce continues to reflect deeper patterns shaped by gender, age, education, occupation, and industry. The following insights are based on an analysis of monthly CPS data.
Gender: Women Lead in Telework
Women continue to outpace men in remote work participation.
Nearly 25% of employed women worked from home in April 2025.
In contrast, about 19% of employed men teleworked.
This gender gap reflects employment trends. Many women are employed in professional, administrative, or office-based roles. These fields transitioned smoothly to remote work during the pandemic and have largely maintained hybrid or fully remote options. Additionally, the growing rate of college completion among women1 has pushed more women into positions that are structurally suited to telework. Flexibility remains a priority, especially for women balancing work and caregiving responsibilities, further reinforcing the demand for work-from-home arrangements.
Age: Older Workers Are More Likely to Telework
Age also plays a major role in who works remotely. Workers aged 25 and older are more likely to telework than their younger counterparts.
Ages 16–24: Only 6.2% worked from home.
Ages 25–54: About 24% reported teleworking.
Ages 55+: Around 23% worked remotely.
Younger workers tend to fill entry-level roles in retail, hospitality, and service sectors that require in-person attendance. Meanwhile, older workers are more likely to have progressed in their careers into managerial or specialized roles where remote work is feasible or even expected.
Education: Higher Degrees, Higher Telework Rates
Education remains one of the strongest indicators of telework status. Higher educational attainment is positively associated with a higher telework rate.
No high school diploma: Just 3.1% worked remotely.
High school graduates, no college: 8.4% teleworked.
Some college or associate degree: 17.3% reported working from home.
Bachelor’s degree or higher: 38.3% worked remotely.
Higher educational attainment often leads to employment in knowledge-based sectors such as finance, information technology, consulting, and research. These roles often depend on digital communication tools and independent project-based tasks, making them well-suited for remote settings.
Occupation: Business and Financial Operations, and Professionals Dominate Remote Work
Not surprisingly, occupation heavily influences access to teleworking. Jobs that require physical presence, such as those in food service, transportation, manufacturing, and construction, naturally offer limited remote opportunities. In contrast, people employed in professional and technical fields report the highest telework rate, especially those working in computer and mathematical roles.
Industry trends mirror these occupational divisions. Certain sectors have fully embraced telework, particularly finance, information services, and professional and business services. These industries often prioritize flexibility and are structured in ways that make remote work not only possible but efficient. On the other hand, industries like construction, leisure and hospitality remain firmly grounded in physical spaces and in-person involvement. In these fields, work is inherently tied to locations and equipment that cannot be replicated remotely. The construction industry had a telework rate of just 9.8% in April, and leisure and hospitality reported an even lower rate of 8.1%.
Looking Ahead:
Remote work is not disappearing; it is evolving. The opportunity to work from home is increasingly concentrated among individuals with higher education levels, white-collar job titles, and positions in tech-driven or office-based industries. Meanwhile, those who are younger, have less educational attainments, or work in manual or service-based roles remain largely tied to traditional, in-person work.
For the future, we don’t know if telework will expand to become more inclusive or continue reinforcing existing divides in education and job roles. For now, the data suggests that remote work is here to stay, but only for some.
Note:
“U.S. women are outpacing men in college completion, including in every major racial and ethnic group”, Pew Research Center.
Connor Borkowski and Rifat Kaynas, “Telework trends,” Beyond the Numbers: Employment & Unemployment, vol. 14, no. 2 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 2025),
This article was originally published by a eyeonhousing.org . Read the Original article here. .
In this year’s Houzz TV lineup, designers reimagined an industrial high-rise condo, infused a traditional English home with Japandi warmth and refreshed a country kitchen alongside a spa-like bathroom in New York. These episodes highlight clever layouts, layered materials and personal touches that turn everyday spaces into inviting, functional retreats. Browse the collection, then click each video to virtually tour the homes, read more about the projects and save photos to your own ideabooks.
1. Warm Industrial Condo High Up in a Former Grain Silo
When retired lawyers Jim and Sheila Vidmar’s dream condo came on the market in Baltimore, the empty-nest couple knew they had to jump on it. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom corner unit on the 11th floor of a 24-floor former grain elevator built in 1923 offers sweeping views of the Patapsco River and Chesapeake Bay.
To help maximize the views and cozy up the industrial concrete-and-corrugated steel interiors, the Vidmars hired B. Chic Interiors designer Brigid Wethington, who had worked with them on their previous home. Wethington, who used Houzz Pro software to manage the project, took inspiration from sunsets to bring in a palette of blues, whites and oranges. Durable fabric furnishings and multiple area rugs also soften the rooms, while walnut flooring in a herringbone pattern and other wood details add warmth. A layered lighting scheme enhances design elements without taking away from the stunning views.
Watch and read now: Step inside this modern industrial condo on Houzz TV
See why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
2. Equine Vet’s Updated Country Kitchen With Midcentury Soul
Set in the heart of New York horse country for an equine veterinarian, this renovated kitchen by Curated Nest blends rustic charm with midcentury flair. Designers Erin Coren and Lina Galvão, who use Houzz Pro software, transformed a dark, cramped layout into a bright and welcoming space with bold black-and-white floors and a generous island for both prep and entertaining. Layered textures, soft greens, a striking backsplash and a graceful arched breakfast nook add warmth and personality — showing that function and beauty can share the reins.
Watch and read now: Tour this updated kitchen on Houzz TV
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3. Light-Filled Bathroom With Modern Warmth
Layers of warm textures, natural materials and careful symmetry define this Westchester County, New York, bathroom, part of the same home as the previously featured kitchen. Designers Coren and Galvão of Curated Nest layered organic elements — a rattan light fixture, a generous white oak vanity, a freestanding wood armoire with rattan doors — against soft microcement walls for a relaxed yet refined feel. A checkerboard marble floor brings a timeless touch. With a large soaking tub and a low-curb shower, the bathroom is a refreshed, highly functional retreat that feels elevated yet inviting.
Watch and read now: Go inside this bathroom makeover on Houzz TV
4. English Home That Blends Japandi Warmth With Modern Ease
A young Cambridge, England, couple refreshed their traditional home with a clean, modern sensibility while preserving its character. Drawing on the original flagstone floors and the owners’ love of Japandi style, designer Georgina Robertson, who uses Houzz Pro, crafted a kitchen with a large island, a warm wood storage wall, sleek gray-blue cabinets and layered textures. Glass-fronted units, skylights and a thoughtful mix of lighting keep the space bright and open.
Beyond the kitchen, a breakfast area gains arched niches with custom shelving, the family room gets a refinished floor and updated fireplace, and the living room pops with coral sofas and a cushioned window seat. A redesigned study, utility room and bike storage boost efficiency throughout.
Watch and read now: Step inside this renovated home on Houzz TV
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Despite historically low self-employment rates and the rising market share of top ten builders, residential construction remains an industry dominated by independent entrepreneurs, with nearly 80% of home builders and specialty trade contractor firms being self-employed independent contractors. Even among firms with paid employees, the industry continues to be dominated by small businesses, with 63% of homebuilders and two out of three specialty trade contractors generating less than one million dollars in total business receipts. The new estimates are based on the 2022 Economic Census and Nonemployer Statistics data.
The Economic Census covers several construction subsectors within the home building industry:
Residential Building Construction (RBC)
Single-family general contractors (excluding for-sale builders)
Multifamily general contractors (excluding for-sale builders)
For-sale new housing builders
Residential remodelers
Land Subdivision (or land developers)
Specialty Trade Contractors (STC)
The 2022 statistics show that the majority of residential construction businesses are self-employed independent contractors. There are over 813,000 nonemployer firms in residential building construction (RBC), accounting for close to 80% of all establishments. In land subdivision, more than 9,000 independent contractors account for 68% of land subdivision firms. Over 1.9 million specialty trade independent contractors make up 79% of all STC establishments. These nonemployer firms also account for almost half of the full-time employees (FTE) in residential building construction, 26% in land subdivision, and 28% in STC.
Most of these self-employed mom-and-pop firms are very small, with annual receipts averaging under $103,000 for residential building construction, and under $70,000 for specialty trade contractors. Self-employed independent contractors in land subdivision average around $288,000 in annual business receipts. As a result, these nonemployer firms make up only 12% of all sales and receipts generated by residential building construction and land subdivision, and 9% of specialty trade contractors’ revenue.
Among residential construction businesses with paid employees, remodeling, land subdivision, and specialty trade subcontractors (STC) companies tend to be smaller. Three out of four remodeling establishments, 63% of land developers, and 59% of STC companies generate under $1 million in receipts.
Home builders are typically somewhat larger, with about 45% of companies reporting annual sales over $1 million. Among homebuilders, multifamily general contractors tend to be the largest. However, the Census Bureau did not disclose the number of the largest (with revenue over $100 million) and smallest (with revenue under $100K) multifamily and single-family custom builders in 2022. As a result, the revenue spectrum for MF and SF contractors is incomplete and is presented in a separate chart.
Multifamily contractors are typically larger compared to single-family contractors and for-sale builders (who build on land they own and control). Ten percent of multifamily contractors reported annual sales between $10 million and 25 million, and an additional 11% earned between $25 million and $100 million in 2022.
Under the most recent U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) size standards, the vast majority of residential construction companies qualify as small businesses. The most recent small business size limits for all types of builders are $45 million, $34 million for land subdivision, and $19 million for specialty trade contractors. By these standards, almost all remodelers and single-family contractors, and at least 98% of land developers, and 96% of specialty trade contractors, easily qualify as small businesses.
This article was originally published by a eyeonhousing.org . Read the Original article here. .
Existing home sales rose for the third consecutive month in November as lower mortgage rates continued to boost home sales, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). However, the increase remained modest as mortgage rates still stayed above 6% while down from recent highs. The weakening job market also weighed on buyer activity.
Meanwhile, inventory fell for the fourth consecutive month as homeowners with record-high housing wealth held back from listing properties. Relatively tight supply continued to push home prices higher and challenge housing affordability, even as wage growth outpaced home price gains.
Total existing home sales, including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops, rose 0.5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.13 million in November, the highest level since February. However, on a year-over-year basis, sales were 1.0% lower than a year ago.
The existing home inventory level was 1.43 million units in November, down 5.9% from October but up 7.5% from a year ago. At the current sales rate, November unsold inventory sits at a 4.2-months’ supply, down from 4.4-months in October but up from 3.8-months in November 2024. Inventory between 4.5 to 6 months’ supply is generally considered a balanced market.
Homes stayed on the market for a median of 36 days in November, up from 34 days last month and 32 days in November 2024.
The first-time buyer share was 30% in November, down from 32% in October but unchanged from a year ago.
The November all-cash sales share was 27% of transactions, down from 29% in October but up from 25% a year ago. All-cash buyers are less affected by changes in interest rates.
The November median sales price of all existing homes was $409,200, up 1.2% from last year. This marks the 29th consecutive month of year-over-year increases. The median condominium/co-op price in November was up 0.1% from a year ago at $358,600. Recent gains for home inventory will put downward pressure on resale home prices in most markets in 2025.
Existing home sales in November were mixed across the four major regions. Sales rose in the Northeast (+4.1%) and South (+1.1%), fell in the Midwest (-2.0%), and remained unchanged in the West. On a year-over-year basis, sales were unchanged in the Northeast and South (2.8%), while down in the Midwest (-3.0%) and West (-1.3%).
The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) is a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts. The PHSI rose from 74.9 to 76.3 in October. On a year-over-year basis, pending sales were 0.4% lower than a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors’ data.
This article was originally published by a eyeonhousing.org . Read the Original article here. .
Built in the 1920s, this Colonial Revival home in Providence, Rhode Island, was rich with period character, including Craftsman-style detailing. But the kitchen didn’t share in that charm. Small and inefficient, it fell short for a family with two young daughters. Looking for a space that better supported everyday life, the homeowners hired Jonathan Chambers Architects, Wescott Building & Remodeling and Three Sparrows Interior Design to create an addition that would expand the kitchen and make it more family-friendly.
To integrate the addition, the remodeling team took the existing kitchen down to the studs for a full overhaul. Interior designer Nicole Martel worked closely with the couple to develop a layout tailored to how they wanted to use the space and choose finishes that felt appropriate for the home’s period architecture. The new kitchen features an island large enough to seat the whole family, a second oven for holiday cooking and a walk-in pantry concealed behind false cabinet doors.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
The feel of flannel sheets, the sound of stories told aloud, the scent of something delicious baking in the oven — as the Thanksgiving weekend stretches out ahead, plan on nestling with family and friends in the warm embrace of your home. Whether your idea of cozy quality time is sipping cider or making wreaths, here are 15 activities to take you through the holiday.
1. Wrap Up in Blankets and Sit Outside
Take a cue from luxe ski chalets and pass out warm throws and mugs of hot cider or cocoa to visitors. Carry your accoutrements to the porch and light some candles or gather around a fire pit in the backyard.
2. Make Up the Beds With Flannel Sheets
Snuggling into a bed dressed in soft flannel sheets is the ultimate in coziness. Layer on the warmth with blankets and throws in mix-and-match plaids, and burrow in with a good book.
Shop for new bedding on Houzz
3. Compile Family Recipes
Ask each loved one you’ll see this Thanksgiving weekend to share a treasured recipe, then gather all the contributions into a booklet. Make copies to give to your family as a weekend memento.
4. Hold a Game Tournament
After the big meal is over, bust out the board games, or turn the dining table into a table tennis court, and encourage a little friendly competition. With a big crowd, you could even set up a few game stations and let people gravitate to their favorites.
5. Build a Fire
Local restrictions permitting, light a blaze in your wood-burning stove or fireplace and gather round. For even more coziness, pull up a table and have a fireside dinner.
6. Settle In for a Movie Marathon
Kick movie night up a notch with homemade popcorn, hot chocolate and a double or triple feature with a theme, such as films by a single director, ones set during Thanksgiving, Oscar winners or foreign-language flicks.
Watch recent episodes of Houzz TV
7. Put Out a Pile of Unsorted Photos
Sure, carefully curated albums are beautiful to look at, but there’s something exciting about dipping into a mixed-up batch of photos and seeing what you get. It’s sure to spark fun conversations.
8. Share and Record Stories
You know those family tales that get told over and over? Be sure to preserve them for future generations to enjoy. Make an audio or video recording of family members telling their most-loved stories, or go old-school and set out a manual typewriter and a big stack of paper.
9. Make or Buy Wreaths
Bring a festive spirit to your home by hanging beautiful wreaths of greenery, berries or pinecones on the doors or windows. If you want to turn it into a group or children’s activity, pick up a bunch of small wreath forms and some twine, and let people forage for natural materials outdoors to make their own wreaths.
Read stories about wreath making
10. Test a Recipe You’d Like to Give for the Holidays
Thinking of making biscotti, loaf cake or granola as a holiday gift? If you give the recipe a dress rehearsal over the long weekend, there are sure to be grateful tasters on hand, and you’ll gain confidence (and iron out wrinkles) before holiday crunch time.
11. Play Old Records
The interactive nature of LPs gets everyone involved in choosing and flipping them. Try old favorites or pick up a few new ones from contemporary artists — records have made a major comeback in recent years, so you can find just about anything on vinyl that has been released digitally.
12. Pull Out Childhood Books
Charlotte’s Web, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Velveteen Rabbit, Little House on the Prairie, Harry Potter — share your personal favorites with the younger generation by lending them or reading them aloud. And whether or not there are kids in the house, why not indulge in a little rereading?
10 Cozy Spots Perfect for Reading With Kids
13. Cook and Freeze a Few Big-Batch Dinners
If you aren’t tired of cooking (and no one would blame you if you are after Thanksgiving), why not use a bit of your downtime this weekend to whip up a big-batch meal? Many casseroles, soups and stews freeze well and can make quick homemade dinners when life gets busy. You may even be able to work Thanksgiving leftovers into turkey soup, for example, or pot pie.
14. Ask the Kids to Show Off a Skill
Have the little ones been learning songs at school, or taking piano or tumbling lessons? Encourage them to display their talents with an impromptu performance. Of course, you know your children best, so if they’re on the shy side, you may not want to put them on the spot!
15. Find a Quiet Place to Sit
After the big Thanksgiving meal, stealing off to catch a nap or sip peppermint tea can be restorative.
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Existing home sales rose to an eight-month high in October as buyers took advantage of lower mortgage rates, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Resale inventory improved from a year ago but remained below pre-pandemic levels. Relatively tight supply continued to push home prices higher and challenge housing affordability. These affordability pressures vary by region, with first-time buyers in the Northeast facing limited inventory, while buyers in the West struggle with elevated home prices.
Mortgage rates hovered between 6.5% and 7% earlier this year due to economic and tariff uncertainty. However, with the Fed resuming rate cuts in September, mortgage rates have fallen gradually. As of October 30th, the average mortgage rate decreased to 6.17%, the lowest in over a year. With additional rate cuts expected in coming months, lower mortgage rates and improved inventory should bring more buyers and sellers into the market.
Total existing home sales, including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums, and co-ops, rose 1.2% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.10 million in October, the highest level since February. On a year-over-year basis, sales were 1.7% higher than a year ago.
The existing home inventory level was 1.52 million units in October, down 0.7% from September but up 10.9% from a year ago. At the current sales rate, October unsold inventory sits at a 4.4-months’ supply, down from 4.5-months in September but up from 4.1-months in October 2024. Inventory between 4.5 to 6 months’ supply is generally considered a balanced market.
Homes stayed on the market for a median of 34 days in October, up from 33 days last month and 29 days in October 2024.
The first-time buyer share was 32% in October, up from 30% in September and 27% from a year ago.
The October all-cash sales share was 29% of transactions, down from 30% in September but up from 27% a year ago. All-cash buyers are less affected by changes in interest rates.
The October median sales price of all existing homes was $415,200, up 2.1% from last year. This marks the 28th consecutive month of year-over-year increases. The median condominium/co-op price in October was up 0.9% from a year ago at $363,700. Recent gains for home inventory will put downward pressure on resale home prices in most markets in 2025.
Existing home sales in October were mixed across the four major regions. Sales rose in the Midwest (5.3%) and South (0.5%), fell in the West (-1.3%), and remained unchanged in the Northeast. On a year-over-year basis, sales were up in the Northeast (4.3%), South (2.8%) and Midwest (2.1%), while down in the West (-2.6%).
The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) is a forward-looking indicator based on signed contracts. The PHSI remained unchanged at 74.8 in September, suggesting job market concerns kept buyers on the sideline despite mortgage rates near one-year lows. On a year-over-year basis, pending sales were 0.9% lower than a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors’ data.
This article was originally published by a eyeonhousing.org . Read the Original article here. .
Affordability Impacts: Young Adults Are Once Again Moving Back Home – Eye On Housing
The share of young adults living with parents increased in 2024, interrupting the post-pandemic trend of moving out of parental homes. Nearly a third (32.5%) of adults ages 18-34 lived with their parents according to the latest 2024 American Community Survey (ACS). This is up from 31.8% in 2023, although it remains below the pre-pandemic peak of 34.5% in 2017. Geospatial analysis of the 2024 ACS data shows significant differences across states, with the Southern and Northeastern states having some of the highest shares of young adults living in parental homes.
While the national average share increased to 31.8%, over 40% of young adults ages 18-34 lived in parental homes in New Jersey (44%) and Connecticut (41%). California and Maryland register the nation’s third and fourth-highest shares of 39% and 38%, respectively. At the opposite end of the spectrum are states with less than a fifth of young adults living with parents. The fast-growing North Dakota records the nation’s lowest share of 12%, while the neighboring South Dakota registers 18%. In the District of Columbia, where the job market was relatively stable in 2024, less than 13% of young adults lived with their parents. The cluster of north-central U.S. states completes the nation’s list with the lowest percentages of young adults remaining in parental homes.
The elevated shares of young adults living with parents in high-cost coastal areas underscore the role of housing affordability in driving this trend. Statistical analysis confirms a clear link between prohibitively expensive housing, especially rentals, and the high prevalence of young adults residing with their parents. The states with higher shares of renters paying 30 percent or more of their income on housing, and therefore considered cost-burdened, tend to register higher shares of young adults living with parents.
The reported shares come from the ACS Summary files that do not separate college-age adults (ages 18-24) from the older subset (ages 25-34). Once the ACS public microdata becomes available, it will be worth understanding whether the younger and older subgroups experienced divergent trends over the last year.
This article was originally published by a eyeonhousing.org . Read the Original article here. .
Terra cotta, sage, olive green, dusty blue, muted pastels, creamy beiges, browns, taupes and buttery yellows are taking over interiors. “The reign of all-white interiors and icy gray palettes has definitely come to an end,” says color specialist Jennifer Ott. “Homeowners are now craving warmth, richness and depth in their spaces. For those who still prefer lighter palettes, stark whites are giving way to warmer neutrals that are sun-warmed and tactile — think canvas, parchment or soft stone gray. These hues add subtle depth while maintaining a sense of calm and brightness.”
Kitchens feature terra-cotta-colored tile backsplashes and sage cabinetry, while living rooms lean into buttery yellows, warm taupes and olive accents layered with natural textures like linen, wool and rattan. Bedrooms and bathrooms are embracing muted blues and greens for a soothing, restorative feel, and even entryways and home offices are benefiting from warmer palettes that create inviting spaces rather than stark or clinical ones. “Clients have been increasingly drawn to warm, nature-inspired tones in their kitchen designs, particularly incorporating earthy hues like terra cotta, soft beige and sage green,” says designer Donna Rose. “This trend aligns with the broader shift toward biophilic, nature-inspired design.”
This New Jersey living room by Forina Design showcases the warmth of woodsy tones. Like many of the pros featured in this story, Forina Design subscribes to Houzz Pro. Moody green sofas, deep beige wallpaper, wood accents and touches of yellow, gold and blue create a layered, inviting space that feels both organic and vibrant.
9 Paint Colors Poised to Dominate in 2026