Homeowners are scaling back, not stepping away, according to Angi’s latest State of Home Spending Pulse. The report found rising costs are leading homeowners to take on less discretionary projects while essential repairs and maintenance take priority, and confidence in future home investment remains strong.
At the midpoint of 2026, homeowners haven’t stopped investing in their homes, but rising costs are causing many to rethink how much they take on and which projects come first.
As costs for materials and labor continue to rise, homeowners are postponing some plans due to cost and prioritizing essential repairs and preventative maintenance over discretionary upgrades. Broader market data from Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI) also shows fewer homeowners are taking on projects, but those who remain active are spending more per project. At the same time, confidence in the home remains strong, with many homeowners already planning their next major investment.
Each year, Angi releases its State of Home Spending Report, offering a comprehensive look at how Americans are investing in their homes. The 2026 State of Home Spending Pulse serves as a mid-year check-in on that annual research, examining how homeowners’ spending, project priorities and plans are evolving as economic conditions change.
The findings point to a clear trend: homeowners are postponing projects and leaning toward upkeep over upgrades. Projects may be delayed, but homeowners’ long-term plans remain firmly intact. Those projects haven’t disappeared though. Homeowners continue to see their homes as a worthwhile investment and are planning for future improvements.
Key findings include:
- Rising costs are reshaping project plans: 92% of homeowners who recently hired a pro completed their project at or above budget, including 43% who exceeded their original estimate. Among those who went over budget, slightly more than one-third spent at least 30% more than planned.
- Affordability is influencing which projects move forward: 59% said cheaper materials would make them more likely to act, while 54% cited lower inflation.
- Essential work is taking priority: 58% of recent pro-hirers completed a repair within the past month and 63% completed maintenance work. Additionally, 23% of homeowners who delayed a project said an unplanned or emergency need had jumped the queue.
- Homeowners are still planning for the future: 66% plan to make a major home investment within the next five years — the highest level Angi has recorded through its State of Home Spending research. More than 1 in 4 are already accelerating projects to get ahead of future price increases, and 56% plan to begin or continue a home project within the next three months.
- The home remains a source of value: 97% say their home helps them manage stress, 96% say improvements have increased their day-to-day happiness and 95% consider investing in their home one of the smartest uses of their money.
Read the full report here.
