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This Trending Now story features the most-saved porch and patio photos uploaded to Houzz between Dec. 15, 2025, and March 15, 2026.
Longer days and warmer weather often spark plans for spending more time outdoors — and for making those spaces more comfortable and functional. If you’re gathering ideas for a patio refresh, an alfresco cooking area or a garden getaway, this countdown of the most popular new outdoor spaces uploaded to Houzz so far in 2026 offers plenty of inspiration. The featured designs showcase a range of styles and sizes, with welcoming seating, thoughtful shade solutions and destination-worthy backyards that blur the line between indoors and out.
10. Pergola With Presence
In Cambridgeshire, England, House Form Architects designed this elegant wood pergola as an extension of the main living area, where sliding glass walls blur the line between indoors and out. Cedar shingle siding and timber framing reference traditional architecture, while clean-lined hardscaping and a geometric slat pattern introduce a modern edge. Lantern lighting and a warm interior glow create an inviting atmosphere that carries well into the evening.
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9. Mediterranean-Inspired Patio
After reimagining the interiors of this hillside home near San Francisco, interior designer Ania Omski-Talwar turned her attention to the outdoor living areas. Warm wood furnishings, crisp white cushions and Mediterranean-inspired accents complement the home’s Spanish-style architecture while helping create a seamless connection between indoors and out.
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8. Midcentury Outdoor Kitchen
This midcentury modern home in Mountain View, California, underwent a full remodel and expansion, with Cathie Hong Interiors collaborating with Story Build Design and Outer space Landscape Architecture to create a cohesive indoor-outdoor experience.
A built-in grill station anchors this corner of the backyard deck, where bar stools invite guests to pull up a seat and chat with the cook. A blue tile base creates a vibrant focal point, topped with a terrazzo-style counter that echoes the tile’s hues. Concrete pavers surrounded by river pebbles subtly define the cooking zone while setting it apart from the surrounding yard.
Planning an Outdoor Kitchen? Look to These Professionals for Help
7. Space-Savvy Terrace
Interior designer Ida Wadhams redesigned this London townhouse from top to bottom, including a charming dining terrace tailored to the home’s compact footprint. Space-saving features — including a built-in bench and linear planters that double as subtle dividers — maximize function while creating an inviting spot for outdoor meals and casual gatherings.
6. Fire Pit Lounge
A sloped site and a desire for easy entertaining inspired terraced gathering areas in this Lafayette, California, yard by Huettl Landscape Architecture. Set among mature native oaks, the redesigned landscape guides guests from the house to a dining deck and down a few steps to a circular fire pit lounge. Curved concrete walls stabilize the hillside while creating a sense of enclosure, and they double as extra seating for evenings spent around the fire beneath the trees.
5. Resort-Style Backyard
Southern Legacy Building Group designed this Atlanta outdoor area for year-round enjoyment with a resort-like vibe. Defined zones for dining, lounging and cooking make the space feel like a true extension of the home. Two fire features set a cozy mood, and elegant outdoor lighting completes the look, creating a versatile backyard retreat to enjoy day or night.
12 Ways to Turn Your Yard Into a Wellness Retreat
4. Covered Retreat
Case Architects & Remodelers added this covered, well-appointed outdoor room as part of a full-house remodel in McLean, Virginia. Off the home’s lower level, the stylish retreat features an outdoor kitchen and luxurious amenities, all layered in a warm white-and-wood palette that makes lounging here inviting and effortless.
3. Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Living
Wall-to-wall sliding glass doors in this Manchester, England, home renovated by Dimension Architects frame expansive backyard views and a fire pit patio. The design encourages seamless indoor-outdoor living in warm weather while allowing the landscape to be enjoyed even on cooler days.
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2. Fireside Gathering Spot
An intimate fire pit circle draws guests into the yard of this Lafayette, California, midcentury modern home remodeled by Cappa & Co. Builders. The outdoor space begins with an expansive dining deck just off the living area, then steps down to a lawn where meandering pavers lead to a lounge featuring a mix of seating, including woven chairs and a cushioned bench.
1. Lakeside Screened Porch
A family wanted a lakeside cabin in Wisconsin that respected the site while offering space to gather with friends and family. Christopher Strom Architects, Indicia Interior Design and RPS Construction Services collaborated on the project to bring that vision to life. A three-sided screened porch on the main floor provides panoramic lake views, giving the homeowners a front-row seat to the changing seasons and activity on the water. Plush furnishings, screened walls and thoughtful outdoor lighting let them enjoy the outdoors with all the comforts of home.
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3. Workstation Sinks Evolve
Workstation sinks are continuing to gain traction for their ability to streamline prep, cleanup and entertaining in a single zone. Typically defined by built-in ledges and sliding accessories — such as cutting boards, colanders and racks — they maximize counter space while improving workflow. At KBIS 2026, the category expanded with larger sizes, more refined materials and accessories designed to move easily from sink to table.
A strong example is Kohler’s new Synthos workstation sink system. Featuring oversize stainless steel basins, multilevel ledges and smoothly sliding accessories, it’s designed to support prepping, rinsing, soaking and serving in one continuous flow. Available in widths up to 72 inches, Synthos reflects how workstation sinks are becoming more customizable, more social and more central to how today’s kitchens function.
This article was originally published by a www.houzz.com . Read the Original article here. .
The most significant challenge builders faced in 2025 was high interest rates, as reported by 84% of builders in the latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index survey. A smaller, albeit still significant share of 65% expect interest rates to remain a problem in 2026. The next four most serious issues builders faced in 2025 were buyers expecting prices/interest rates to decline (81%), concern about employment/economic situation (65%), the cost/availability of developed lots (63%), and negative media reports making buyers cautious (62%). Builders expect these challenges to persist with limited improvement in 2026.
In addition to those top tier challenges, 54% to 61% of builders also reported facing serious problems in 2025 with cost/availability of labor (61%), rising inflation in the US economy (59%) gridlock/uncertainty in Washington (58%), impact/hook-up/inspection and other fees (57%), and local/state environmental regulations and policies (54%). Looking ahead at 2026, fewer builders expect high interest rates (65%) rising inflation in the US economy (46%) to be a significant problem. On the other hand, builders don’t anticipate much change around labor shortages, uncertainty in Washington, fees, or local regulations.
Builders have been asked about their most serious challenges every year since 2011. High interest rates have been a problem for a negligible share of builders (under 10%) during most years, except for 2022 (66%), 2023 (90%), 2024 (91%) and 2025 (84%). Until 2021, relatively few builders reported problems with buyers expecting prices or interest rates to fall, but that share has been rising steadily for the past four years and reached a record high of 81% in 2025. In 2011, concern about employment/economic situation was reported as a significant problem by 79% of builders. This concern faded over the next decade, and by 2021, only 24% cited it as a top issue. But it has escalated rapidly since then, and in 2025 65% of builders rated it a major challenge – the highest since 2012.
The cost/availability of developed lots has been a serious challenge to most builders in 10 of the 15 years of the series history. In 2024 and 2025, the share reached 63%, matching the record high set in 2019. Negative media reports making buyers caution was a significant problem for 63% of builders in 2011. During the 2012–2021 period, the share consistently remained under 50%. From 2022 onward, however, most builders saw it as a serious challenge again, with the share reaching 62% in 2025 – the highest since 2011.
For additional details, including a complete history for each reported and expected problem listed in the survey, please consult the full survey report.
This article was originally published by a eyeonhousing.org . Read the Original article here. .
As housing affordability remains a critical challenge across the country, mortgage rates continue to play a central role in shaping homebuying power. Mortgage rates stayed elevated throughout 2023 and early 2024. Recent data, however, shows a modest decline in mortgage rates. Even slight declines can have a significant impact on housing affordability, pricing more households back into the market. New NAHB Priced-Out Estimates show how home price increases affect housing affordability in 2025. This post presents details regarding how interest rates affect the number of households that can afford a median priced new home.
At the beginning of 2025, with the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate at 7%, around 31.5 million households could afford a median-priced home at $459,826. This requires a household income of $147,433 by the front-end underwriting standards[1]. In contrast, if the average mortgage rates had remained at the recent peak of 7.62% in October 2023, only 28.7 million households would have qualified. This 62-basis point decline has effectively priced 2.8 million additional households into the market, expanding homeownership opportunities.
The table below shows how affordability changes with each 25 basis-point increase in interest rates, from 3.75% to 8.25% for a median-priced home at $459,826. The minimum required income with a 3.75% mortgage rate is $110,270. In contrast, a mortgage rate of 8.25%, increases the required income to $163,068, pushing millions of households out of the market.
As rates climb higher, the priced-out effect diminishes. When interest rates increase from 6.5% to 6.75%, around 1.13 million households are priced out of the market, unable to meet the higher income threshold required to afford the increased monthly payments. However, an increase from 7.75% to 8% would squeeze about 850,000 households out of the market.
This exemplifies that when interest rates are relatively low, a 25 basis-point increase has a much larger impact. It is because it affects a broader portion of households in the middle of the income distribution. For example, if the mortgage interest rate decreases from 5.25% to 5%, around 1.5 million more households will qualify the mortgage for the new homes at the median price of $459,826. This indicates lower interest rates can unlock homeownership opportunities for a substantial number of households.
[1] . The sum of monthly payment, including the principal amount, loan interest, property tax, homeowners’ property and private mortgage insurance premiums (PITI), is no more than 28 percent of monthly gross household income.
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Over the past 125 years, women have played a crucial and multifaceted role in the labor force. Increasing women’s participation in the workforce is not only essential for individual and family well-being, but also contributes significantly to overall labor force participation rates and economic growth by adding more workers and enhancing overall productivity1.
Historically, women’s labor force participation rate rose rapidly between 1948 and 2000, peaking around 60% in 1999. During the same period, men’s participation rates declined. However, since 2000, the growth in women’s labor force participation has flattened and then declined.
According to the March 2025 Employment Situation Summary reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), women’s labor force participation rate held steady at 57.5%, and women now represent nearly half (47%) of the total U.S. labor force.
Selected Categories
Prime-age women (ages 25-54) represent a significant and growing segment of the U.S. labor force. As of 2024, they accounted for nearly 30% of the civilian labor force, compared to 34% for prime-age men. According to the latest data from the Current Population Survey (CPS), prime-age women had a labor force participation rate of 78%, the highest among all female age groups. This rate has fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, surpassing its previous peak recorded in February 2020.
As discussed in the previous blog, higher levels of educational attainment are strongly associated with higher labor force participation and lower unemployment. Women with a bachelor’s degree or higher have played a vital role in shaping the labor market. In 2024, about 70% of women with this level of educational attainment were active in the labor force, compared to only 34% of women who had not completed high school.
The CPS data also reveals notable differences in women’s labor force participation based on parental status. Women with older children (ages 6 to 17) and no children under 6 years old had a higher labor force participation rate than those with younger children. Interestingly, women without children had a relatively lower labor force participation rate compared to those with children. Further research from the Brookings Institution and The Hamilton Project2 highlights a significant shift: women with young children (under 5 years), especially those who are highly educated, married, or foreign-born, are more likely to be in the labor force now than they were before the pandemic.
Women’s labor force participation also varies by race and ethnicity. Among women ages 16 and over, Black women had the highest participation rate at 61%, followed by Hispanic women (59%), Asian women (59%), and White women (57%).
The figure below reflects the diversity and complexity of women’s roles in the workforce.
Women in Industry
As more women enter the labor force, they are increasingly shaping a broad range of industries–from healthcare and education to leisure and hospitality, retail, technology, and construction.
In 1964, women were primarily employed in a narrower set of sectors. The top four industries employing the most women at that time were: manufacturing; trade, transportation, and utilities; local government; and education and health services3.
By 2024, however, women’s participation in the workforce has expanded significantly, both in scope and impact. According to the latest CPS data, women dominated the education and health services sector, where they hold approximately 27.6 million jobs. That means seven in every ten workers in this field are women. Moreover, women now make up more than half of the workforce in several other key industries, including other services, leisure and hospitality, and financial activities.
Despite their growing role in the workforce, they remain underrepresented in certain sectors, most notably, construction. Although women now make up a significant portion of the overall labor force, they account for just 11% of total employment in the construction industry. Of those, only 2.8% of women work in actual trade roles, while most women in the industry are employed in:
Office and administrative support
Management
Business
Financial operations
Gender Pay Gap by Occupation
While the gender pay gap in the U.S. has narrowed significantly over the past few decades, it remains a persistent issue in the labor market. According to a study4 by the Pew Research Center, women earned about 65 cents for every dollar earned by men in 1982. By 2023, that figure had risen to approximately 82 cents on the dollar—a clear sign of progress. However, the pace of change has slowed considerably in recent years.
In 2024, the CPS data shows that women working full time earned a median weekly wage of $1,043, compared to $1,261 for men. This means women earned 83 cents for every dollar earned by men—a 17% gender wage gap.
At the occupational level, women earn less than men across all major occupational groups, even ones dominated by women. The smallest gender pay gap was found in community and social services occupations. In contrast, occupations in legal, sales and related, protective services, and production display larger disparities in earnings between women and men.
The Future of Women in the Workforce
Looking ahead to 2033, the number of women in the labor force is expected to continue growing, driven primarily by the prime-age women (ages 25 to 54). BLS employment projections estimate that roughly 3.2 million prime-age women will join the workforce between 2023 and 2033. During this period, their participation rate is projected to increase slightly, reflecting continued momentum in women’s economic engagement.
Meanwhile, the U.S. labor market is experiencing a critical shortage of skilled workers, especially in fields like STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and skilled trades. As the NAHB Chief Economist stated, “The ultimate solution for the persistent, national labor shortage will be found…by recruiting, training and retaining skilled workers.” This applies equally to the women’s labor force.
Women’s participation is closely tied to their access to education and skills development. As more women pursue higher education and specialized training, their career opportunities expand, particularly in fields previously dominated by men. This progress can help narrow the gender pay gap over time.
However, women often shoulder disproportionate family and caregiving responsibilities, not only during their reproductive years, but throughout their lives. According to the American Time Use Survey (ATUS), on a typical weekday, prime-age working women spent about four hours on caregiving and household tasks, such as household activities, caring for and helping household members, and purchasing goods and services. This is nearly twice the time men spent on the same activities. Many women face a tough decision between career advancement and family caregiving responsibilities, often leading to reduced work hours or even complete withdrawal from the labor force.
To support and increase women’s labor force participation, it may be beneficial to consider a range of policies and workplace reforms. For example, promoting flexible work arrangements can help women better balance professional and personal responsibilities. Narrowing the gender pay gap would also play a critical role in ensuring fair compensation and financial security. Furthermore, expanding access to affordable and high-quality childcare could remove a major barrier for many working mothers. In addition, continued investment in education and training programs would enable women to advance in their careers and contribute to broader, long-term economic growth.
To conclude, empowering women to succeed in the workforce not only improves individual and family well-being, but also strengthens the entire economy.
Note:
This article was originally published by a eyeonhousing.org . Read the Original article here. .
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest estimates, the U.S. resident population grew by 3,304,757 to a total population of 340,110,988. The population grew at a rate of 0.98%, the highest rate since 0.99% in 2001. This also marked the third straight increase in the growth rate of the U.S. population. The vintage population estimates are released annually and represent the change in the U.S. population between July 1st of 2023 and 2024.
The Census Bureau reports that the primary source of population growth was net international migration (immigration), as international migration levels once again were higher than the previous year. The level of net international migration between 2023 and 2024 was 2,786,119. The second component of population growth is natural growth, which represents births minus deaths. Births totaled 3,605,563, down slightly from last year, while the number of deaths was reported at 3,086,925, also a decrease from last year. The natural growth, therefore, between 2023 and 2024 was 518,638.
Each region in the U.S. experienced population growth for the 2023-2024 period. The South led in population growth at 1.34% followed by the West at 0.85%. Meanwhile, the Midwest population grew 0.75%, while the Northeast grew the least at 0.59%.
At the State level, 47 States and the District of Columbia had a population increase over the year. Of note, D.C. had the highest growth rate at 2.13%. Florida was second with population growth at 2.00% followed by Texas at 1.80%. Numerically, Texas experienced the largest population increase gaining 562,941. This was followed by Florida at 467,347 and California at 232,570.
Only three states lost population or remained level according to Census estimates. Vermont and West Virginia tied with a decline of 0.03%. Meanwhile Mississippi saw no population change.
California remained the most populous state by a healthy margin. California’s population was at 39,198,693, while the next most populous state was Texas at 31,290,831. To round out the top five States by total population the proceeding highest were Florida (23,372,215), New York (19,867,248), and Pennsylvania (13,078,751).
This article was originally published by a eyeonhousing.org . Read the Original article here. .
The number of residential remodelers in the U.S. has reached a record high of 128,187 establishments, 65% higher than the number of residential builders (single-family and multifamily), which stands at 77,455. These official government counts were released by the U.S. Census Bureau as part of its 2022 Economic Census, which tallies American businesses every five years (in years ending in 2 and 7).
Growth in the number of remodelers significantly outpaced that of builders between 2017 and 2022. In that 5-year span, the remodeler count increased by 25% (102,818 to 128,187), while the number of builders grew at half that pace–by 12% (68,996 to 77,455).
A starker dichotomy emerges when comparing 2022 counts to those in 2007, prior to the financial crisis and the ensuing housing recession. In that 15-year period, the official number of residential remodelers in the U.S. grew by 73% (73,888 to 128,187), while the official number of residential builders contracted by 21% (98,067 to 77,455).
Another way to analyze this data is by creating a combined universe of both builders and remodelers and then calculating each group’s share of the total. In 2022, for example, remodelers represented 62% of the total number of builders and remodelers in the U.S, while builders made up a minority share of 38%. Remodelers have accounted for at least 60% of this total in the last three Economic Census (2012, 2017, and 2022).
The last time builders comprised a majority share was in 2007, when they represented 57% of the combined total number of builders and remodelers in the country.
This article was originally published by a eyeonhousing.org . Read the Original article here. .
Wage growth in construction continued to decelerate in April on a national basis, but the differences across regional markets remain stark. Nationally, average hourly earnings (AHE) in construction increased 3.6% year-over-year and crossed the $39.3 mark when averaged across all payroll employees (non-seasonally adjusted, NSA). Meanwhile, average earnings in construction in Alaska and Massachusetts exceeded $50 per hour (NSA). Across states, the annual growth rate in AHE ranged from 10.6% in Nevada to a decline of 3% in Oklahoma. This is according to the latest Current Employment Statistics (CES) report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Average hourly earnings (AHE) in construction vary greatly across 43 states that report these data. Alaska, states along the Pacific coast, Illinois, Minnesota, and the majority of states in Northeast record the highest AHE. As of April 2025, fourteen states report average earnings (NSA) exceeding $40 per hour.
At the other end of the spectrum, nine states report NSA average hourly earnings in construction under $34. The states with the lowest AHE are mostly in the South, with Arkansas reporting the lowest rate of $29.3 per hour.
While differences in regional hourly rates reflect variation in the cost of living across states among other things, the faster growing wages are more likely to indicate specific labor markets that are particularly tight. Year-over-year, Nevada, Mississippi, Alaska, Colorado, Texas, Florida, South Carolina, and Montana reported fastest growing hourly wages in construction, more than doubling the national average growth of 3.6%. Nevada reported the largest annual increase of 10.6%, while the growth rate in Mississippi and Alaska was just under 10%.
In sharp contrast, Oklahoma registered a decline in hourly wages of 3%. Five other states reported modestly declining hourly rates in construction, compared to a year ago – Louisiana, Missouri, Rhode Island, California, and Wisconsin.
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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. .
“From the start, Soloway Designs has set one of its goals to create and grow an exciting professional work environment,” says Marc Soloway, architect, founder and principal at Soloway Designs in Tucson, Arizona. “The atmosphere is light, but quality work is produced, deadlines are met and client satisfaction is at the forefront. Our office is a giant family, and as we grow, and during interviews, we endeavor to make sure each new hire will be a good fit.”
Soloway describes reviewing hundreds of resumes to source a new employee. He says the company is seeking “a personality that fits with our team. A quality work ethic, knowledge of what the position requires, desire for further growth are a few of the critical success factors for a potential new employee.”
To find these attributes, Soloway looks beyond what’s written on the page in front of him. “Resumes offer only a glimpse of a potential candidate,” he says.
“The resume and the candidate all too often are not a close fit. For example, a great project in the presented portfolio may indeed be commendable, but deeper discussion may question just how much the candidate actually understands and had uniquely contributed.
“During in-house interviews, we look beyond stated assignments and accomplishments,” Soloway says. “Discussion issues include: Tell me about a particular challenge and how you worked it out. What frustrates you most in the work environment? What are your primary professional growth goals for the coming year? And where do you see yourself in five years?”
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