Homeowners Are Digging In for 5 Years: A Threat to Buyers or a Hidden Lifeline? 

These days, many homeowners are committed to improving their homes.In fact, Angi’s annual State of Home Spending Report discovered that 66% of homeowners plan to make a major home investment within the next five years—the highest level recorded in its research.“Economic pressures, including inflation, high interest rates, and income uncertainty, are likely driving this stay-put, let's-just-improve-our-home mentality,” says Tammy Crosby, CEO of The House Designers in Monroe, CT.Since inventory levels are currently low, this trend could be an issue in the short term. Then again, the concept of homeowners locking in for the long haul isn't anything new. But what is good news is that this mentality of homeowners may actually benefit buyers down the road.If and when these homeowners eventually sell, buyers may have access to more updated, well-maintained properties, while sellers could potentially command higher resale values.Bottom line: We're talking a win-win for everyone involved. The stay-put trend is keeping housing inventory lowAccording to July 2026 housing data from Realtor.com®, national inventory remains 11.6% below typical 2017 to 2019 levels, even as active listings have in...