According to a new analysis from Redfin, starter-home affordability is improving. The income needed to afford an average U.S. starter home is down 1.5% from a year ago, marking eight straight months of declines as price growth cools. Affordability for entry-level homes is improving more than the overall market; the income needed to buy the typical U.S. home is down just 0.5% because price growth remains stronger at higher price points as affluent buyers remain active.
“We consider a home affordable if a buyer taking out a mortgage would spend no more than 30% of their income on their monthly housing payment. Starter homes are those in the 5th to 35th percentile for sale prices,” said Redfin in its analysis. “This is based on a Redfin analysis of median home sale prices, prevailing mortgage rates and property-tax payments and assumes a 15% down payment. This report focuses on June 2026, the most recent period for which data is available.”
The analysis found that the income needed to buy a starter home is declining while earnings are rising. The typical American household earns an estimated $87,599, about $17,000 more than what is needed to buy the median-priced U.S. starter home.
Tri Pointe Homes announced the completion of its LivingWell concept home and the start of sales at Pavilions at Holladay Hills, an exclusive collection of six one-of-a-kind luxury estate residences in Holladay, Utah. The completed concept home gives prospective buyers their first opportunity to experience LivingWell, Tri Pointe’s next-generation approach to whole-home wellness.
Photography by Kara Mercer
“LivingWell represents an important evolution in how we think about designing homes,” said Tom Mitchell, President and Chief Operating Officer of Tri Pointe Homes. “Buyers increasingly want homes that contribute meaningfully to the lives they hope to lead. Luxury is no longer measured by scale or finishes alone, but by whether a home can adapt, restore and support the people living there. Pavilions at Holladay Hills is Tri Pointe’s response, offering residences that are highly personalized, flexible over time and holistically focused on human wellbeing.”
The LivingWell concept home integrates wellness throughout the entire home, rather than confining it to individual rooms or amenities. Organized around a private interior courtyard, the three-story, 7,774-square-foot contemporary English manor includes six bedrooms, nine bathrooms, a four-bay garage and a separate carriage home for guests or multigenerational living. Its orientation, enhanced glazing and circulation draw natural light into the interior while strengthening indoor-outdoor living.
Photography by Ikon Media
“Good design should support our routines while making space for the ways we evolve,” said Bobby Berk, LivingWell’s designer, Emmy-winning TV host and author. “LivingWell brings that balance of comfort and freedom into wellness-oriented spaces that are deeply connected to the people who live there. This project is exciting because it doesn’t view wellness as just another trend. LivingWell is a platform for imagining where residential design can go next.”
Photography by Kara Mercer
The project builds upon Tri Pointe Homes’ LivingSmart program, the company’s longterm commitment to sustainability, energy efficiency and responsible building practices. LivingWell extends to how a home feels by incorporating light, flow, comfort, connection and adaptability into the routines of daily life. The approach is anticipated to be expressed across all six residences at Pavilions at Holladay Hills.
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) announced its National Board of Directors for 2026-2027. Board leadership is effective October 1, 2026.
“The strength of ASID has always been rooted in the expertise and diversity of its volunteer leadership,” said Khoi Vo, chief executive officer of ASID. “Our incoming Board reflects the breadth of today’s design profession, bringing together accomplished practitioners, industry leaders and advocates who understand both the opportunities and the challenges shaping our future. Their leadership will help ensure ASID continues to elevate the profession, support our members and demonstrate the value of design in improving the way people live, work and thrive.” The 2026–2027 National Board of Directors includes:
Looking towards 2027, interior design trends are evolving from cool-toned, overly staged interiors. Instead, buyers will be looking for warmth and designs that feel grounded. While the cooler color palette of grey and white hues has been popular in the last decade, warm neutrals, earth tones and natural wood cabinetry will take center stage next year in new home construction.
While open floor layouts will carry into 2027, buyers have been prioritizing more privacy, defined zones and flexible rooms for work and quiet. This is also likely to continue in next year’s interior design trends.
Throughout 2026, we have seen buyers’ desire for wellness-focused features such as natural light, quieter spaces and spa-style baths. This drive for wellness-inspired design will continue, as buyers seek interiors that reflect and improve their daily routines.
Highland Homes, the Texas-based homebuilder, announced a new division-led organizational structure. Under the new structure, local functional teams will report…
