Global Scans · Homes · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The number of smart homes is expected to grow further and by 2020 it is expected 46.2 million homes in the US and 44.9 million in Europe will be classed as smart homes. By 2022 there could be nearly 500 smart devices that can be connected to a smart home.

• [New] House prices will rise nationally by 5.3% over the next six months and by 5.6% during 2025, KPMG's new property report on Australia's capital cities finds. KPMG
• [New] For the next six months, there will be considerable national variation with Perth house prices rising by over 10% while Darwin and Hobart only experiencing 1.4% growth. KPMG
• [New] Melbourne houses will rise the most by 6.5% followed by Canberra at 6.0%, but even the lowest, Brisbane will still rise by 5.1%. KPMG
• [New] Australia needed many more skilled tradespeople - including carpenters, electricians and plumbers - if it was to have any realistic hope of meeting the 1.2 million new homes goal. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] By the end of 2025 more than 10 million homes and businesses will be able to access speeds of up to 2000 megabits per second. The Sydney Morning Herald
• [New] The 10 damaged hydropower facilities, including three under construction, have a combined capacity that could power 600,000 South Asian homes. WTOP News
• [New] The share of social housing has fallen by one third from 6% to 4% over the last 30 years - a trend it wants reversed to at least its historic level of 6% of dwellings by 2035, and to 10% by 2045, with First Nations housing a national priority. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] Americans are prioritizing the cost of home ownership less in 2025 moves, instead seeking small to mid-size cities where they will reap quality-of-life benefits. B98.5 FM
• [New] 2025 could be one of the worst years for home sales in the U.S. COSY Classic Hits 103.7
• [New] The combination of lower population growth and rising construction activity should see the flow of housing supply and demand move closer to balance by the end of 2026. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] Iowa counties will likely expand support programs - especially around veteran housing, healthcare access, and recognition efforts. Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs
• [New] Iowa House File 2523 aimed to restrict minors under 18 from creating social media accounts without parental consent and would have required platforms to provide parents with oversight of their children's activity. JD Supra
• [New] The median US household stares down an extra US$1,270 in expenses for 2025, a number projected to reach US$1,619 in 2026. ST
• [New] Prices for home cooling are expected to soar in the summer of 2025 and may reach a record high. News Channel 3-12
• [New] Consumer prices in the U.S. are projected to rise by 1.7% in the short term, translating to a $2,800 loss in purchasing power per household. THINK TANK JOURNAL
• [New] T-Mobile is beefing up its Home and Small Business 5G internet plans with even more perks - without raising prices. TmoNews
• [New] The cost of a humanoid robot could be within reach for more businesses and households, meaning that by 2050, one in ten U.S. households could own one. IntelligentHQ
• [New] In highly developed regions like the U.S., robots could become an integral part of daily life, with estimates suggesting that 10% of U.S. households could have one by 2050. IntelligentHQ
• [New] Global climate change has the potential to disrupt agricultural systems, undermine household socioeconomic status, and shape the prevalence and distribution of diseases. PubMed Central (PMC)
• Higher water levels from SLR are causing high-tide flooding in coastal and inland New York communities not previously impacted by tidal flooding, and intensifying storm surges that threaten homes and infrastructure. Department of Environmental Conservation
• House Bill 835 would launch a statewide K-12 curriculum in 2026 that highlights the contributions and challenges of AAPI communities at local and national levels. / USA New N.C. bill would introduce AAPI history to school cu

Last updated: 16 August 2025