America's Older Homestock Requires Investment in Modernization

New York, NY, April 6, 2026-The median age of U.S. homes is 44, reports the Wall Street Journal, and these homes are in need of modernization and maintenance.

“The cost of home maintenance, even after accounting for broader inflation, has jumped. Structural repair costs grew by about 14.1% in real terms between 2022 and 2024, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. Plumbing jumped by 23.6%. The increase reflects the rising cost of individual parts and labor, and the larger size of necessary repairs,” reports the Journal.

While experts traditionally suggested that homeowners set aside 1% of a home’s value on annual maintenance, Angi now says 2% to 3% is more realistic, given the amount of investment many U.S. homes require.