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As of November 2024, there were 132,000,000 households in the U.S., a net increase of 782,000 from the previous year. Family households grew by 351,000; married couples grew by 122,000; and non-family homes (single-person occupancy) grew by 432,000.

Meanwhile, researchers found average household sizes declined from 2.58 members in 2010 to 2.53 members in 2024. According to the U.S. Census, 64% of households are family homes, down from 79% in 1974. In 2024, there were 38.5 million one-person households, or 29% of all U.S. households—a huge increase from 19% 50 years ago.

The trend of smaller households is yet another factor influencing the appetite and need for smaller homes. Bigger homes used to be more desirable to homebuyers, but between lack of affordability and rising eco-awareness, smaller homes are becoming the new standard. And the icing on the cake? Small homes appreciate faster than larger homes. Realtor.com notes that homes of 1,200 square feet or less appreciated at 7.5% over the last five years, while homes 2,400 feet or larger appreciated at only 3.8%.

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Color psychologists say that colors have personalities that affect people and the environment. Brown, for example, is quietly confident, approachable, reliable, and reassuring.

When the Pantone Color Institute released its selection for the Color of the Year 2025, a rich silky brown evocative of chocolate and coffee called Mocha Mousse, it explained that this is the shade that answers a global “desire for comfort.” Mocha Mousse also provides a safe haven for neutralists who want a bold, fresh alternative to classic whites, grays, or beiges.

Benjamin Moore also chose a consoling brown for its Color of the Year, a confident, snuggly shade called Cinnamon Slate. Lauded as a “delicate mix of heathered plum and velvety brown,” this hue leads the muted Color Trends Palette for 2025.

Sherwin Williams’ 2025 Color Collection of the Year showcases soothing browns as well—a dark taupe called Nutshell and a warm milk chocolate called Grounded.

Browns easily define the theme of enveloping comfort and partner well with secondary and accent colors in creams, blues, and greens.

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Your fireplace and chimney should be top of your spring-cleaning list, especially if you’re selling your home. Not only will your fireplace look (and smell) better, but it will be much safer to operate next winter.

Wood-burning fireplaces build up creosote which is highly flammable; one spark can turn into a chimney fire, damage the lining of the chimney, limit ventilation, and pollute the air quality of your home. Creosote, dirt, and other debris can accelerate carbon monoxide buildup and inhibit the release of toxins and smoke. Dirty chimneys can also keep oxygen from the fire and prevent the fire from burning in the right direction, filling the room with smoke.

When you sell your home, the homebuyer will arrange an inspection of all operating systems—a clean chimney is not only easier to inspect, but it will send the right kind of message to the buyer. Remove all the fireplace equipment and instead put a decorative screen or urn with flowers to take your fireplace into spring and summer.

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If you’re contemplating selling your home, call your Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network professional. They have ample data at their fingertips to inform you of current market conditions, which may have changed in the last few months. They’ll assist you in selecting the right price to list your home and help you get it sold for the highest price possible. Their advice may include the following:

• Price trends are trackable, so if your market is slowing, you should price your home slightly below the market trend. You want to avoid having to reduce your list price, as the longer your home is on the market, the more likely it is that other agents and their buyers may conclude your home has a problem.
• The better condition your home is in, regardless of age, the more money you can ask. While it seems counterintuitive to spend money to make money, such as paying for remodeling or other professional services, your job is to make your home competitive to other similar homes with upgrades that buyers prefer.

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If you sold your home in 2024 or early 2025, you could claim the maximum capital gains exclusions set in 1997. However, since these exclusions aren’t adjusted for inflation, many long-time homeowners still face capital gains taxes, notes Evan Liddiard, CPA and director of federal tax policy for the National Association of REALTORS®.

The maximum exclusion on homestead capital gains is $250,000 for single filers, and $500,000 for married couples. Sellers must have lived in and owned the home for at least two out of the past five years.

Subtracting the purchase price of the home from the sales price gives you the cost basis but you can minimize capital gains using an adjusted basis, like including the cost of any capital improvements you made. Capital improvements are permanent structural changes and restorations that enhance the property’s overall value, its useful life, or adaptation to new uses.

Charitable donations and putting cash into tax-deferred IRAs can also reduce your tax exposure. Ask your CPA for more tips.

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Housing market conditions change rapidly, with fluctuating interest rates, price and availability of homes. Your Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network professional can help you with the following suggestions:

Step 1: Be financially prepared
Prequalification for a mortgage loan tells you what kind of loan is best, the interest rate you’ll pay, how much you can spend on the purchase price of a home, and whether you’ll pay private mortgage insurance.

Step 2: Be flexible
You may have to make compromises to your wish list, like moving further out to get the amenities you want, buying a fixer-upper instead of a new home, or getting a condo instead of a house. Be open to alternatives.

Step 3: Plan for the long-term
Building equity takes time, so plan to stay in your home long enough to “repay” your closing costs. Closing costs for homebuyers account for 2 to 6% of the purchase price so it could take five to seven years to sell at a profit or break even.

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Before you buy a home, ask Jane At The Lake with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices to look into any potential deed restrictions that limit how you can build upon or use your property.

Deed restrictions are regulations imposed either by the local community or a homeowners association. These regulations can be found in the county clerk’s property records, the builder or planned community developer’s plans, and through homeowner associations’ Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs).

Restrictions are required for cities to effectively operate services and to protect the rights and property values for all owners. This explains why adding a second story or operating a business out of your home requires a permit.

Homeowner association CC&Rs are designed to protect property values, foster public safety, and prevent disputes. HOAs typically want owner occupants only, and don’t allow rentals. Homes are built to conform to specific sizes, materials, colors and housing styles to make the community more attractive. Regular lawn care, exterior maintenance, and common area maintenance keep home values higher and make the community more desirable.

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As the costs of homebuying continue to rise, many homebuyers are willing to exchange urban amenities for the peace, quiet, and affordability of country life. If you’re a city slicker moving to the countryside, be prepared for big changes, like using well water and septic tanks instead of city plumbing and dealing with less reliable cell phone, satellite TV, and internet services. But—you’ll improve your chances of seeing more stars at night and breathing fresh air.

You may have to do most if not all property maintenance and animal care, as help may be hard to find. Consider how close you want to be to the city and how often you need to go there. What services does your rural community offer, such as police, fire departments, EMS, and hospitals? Conveniences such as grocery stores and auto repair shops should be within a reasonable commute. You can choose which schools your children attend, even if they’re in another school district.

Before making the move, ensure your rural home meets your household’s needs.

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Mortgage interest rates are slowly drifting lower, giving a much-needed boost to both homebuyers and home sellers. Yet, home prices continue to rise, even as more sellers put their homes on the market. Why? The U.S. is still several million homes short of a balanced market. So, do you want to wait for cheaper rates or go ahead a buy a home before home prices rise further?

To time the housing market perfectly, you need to:

1. Find the right home.
2. Buy at the right price.
3. Obtain the right mortgage interest rate.

You may get lucky and get one out of three or even two out of three, but it’s nearly impossible to get all three at the same time unless the market is in a recession or depression. Only then will there be plenty of homes to choose from, low prices, and low mortgage interest rates.

Start with finding the right home—one that best meets your household’s needs for space and features, your finances, and a reasonable interest rate.

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