Survey Finds Half of U.S. Homeowners Plan to Stay 12 Years Longer Due to Economy

Half of American homeowners say the economy is causing them to remain in their current homes for an average of 12 years longer than originally planned, according to a survey of 2,000 respondents conducted by Talker Research. The survey, commissioned by Service Experts for National Homeowner Month in June, was administered online between April 28 and May 4, 2026.

Forty-nine percent of homeowners said the economy has influenced how long they expect to stay in their homes.

Six percent said they see themselves relocating again. Fifteen percent of respondents said they envision living in their current home for at least 20 more years. Homeowners surveyed have owned their current homes for an average of 16 years.

Seventy-five percent of respondents said they are still learning how to get ahead on home maintenance after an average of 16 years of ownership. Eighty percent said they prioritize proactive home care at least as much as reactive care. Knowledge of recommended maintenance schedules varied.

Thirty-eight percent knew furnace maintenance should be performed yearly. Twenty-four percent knew plumbing should be checked annually.

More than half of respondents said they have not revisited plumbing maintenance in the past year. Seventy-one percent have not revisited electrical maintenance.

Fifty-four percent have not revisited HVAC maintenance. Forty-one percent of respondents said they perform maintenance tasks themselves. Among those who attempted DIY repairs, 32 percent found a chatbot useful for general repairs, while 17 percent found one useful for plumbing repairs and 17 percent found one useful for electrical repairs.