NAHB flags strong remodeling demand, a tailwind for Home Depot workers

Remodeling is still carrying the kind of demand that matters on a Home Depot sales floor. NAHB said its Remodeling Market Index has stayed above 50 for 24 straight quarters, a sign that project work, not just house hunting, is keeping customer traffic alive in Pro, kitchens, baths and millwork.

The backdrop is getting more favorable for renovation than for moving. NAHB says the median age of owner-occupied U.S. homes reached 41 years in 2023, up from 31 years in 2005, and about 48% of the stock was built before 1980. It also says the number of remodeling firms climbed from fewer than 69,000 in 2000 to more than 128,000 at the start of 2025, while home-improvement spending rose from 33% of residential construction in 2007 to 44% in the first quarter of 2025. For workers, that means a market built around repairs, refreshes and full-scale remodels is taking a bigger share of the business.

That shift shows up in the aisle-by-aisle conversations associates handle every day. NAHB says 56% of remodelers are involved in aging-in-place work, and 96% report that most or some customers are already familiar with the concept. That points to more questions about accessible bathrooms, easier-entry showers, kitchen updates, flooring transitions and whole-house upgrades that require more than one trip to the shelf. For associates who know the products, the upside is not just a larger basket, but a better chance to keep the customer moving through the job instead of stalling at one missing part. For department leads and store managers, it puts pressure on inventory planning, special-order execution and service around the categories that solve a project from start to finish.

The broader housing market helps explain why the remodeling lane is staying open. NBER research has shown that fixed-rate mortgages can discourage homeowners from moving when rates rise, and March 2026 existing-home sales were reported at their slowest pace in 17 years. When owners stay put, the renovation budget often becomes the next move, which keeps project spending flowing even when home-sale headlines look soft.

Home Depot has been acting on that reality. In March 2026, the company said it was expanding its Pro digital experience with project-management and AI tools for professional renovators, remodelers and builders. It also said in 2026 that it would add 12 new stores across eight states, tying the expansion to aging homes and housing needs. The message for store teams is straightforward: remodeling demand is not just a market headline, it is a steady source of traffic, selling opportunities and work for the associates who can help customers finish the job.