Biggest Expenditures for New Home Buyers
NAHB analysis of Consumer Expenditure Survey (CES) data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that during the first year after closing on a home sale, home buyers tend to spend considerably more money on furnishings, appliances and remodeling compared to non-moving owners. Buyers of new homes spend four times as much as non-moving owners and twice as much as buyers of existing homes.
Top Expenditures
Alterations and repairs:
- New home buyers - $11,930
- Buyers of existing homes - $5,761
- Non-moving owners - $2,966
Furnishings:
- New home buyers - $5,122
- Buyers of existing homes - $2,665
- Non-moving owners - $904
Appliances:
- New home buyers - $4,254
- Buyers of existing homes - $2,499
- Non-moving owners - $1,442
Although home buyers tend to spend considerably more on furnishings, appliances and property alterations compared to non-moving owners, most of the demand for appliances, furnishings and remodeling projects in a given year is generated by non-moving home owners, because they outnumber home buyers by such a wide margin.
Dr. Natalia Siniavskaia, NAHB assistant vice president for housing policy research, details popular items among these categories and helps explain spending behavior in this Eye on Housing post.
Latest from NAHBNow
Member Benefits | Membership
Jan 28, 2026
NAHB Expands Member Savings Program with New Partners and Big Benefits in 2026NAHB members saved a total of more than $40 million in 2025 through a variety of member-exclusive offers. And in 2026, the portfolio of partners and programs within the NAHB Member Savings Program continues to grow.
Awards | Leading Suppliers Council
Jan 28, 2026
Transparent Flashing from Typar Earns 2026 Spark Innovation AwardThe NAHB Leading Suppliers Council (LSC) recently announced that Typar’s Clear Acrylic Flashing is the winner of the 2026 Spark Award. The flashing is the first and only product of its kind on the market that allows the pattern on window nailing fins to be completely visible upon installation.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Jan 28, 2026
Holding Pattern for the FedThe Fed paused its easing cycle at the conclusion of the January meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee, the central bank’s monetary policy body. The Fed held the short-term federal funds rate at a top rate of 3.75%, the level set in December. This marked the first policy pause since the Fed resumed easing in September of last year.
Economics
Jan 27, 2026
State-Level Employment Situation: December 2025With few exceptions, year-over-year nonfarm employment levels were relatively stable across states at the end of 2025, ranging from a decline of 4.2 percent to a gain of 1.8 percent. Construction employment, however, showed considerably greater dispersion, with declines of up to 9.3 percent in some states and gains approaching 9.0 percent in others.
Economics
Jan 26, 2026
Pool Permitting Falls Lower in 2025After a rapid expansion of residential swimming pool and spa construction following the pandemic, permit levels in the latest monthly index for December fell to their lowest level since 2020.