Top 5 Tech Trends That Will Shape Housing in 2027

For today’s home builders, technology planning is no longer something that can wait until the end of the design process. Rather, it should be considered as early as possible in the design and construction process.

That was one of the clearest takeaways from CEDIA Expo 2026 held earlier this month, according to Katye McGregor Bennett, CEO and founder of KMB Communications, and an NAHB member. Bennett said this year’s expo underscored how quickly technology has evolved from an optional upgrade to a core part of a home’s infrastructure.

The market is already reflecting that shift. CEDIA estimates the value of the U.S. professional residential technology market at $33.8 billion, while an NAHB survey found that 52% of builders expect artificial intelligence to have a positive long-term impact on housing.

So, which technologies and trends should builders be planning for in 2027? Here are five of Bennett’s key takeaways from CEDIA Expo.

1. AI Becomes Less Visible and More Useful

The next generation of smart homes won’t necessarily advertise that AI is running behind the scenes. It will simply anticipate needs, automate routines and help systems operate more efficiently.

CEDIA Expo featured roughly 20 education sessions focused on AI, including predictive smart-home technologies and practical applications. For builders, the takeaway isn’t simply to “add AI.” It’s to plan infrastructure, systems and trade coordination that allow technology to evolve without reopening walls later.

2. Power and Energy Management Move Upstream

Homes are becoming increasingly dependent on electricity, from EV chargers and battery storage to solar, automation and in-home health care.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that electricity customers experienced an average of 11 hours of interruptions in 2024 — nearly twice the annual average of the previous decade.

Expect more attention to electrical capacity, power quality, backup power, load management, surge protection and energy monitoring earlier in the building process.

3. The Home Network Becomes a Utility

“Wireless” does not mean “no infrastructure.” In fact, CEDIA’s 2026 market analysis shows that home networking represents 15% of the U.S. professional residential technology market — the largest category measured.

For custom homes, reliable connectivity means planning wired backbones, access-point locations, equipment spaces, conduit and pathways before finishes make those decisions expensive to change.

4. Healthy Home Technology Gets Smarter

Wellness is moving from aspiration to measurable performance. EPA estimates that people spend about 90% of their time indoors, where some pollutants can reach levels several times higher than outdoors.

That points to continued growth in indoor-air-quality monitoring, ventilation, filtration, humidity control, intelligent lighting and automated shading — with systems increasingly sharing data and responding automatically.

5. Professional Integration Matters Even More

Home owners don’t want to juggle 14 different smart-home apps or dig through a stack of instruction manuals. As homes become more connected, lighting, climate, shading, security, entertainment and other systems need to work together reliably. CEDIA notes that professional smart-home platforms provide greater flexibility for more demanding ecosystems, but selecting the "best" one depends on the unique needs of the client and scope of the project.  

That selection process needs to happen early. The Home Technology Association recommends involving a qualified technology integrator before framing, electrical and HVAC bids are finalized — when technology requirements can still be coordinated rather than corrected.

“The biggest smart-home trend for 2027 isn’t simply more technology. It’s better-planned technology,” Bennett said. “Earlier integration of technology and close coordination across trades will help reduce construction surprises and result in and a better-performing home.”

Dive Deeper

On Oct. 1, Bennett moderated the NAHB webinar What’s Next in Home Technology: Insights from the 2026 CEDIA Expo. She was joined by a panel of NAHB members that included a top custom home builder and two leading technology integrators.

During the session, they shared key insights from CEDIA Expo, and what builders and remodelers should be paying attention to next. A replay of the webinar will soon be available to NAHB members.