Global Scans · Homes · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: The number of smart homes is expected to grow further and by 2020 it is expected 46.2 million homes in the US and 44.9 million in Europe will be classed as smart homes. By 2022 there could be nearly 500 smart devices that can be connected to a smart home.

• [New] One in four homes could be at risk of flooding by 2050, as climate change pushes up sea levels and increases the intensity of storms. no2nuclearpower
• [New] Other states are seeing moves against renewables projects: Arizona's House in February approved HB 2223, which would forbid wind farm projects within 12 miles of any property zoned for residential use. DLA Piper
• [New] By 2025, clinical trials will evolve to become more accessible and efficient, with innovations like virtual trials and remote monitoring allowing patients to participate from home. Health Science Forum
• [New] Individuals who are qualifying new residents in the UK will get 100% tax relief on eligible FIG during their first four years of being UK resident. www.rossmartin.co.uk
• [New] The potential effects if the Minnesota House seeks to cut Veteran homeless funding are severe, risking the reversal of hard-won progress and leaving hundreds of Minnesota's veterans without essential support. USMilitary.org
• [New] Interest Rates & Mortgage Affordability - The Bank of England's potential rate cuts could improve mortgage affordability, boosting demand and house prices after years of stagnation. Aspen Woolf
• [New] US existing home sales decreased more than expected in March as prices reached a record high for the month. Middleton Private Capital
• [New] In 2025, countries that prioritize infrastructure development and urban planning will likely see increased property values and demand for housing. Pouted Magazine
• [New] Florida's House Bill 991 proposes phasing out Community Redevelopment Agencies, which could affect affordable housing initiatives and hinder local efforts to address blighted areas and reduce the availability of affordable housing. E Pluribus Unum Fund
• [New] With an additional 475 immigrants allocated for Thunder Bay per year in the renewed Rural Community Immigration Pilot, Thunder Bay could see 2,375 newcomers, plus their families, settle in Thunder Bay over the next five years. Metroland Media
• [New] American Family offers a long list of insurance discounts, and it receives fewer consumer complaints than expected for a company of its size. NerdWallet
• [New] The United States is taking action to tackle the climate crisis at home and abroad to avoid the most catastrophic impacts and to seize the opportunity that tackling climate change presents. United States Mission to the United Nations
• [New] Analysts do not expect Apple to move iPhone production to the US, despite the White House insisting that the manufacturing of an American tech product will ultimately return home. The Guardian
• [New] The proposed requirement could lead to price increases of between 3% and 5% for new housing developments in Canberra. Insurance Business
• [New] The White House could adopt a more flexible approach to sanctions enforcement, potentially allowing US energy companies to secure meaningful stakes in Russian energy ventures. Discovery Alert
• [New] As more projects get built in 2025, the U.S. will come closer to a cleaner energy system - one that can power homes, businesses, and vehicles while cutting carbon pollution. Carbon Credits
• [New] The White House is open to discussing a significant rate cut on Chinese imports in order to advance negotiations with Beijing but will not do so alone. Australian Broadcasting Corporation
• [New] There was a huge opportunity for the UK to secure thousands of new jobs and investment in supply chains for renewables, and make home-grown energy supplies more secure. MarketScreener UK
• [New] TSMC has committed to purchasing 1.25 GW of renewable energy by 2026, enough to power over 1.2 million homes. The volt Post
• Relative to households in need, Bulgaria and Poland will have substantial financial resources to aid households falling into the lowest 20% or 30% of the income distribution, or at least to shield them from aggravated energy and transport poverty. Bruegel | The Brussels-based economic think tank

Last updated: 03 May 2025