Are you planning on buying a home in Utah in the new decade? The ’20s will be full of big changes for everyone including home buyers. Whether you’ve bought a home before or are a first-time home buyer, there are some significant changes to home life that will alter the way we all look at home buying and living.
New Home Security
Along with transportation, the face of residential life is about to transform thanks to advancing technology. This thought might trouble a few, but most of us will be pleased to know that many of these changes will deal with home security. AI and machine learning will use features like facial recognition and your family’s behaviors to adapt and customize your home’s security. Say goodbye to the key under the mat and perhaps locksmiths altogether.
We have giants like Vivint right in Utah county. Because they add such a boost to Utah’s economy, there’s no reason that they will disappear any time soon. Quite the opposite actually. The Home Security industry has seen some tremendous growth and does not show any signs of slowing down. It may be safe to say that soon every home will be affected by it.
Smart(er) Homes
In addition to helping us protect the people and possessions we love, technology will find a newer, more integrated role inside our homes as well. When it comes to cleaning and general maintenance, we will see the beginnings of technology handling the day-to-day tasks that we routinely do. For example, companies like LG are working on smarter fridge cameras and systems that learn when to order groceries for you. Meanwhile, Amazon, Google, and Apple are making platforms more accessible to make transitions to smart homes much smoother.
Right now, Amazons Alexa is commonly known for putting on our favorite tunes and shows, but imagine being able to give commands like “start dinner” or, “sweep the floor.” There’s a lot of speculation that Amazon and others are working on mobile robots to assist us around the home. It’s unlikely to be any kind of robotic personage but autonomous, mobile bots are likely to become very typical according to this journalist. Additions like these could mean all kinds of changes in floor plans and home layouts which are a major consideration for first-time home buyers.
Home Energy
Energy is another industry that is transforming right before our eyes. Some states like California have already passed legislation that new homes are required to have solar panels on their roof. Could Utah be next? There is a big push right now to clean up Utah’s air and a global movement away from fossil fuels that could result in some new legislation of our own.
Utah has become one of the fastest-growing states in the nation, and can we blame anybody for wanting to live here? With a booming job market, safer communities, and year-round recreation, we are pretty great! But more people means likely changes in energy consumption. Solar is on its way to take over the energy industry thanks to developments in solar storage batteries. Tesla has the best model for now, but once other companies learn to work out the kinks, solar could soon be promoted to our primary source of power and electricity.
So What?
Why is this important for Utahns to know? In the past and present, we typically buy homes in a down payment/mortgage fashion and while the purchasing process will likely stay the same it is important, especially if you’re buying your first home, to be aware of additional costs and expenses that haven’t been part of home buying in the past.
New tech like smart home security and solar power will likely become parts of the original build. This could mean new financing options and more to consider than just which city you want to live in. Even apartment buildings in bigger cities are looking at potential solar options which could mean lower utility bills. In short, you could end up saving or paying big depending on where you plant your flag.
