10 Powerful Consumer Insights from the America at Home Study
As our society continues to redefine the meaning of home, a pivotal study leading the charge is the America at Home Study led by Teri Slavik-Tsuyuki, of tst ink llc. In the most recent episode of Communities Connected: A Land and Lifestyle Podcast by Alosant, Teri joined host April LaMon of Alosant to discuss Wave 4 of the the study—a robust dataset built on nearly 16,000 consumer responses since its launch in 2020. This episode, titled “2025 America at Home Study: Shifting Mindsets in Home and Community,” isn’t just a recap of trends—it’s a call to action for the entire real estate and development industry.
Together, they unpacked a series of transformative insights about how Americans think about housing today. From the erosion of homeownership as a cultural pillar to the rise of wellness as a purchase driver, the findings from the America at Home Study are not only timely—they’re deeply consequential. This article explores those insights through the lens of strategy, empathy, and consumer experience.
Recalibrating Confidence in Housing Decisions
For decades, Americans approached housing with a simple equation: get a mortgage, buy a home, build equity. That framework no longer holds. According to Wave 4 of the America at Home Study, decision confidence has deteriorated significantly. In fact, there's been a 30%+ increase in consumers expressing anxiety about making housing choices.
This isn’t just about affordability—it’s about clarity and trust. Today’s homebuyers are navigating a fragmented marketplace where the differences between communities are unclear, household structures are changing, and the true cost of ownership extends far beyond monthly payments.
Key drivers of this anxiety include:
- Product ambiguity: Consumers often can’t distinguish one community from another, making it hard to understand the value in the decision to buy.
- Inflexible design: Homes don’t adapt to life transitions—like remote work or aging parents.
- Unpredictable costs: Operating expenses (insurance, taxes, HOA fees) often eclipse the mortgage in financial impact.
This shift marks a deeper transformation in how Americans evaluate housing—not simply through the lens of a mortgage payment, but through the total experience of living in a home over time. It's no longer about affordability in isolation; it's about sustainability, predictability, and how well a home supports day-to-day life, both now and a decade into the future. This evolving mindset demands a more holistic definition of value—one that goes beyond competitive pricing to embrace long-term livability.
Experimentation and Flexibility Are the New Standard
Even amid uncertainty, the dream of homeownership persists. But consumers are now charting their own course to get there—and their path looks nothing like the traditional route. Wave 4 reveals a society far more open to experimentation in how, where, and what they buy.
We are witnessing a seismic shift away from fixed assumptions:
- Rent-to-own models surged in popularity—growing from 33% to 50% of respondents open to this path.
- Interest in smaller homes nearly doubled, from 21% to 40%.
- Reduced garage and yard preferences are no longer exceptions—they’re mainstream.
This appetite for non-traditional options isn’t about settling for less—it’s about redefining value on consumer terms. People are no longer driven by square footage, but by life-quality metrics like efficiency, livability, and adaptability.
As Teri observed, this isn’t simply a conversation about affordability anymore—it’s about consumers actively seeking alternative pathways to homeownership and embracing evolving lifestyles that better align with their values. Preferences are shifting from fixed, traditional models toward flexible, experience-driven housing choices that reflect the complexity and fluidity of modern life.
The Decline of Homeownership as Identity
The cultural narrative that homeownership is the pinnacle of financial success is unraveling. While owning a home is still aspirational for many, the emotional weight of that aspiration has shifted. The study found that 9% of Americans no longer aspire to own a home—an astonishing cultural shift.
What’s behind this redefinition?
- 24% of former homeowners now rent, not by force, but by choice—primarily due to rising operational costs.
- The belief that “home equals ownership” dropped by 3%.
- More respondents than ever (a 7% increase) said home feels like a financial worry.
These signals are more than statistical noise—they’re a transformation in how people assign meaning and value to their living environments. It challenges builders and developers to reframe their value proposition: not “You’ll own this,” but “You’ll thrive here.”
Wellness Gaps Are Growing Wider
Public health may have dominated headlines during the pandemic, but personal wellness—financial, physical, and emotional—remains deeply unsatisfied across the board. The America at Home Study highlights not only what people value, but where they feel shortchanged.
Key Wellness Domains: The Gaps That Matter Most
Across all major dimensions of wellness, respondents expressed a strong sense of importance—but a disappointing lack of satisfaction. This gap reveals missed opportunities in how homes and communities are designed today.
Financial Wellness
- Important to: 87% of respondents
- Satisfied with: 45%
- Delta: 42% gap
Physical Wellness
- Important to: 80%
- Satisfied with: 47%
- Delta: 33% gap
Emotional Wellbeing
- Important to: 79%
- Satisfied with: 57%
- Delta: 22% gap
Why These Gaps Matter
These disparities are not just numbers—they reflect a built environment that isn’t serving the realities of modern life. Communities are being shaped by assumptions rather than authentic, lived experiences. From Teri’s perspective as both sociologist and storyteller, these findings raise a critical question:
How can the homes and neighborhoods we create intentionally close the gap between what people value and what they actually experience?
The Path Forward
The answer doesn’t lie in expanding square footage or adding more amenities. Instead, it requires intentional design that supports:
- Economic stability through smarter layouts and efficient systems
- Health-promoting environments with clean air, natural light, and safe spaces
- Emotional connection through social spaces and accessible community features
The solution isn’t size—it’s purpose. Homes must do more than house people; they must help them thrive.
The Built Environment Shapes Health Outcomes
In one of the podcast’s most sobering moments, Teri cited a statistic that should reshape every developer’s strategy: 85% of health outcomes are tied to the built environment. Only 15% are genetic.
This means that the quality of air, walkability, access to nutritious food, and community connections are as important to health as, if not more, than genetic predisposition. That’s a staggering reframe for an industry that has historically focused on finishes and floor plans.
Communities that support health outcomes must prioritize:
- Walkable infrastructure
- Access to fresh, healthy food
- Safe public gathering places
- Clean water and air systems
- Economic and environmental sustainability
As Teri observed, “We lived in communities where there were residential and retail opportunities, and commercial opportunities and places of worship and things that were all multi-use, much more closely organized together—and we need to get back to that.”
Consumer Spending Priorities Signal What Matters Most
To dig deeper into values, the study asked a revealing question: “If you had $50,000 to spend on your home, how would you spend it?” The answers weren’t about luxury—they were about livability and resilience.
Top five consumer priorities:
- A modern kitchen for cooking and nourishment
- Energy efficiency through better HVAC, insulation, and lighting
- Whole-home water and air filtration for clean, safe water and to combat indoor pollutants
- Solar battery storage or power generation for long-term sustainability
This list reflects a clear redefinition of what modern home value truly means. Health, efficiency, and long-term livability have become essential—not optional. As Teri explained, these elements are no longer upgrades; they’re expectations. People are willing to compromise on aesthetics, but not on the systems and features that directly impact their well-being. These are non-negotiables.
Wellness Isn’t a Regional Luxury—It’s a National Expectation
There’s a lingering myth that wellness is a coastal or upper-income priority. But the data paints a different picture.
- Demand for wellness features is strong across every U.S. region
- Boomers and Millennials show the highest intensity of demand
This isn’t a niche trend. It’s a nationwide movement, and one that cuts across income, age, and geography.
Rules, Codes, and Assumptions Must Evolve
Policy and practice are often the last to catch up with consumer behavior. Slavik-Tsuyuki points to three key areas where the industry must make structural changes.
Jurisdictional Level:
- Rethink parking minimums and zoning constraints
- Approve smaller homes with dignity—not stigma
- Enable financial viability for attainable housing
Developer Level:
- Start every plan with consumer research
- Embrace experimentation and iteration
- Prioritize people-first design, not just efficiency
Builder Level:
- Break free from outdated formulas
- Design for the 64% of households that are 1–2 people
- Return to design innovation—not cookie-cutter templates
This is about aligning with a changing consumer who’s already moved on.
Homes Must Serve Roles, Not Just Room Counts
Traditional homebuilding focuses on space allocation—bedrooms, bathrooms, garages. But today’s consumers are more interested in how a home works than how big it is.
Homes must now accommodate:
- Flexible work and living patterns
- Multigenerational or single-resident households
- Mental and physical health needs
- Community engagement
The question isn’t, “How many rooms does it have?” It’s, “How well does it support my life?”
A New Open Platform for Housing Research Insights
To ensure these insights reach everyone who builds homes and communities, Teri and her partners are making all four waves of the America at Home Study freely available at americaathome.com.
The platform includes:
- Full infographics and data sets
- Virtual tours of concept homes
The website a collaborative space to rethink what it means to create places people love.
Homes Must Serve Roles, Not Just Room Counts
For far too long, home design has revolved around square footage and room counts. The real estate industry has traditionally measured value in tangible assets: three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, two-car garage. But in today’s post-pandemic world, those metrics tell only part of the story.
The insights from the America at Home Study make it clear: today’s consumers prioritize how a home functions over how large it is. They’re asking for living spaces that evolve with them—not static boxes designed for outdated family models. It’s no longer sufficient to design for the nuclear family with predictable routines. The modern household is more fluid, more complex, and more personal.
Future-forward homes must support:
- Flexible work and living patterns: With remote work now embedded in everyday life, homes need spaces that can pivot from office to classroom to gym—sometimes all in one day.
- Multigenerational or single-resident households: As the average household size shifts—64% now consist of one or two people—layouts must feel right-sized, not oversized or isolating.
- Mental and physical health needs: Natural light, clean air, low-stress acoustics, and wellness-oriented layouts are not amenities—they’re essentials.
- Community engagement: The walls of a home extend into the street, the park, and the plaza. How a home connects to its community has become a critical part of its value.
This moment captures a fundamental shift in housing design. The measure of a home is no longer its number of rooms but its ability to adapt, support, and elevate daily life. As Teri wisely pointed out in the podcast, it’s about function, not just form—how each space contributes to well-being, flexibility, and connection. For developers, this means moving beyond static layouts and designing homes that flex, connect, and enrich—not merely provide shelter.
🎧 Want to Go Deeper? Listen to the Full Conversation
For a richer understanding of the insights, context, and stories behind the America at Home Study, we invite you to listen to the full podcast episode featuring Teri Slavik-Tsuyuki on Communities Connected: A Land and Lifestyle Podcast by Alosant.
In this engaging and insightful episode, Teri shares the behind-the-scenes thinking that shaped the study, offers real-world examples of leading-edge communities, and challenges the industry to design with empathy and innovation.
👉 Click here to listen to the full episode
Whether you’re a builder, developer, policymaker, or simply passionate about where people live and why—it’s a conversation worth your time.
Conclusion: Building Forward with Clarity and Care
The America at Home Study is a lens into the soul of the modern American household. As captured in the 2025 Communities Connected podcast episode with Teri Slavik-Tsuyuki, these housing research insights are both a mirror and a map. They reflect what consumers are truly feeling—uncertainty, desire for wellness, openness to alternatives—and they point the way forward for how the housing industry must respond.
This is a watershed moment. The data is clear: people want homes that serve their lives, not just check boxes on a listing sheet. They crave flexibility, health, and connection. They are rethinking ownership, redefining value, and reshaping their expectations of where and how they live.
The opportunity for developers, builders, planners, and policymakers is to meet this moment with clarity and care. Clarity in understanding what people truly need and the courage to challenge outdated norms And care to build homes and communities that uplift, support, and inspire.
As Teri so aptly shared, this work is “really about asking how might we—how might we look at this differently, build more human spaces, and make the world better for all?”
Let’s answer that question—together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the America at Home Study?
A longitudinal survey tracking U.S. consumer housing attitudes since 2020, revealing deep insights into wellness, affordability, and homeownership trends.
Who leads the America at Home Study?
Teri Slavik-Tsuyuki of tst ink llc, in partnership with the Housing Innovation Alliance and the University of Pittsburgh’s Mascaro Center.
Why is wellness a focus in housing research insights?
Because 85% of health outcomes are tied to the built environment. Wellness is no longer a luxury—it’s foundational.
How can builders apply these insights?
By redesigning homes and communities around flexibility, health, and consumer values—not legacy models.
Is interest in wellness and small homes limited to certain regions?
No. The America at Home Study shows consistent demand nationwide, especially among Millennials and Boomers.
Where can I access the study?
Visit americaathome.com to explore all four waves of data and concept home resources.
Further Reading By Alosant
- The Pearl San Antonio: A Placemaking Case Study That Works
- How to Design Magnetic Public Spaces That Attract People
- Mixed-Use Spaces That Do More Than Check a Box
Further Reading
- America at Home Study Official Site
- Global Wellness Institute
- Housing Innovation Alliance
- Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation
