In our latest edition of the Weekly Rewind, we look at the latest developments in industry tariffs, HGTV’s best Smart Home project of 2025, some new developments in the housing market, and much, much more.
HGTV Announces Its Smart Home of 2025
HTGV officially revealed its Smart Home of the Year with People magazine gaining an exclusive look at the property. Located in San Antonio, Texas, the house was designed by HGTV’s Poonam Moore and features midcentury modern design that blends well with its technology accoutrements. Highlights of the property include recessed linear lights that run throughout each living space, speakers built into many of the furniture pieces, and a dedicated media lounge. It’s backyard basketball court with its smart backboard that steals the show, however. And if that piques your appetite for smart homes, be sure to check out our own Home of the Year Awards for 2024.
The First Tariff Price Hikes Are Rolling in For Audio
While CE Pro–as well as our contemporaries over as Residential Technology Today–has been keeping close eyes on how the effects of tariffs are progressing in the CI space, What Hi-Fi has been doing their own research into how tariffs are progressing among audio manufacturers. According to their report, brands such as Audio Pro have already announced a 15% price hike on all products in the U.S. Others such as Cambridge Audio, LG, and Yamaha responded with a “no” to price hikes in the immediate future, but none are ruling out the possibility just yet.
White House Tees Up Semiconductor Tariffs
Reuters has reported that the Trump Administration plans to institute new tariffs on semiconductors in the coming months, throwing yet another wrench into the business of electronics. The specifics on these tariffs has not been divulged yet. If enacted, these tariffs have the potential to yet again hit many of the product categories in the custom integration industry as modern flatscreen TVs, LEDs and solar panels (which ultimately tie into home energy), all use semiconductors in their construction, leaving them acutely vulnerable to further price hikes. Additionally, the increase in cost of every day products and appliances could lead to a shrinking of household budgets when it comes to home upgrades.
Zillow’s Housing Forecast Turns Suddenly Bearish
Zillow kicked off the year with a pretty hopeful housing price forecast of 2.9% increases, however, according to Fast Company, that outlook has dipped into bear territory. Since January, Zillow has downgraded this outlook multiple times with home prices now expected to drop 1.7% in the next 12 months. Housing affordability remains a major constraint with many prospective buyers opting to rent instead, suppressing demand. Additionally, Zillow sees the Sun Belt housing market weakening substantially, which will weigh on nationally aggregated home prices this year.
The CE Pro 100 List is Here
Every year, CE Pro compiles a list of the top 100 integrators in the channel based on revenue. We also use this as an opportunity to check the pulse of the top end of the market and see where the most innovative and successful integrators are plying their trades along the bleeding edge of the industry. The digital edition of the magazine is out now, so don’t linger on these words for too long. Get over there, see who made the list, and see where the best of the best think the industry is heading in 2025.
