Use tax refund for projects
Remodelers say homeowners are still spending on upgrades even as broader housing signals soften, and Angi suggests using a tax refund as a practical funding source for home improvements rather than pure consumption. (National Mortgage News about-rising-rates, Daily Gazette/Angi ) The advice frames refunds as seed money for targeted projects that raise comfort or curb appeal without a full remodel. (Daily Gazette/Angi )
Homeowners are still putting money into repairs and upgrades, and tax refunds are emerging as one small way to pay for them. (nationalmortgagenews.com) National Mortgage News reported on April 13 that remodelers are not seeing the same pullback hitting home sales, even as higher mortgage rates cool buying activity. The trade group National Association of Home Builders said its Remodeling Market Index has stayed above the break-even mark of 50 for 24 straight quarters. (nationalmortgagenews.com) (nahb.org) Angi said in an advice column published April 13 that a refund can work as “seed money” for smaller home projects instead of disappearing into day-to-day spending. The company pointed readers toward practical jobs such as painting, fixture swaps, landscaping and other targeted updates rather than a full-scale renovation. (msn.com) The timing lines up with a bigger refund pool this filing season. Internal Revenue Service data for the week ending April 3 showed 69.8 million refunds issued, with the average refund at $3,462, up from $3,116 a year earlier. (irs.gov) Housing economists still expect remodeling growth to slow later this year, not collapse. Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies said on January 26 that spending on owner-occupied home improvements and maintenance is expected to “gradually slow through 2026.” (jchs.harvard.edu) That softer outlook sits next to forces still pushing owners to improve the homes they already have. The National Association of Home Builders said in February that the typical United States home was 41 years old in 2023, and many owners remain locked into older low-rate mortgages they do not want to give up. (nahb.org) The same National Association of Home Builders release said home improvement spending accounted for 44% of residential construction spending in the first quarter of 2025, up from 33% in 2007. It also said bathroom, kitchen and whole-house remodels were the most common project types in 2025. (nahb.org) For households getting a refund this week, the pitch is narrower than “renovate the whole house.” It is to use a few thousand dollars for one defined project that improves comfort, upkeep or curb appeal while the broader housing market cools. (msn.com)
