As the calendar peeks toward 2026, both luxury home builders and buyers are prioritizing their must haves for custom-built, beautiful properties. For the design team at Ken Harvey Homes, that means researching and readying floorplans for partnerships with refined buyers seeking to build the home of their dreams. From features that focus on well-being to non-negotiable entertainment spaces, the priority list for 2026 custom construction homes highlights the goals of builders and buyers alike. 

Healthy Homes will be the top priority in the coming years as all-season comfort and wellness have become essential rather than a niche need.

• High-Capture Filtration and Balanced Ventilation: Indoor air quality will be guaranteed through quiet filtration and expertly ducted ventilation systems. For residents, this means always having the freshest in-home air that isn’t affected by the region's high humidity. 
• Acoustic Comfort: While “sound comfort” may be an unfamiliar term to some, luxury homebuyers now demand a focus on their home’s acoustic details. Custom home design and building teams are educated on “quiet homes,” achieving it through a variety of methods including the addition of mineral wool in interior partitions and solid-core doors in primary suites.

Energy-Efficient homes are not a new concept, but buyers continue to up the ante. In past years, it was enough to simply have energy-efficient appliances installed. Today, buyers want to see the benefits of efficiency via the monthly costs of running their homes. 

• HVAC Systems: Smart thermostats continue to be a game-changer for maintaining an ideal climate while taking a more conservative approach. Many new HVAC systems can be linked to smartphones, enabling their load to be lightened when the house is empty. Programmable options have increased significantly and even allow residents to manage indoor temperatures room-by-room.
• High-Efficiency Entries: By installing windows and doors designed to keep hot or cold temperatures out, homes maintain an ideal climate more easily. An added benefit? These upgraded options also reduce the amount of dust, pollen and other allergens that typically enter a standard home. 
• Induction-Ready Kitchens: An induction-ready kitchen offers faster cooking times, precise temperature control, and increased safety. Because induction appliances offer direct heat transfer, residual heat is minimized which can lower utility costs. 
• Energy Star Appliances are designed to use water more efficiently during each cycle. This includes dishwashers, washing machines, ice makers, and more.
• High-Performance Standard: Advanced air-sealing, properly sized insulation and meticulous duct placement are additional ways luxury builders, such as Ken Harvey Homes will meet the gold standard in energy-efficiency in 2026. 

Water-Efficiency? Yes, water-efficiency will be a new buzzword in the coming new-home construction years. Water-efficiency means installing methods to reduce water use without sacrificing performance. 

• Intelligent Irrigation: Landscape designs that include irrigation zones are becoming more common as they separate turf from flower or garden beds, reducing waste through run-off. 
• Planting with Purpose: Opting for native or low water need plants and grouping plants according to their watering needs (hydro-zoning) creates reduced and more efficient water use.  
• Low-Flow Fixtures are replacing traditional showerheads, faucets, and toilets. While these fixtures are “low flow” they are designed to offer the same experience as those that may waste water. 
• Insulated Pipes reduce the amount of work hot water heaters have to perform to heat water and, because the water comes to temperature more quickly, less is used. 

Future-Proof Homes allow homebuyers to plan ahead even as technology and individual needs change. 

• Car Charging Stations: While electric vehicles were once considered a fad, they have taken root on the roads and are here to stay. As drivers discover the benefits of hybrid or gas-free cars, EV-ready garages have become a requirement for many new homebuyers. 

• Solar Options: Solar-ready homes encourage residents (or even whole communities!) to reduce dependence on local power grids. In central North Carolina, there is an added benefit to solar access as the storm or hurricane seasons can cause unexpected power outages. Whether opting for solar panels, a solar roof, or solar wall, the coming years will see more homeowners requesting alternative power. 
• Whole-Home Generators: Back-up generators have always been appealing but many homeowners have found them difficult to maintain and use. When paired with a solar-system and/or installed at the time of building, switching from local electric to a back-up generator becomes much more convenient. 
• Storage, storage, storage! It often seems that no matter how much storage a home has, it is never enough. Ken Harvey Homes understands that most clients fill traditional storage spaces quite quickly, which is why they include more than the norm, including some creative storage spaces. 

Flexible Floor Plans are in demand as homebuyers prepare for multi-generational needs, home offices, or dedicated hobby zones. While hybrid spaces aren’t new, they will become more specific in 2026.

• Real Doors! The newest demand in flexible living? Home offices that include a real door. It’s a minor tweak that offers big results with added privacy and acoustic separation while minimizing distractions.

• Multi-Generational Suites will include ample space for an oversized bed, sitting nook, and have an attached bathroom. These suites may be included within the main floor of the design plan or added above the garage for a bit more privacy.
• Convertible or Flex Rooms will include a full-size closet and adjacent bath but will easily serve as a home gym, craft area or theater. 
• Pet-Friendly Mudrooms make it easy to wash those four-legged residents while offering extra storage via built-in cubbies. 
• Sculleries give kitchens a “hiding space” for food prep, small-appliance storage, and more, leaving the main kitchen clutter-free. 

Outdoor Living that Works is a must in North Carolina, especially when it provides indoor/outdoor continuity. 

• Screened Porches will include ceiling fans and recessed heaters, keeping them open for use all year long. 

• Durable Materials, such as composite decking, rot-resistant trims, and aluminum railings will extend the life of porches, patios and decks far beyond 2026. 
• Gas Stubs and High-Voltage Outlets on the patio will accommodate both traditional grilling and the newer electric/induction griddles.
• Audio Al Fresco is easily achieved with pre-wired, weather-friendly sound systems and WIFI access points perfect for game-day streaming outdoors. 

Smarter Smart Homes are answering the call as homeowners are tired of having a single app for nearly every smart feature in their homes. To reduce that gadget circus, the demand for one platform that controls everything has increased. 

• Structured Wiring will run to entertainment spaces and offices, offering fast, stable connectivity.
• Interoperable devices will reduce app sprawl.

• Core Automations will integrate home features by combining them. Think smart locks combined with doorbells, leak detection warnings that combine with an auto-shutoff feature or dual-purpose smoke and carbon monoxide detection. 
• Wellness Lighting will allow residents to create scene control and circadian-tuned lighting giving a more “natural” experience to their home’s rhythm.

The outlook for new construction homes in 2026 will focus on comfort and health. While stunning finishes and unique floorplans will still be a highlight of luxury homes, buyers are also prioritizing flexibility, a lowered carbon footprint, and a clean environment. The team at Ken Harvey Homes continuously educates itself on new construction home trends so that our floorplans and amenities match the ever-changing needs of our clients. 

Reach out to Ken Harvey Homes today to see our custom home plans for 2026!