HomeTeam Inspection Service

For years, homeownership has felt out of reach for many buyers, with the average age of first-time homebuyers getting older each year. Lately, though, the market has started to shift as builders and buyers adjust to new conditions.As rents continue to rise, people are finding themselves at a crossroads, realizing it may be more affordable to buy than rent. And while the barriers to entry for purchasing an existing home remain high, builders are stepping in with more aggressive tactics to decrease hurdles and move inventory. So, while there isn’t a traditional buyer boom going on, there’s a strategic opening created by builder incentives.“Building a home is more incentivized than it’s been in a long time, and that’s going to cause an influx of buyers, first-time and otherwise, building homes rather than buying existing ones,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cook-a2810b8b?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-opportunity-new-build-trends-2731364" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Matt Cook</a>, Director of Operations at&nbsp;<a href="http://hometeamfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-opportunity-new-build-trends-2731364" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">HomeTeam Inspection Service</a>. “For&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/hometeaminspectionservice/info">HomeTeam</a> franchise owners, this presents a unique opportunity. Even new homes need inspections, and HomeTeam owners have an opportunity to drive business by completing inspections both before the buyers take the keys and at the 11-month mark to provide a thorough report before the warranty expires.”&nbsp;<h2>The Incentive-Driven Shift</h2>The median age of first-time homebuyers is increasing, but the market isn’t stalled. Rather, the new market core is defined by steadily dropping interest rates and remarkable new home build incentives.“If people see that renting is not valuable to them anymore, they’re going to buy a home. And generally, when this wave happens, you’re going to have buyer credits,” Cook said. “We need to build homes faster, and the more we can build and the cheaper they are to build, the more attractive the market is, and the faster our housing booms. Offering buyer incentives is one of the key ways to do this.”Major national builders are utilizing their own financing arms to offer mortgage rates much lower than the national standard, and many are offering “flex cash,” upgrade credit and closing cost assistance to excite buyers and move-in-ready inventory.“These can make a major difference in the value of the home for the buyer,” he said. “These credits are things like, instead of spending $7,500 on a stone fireplace, the builder will give you $15,000 in flex cash to choose any upgrades you want throughout the home. Or, when I built a home in 2015, the incentive was a free deck or finished basement.”For current renters already considering taking the leap to homeownership, incentives like these that can represent tens of thousands of dollars in value are just the push they need.<h2>Supply and the Inspection Gap</h2>The appeal of these incentives is backed up by the data. In early 2010, construction began on about&nbsp;<a href="https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/HOUST?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-opportunity-new-build-trends-2731364" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">600,000</a> new privately owned homes. In early 2025, that number was around 1.5 million.This rise in supply is essential to long-term housing availability and affordability, but in the short term, it can come at a cost.&nbsp;“The reality is, as homes are built faster, the quality is at risk because of the rush to complete the project and move on to the next,” Cook said. “There have also been changes in the kind of building materials used. These factors only reinforce a truth qualified inspectors have known for decades: Just because it’s a new home doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a home inspection. Having an inspector check it before you take over the keys is critical.”There are structural deficiencies that home inspectors can identify prior to closing to ensure a new-build home is up to standard, and there’s also an opportunity to bring an inspector in again around the 11-month mark.“Most new builds will come with a one-year warranty,” Cook said. “Buyers should still get an inspection before closing, but another inspection after living in the home for 11 months is a smart idea. The inspector can again go through the home and identify anything that needs to be resolved, helping buyers make the most of their investments.”<h2>Building Momentum for Franchise Owners</h2>New construction is creating more inspection touchpoints, and that translates into steady demand for HomeTeam owners. Pre-closing inspections, 11-month warranty checkups and routine home health visits can keep schedules full and revenue consistent.Central to this growth opportunity is HomeTeam’s education-first, non-alarmist approach to home inspections and reporting. Rather than causing panic over findings or reporting on whether a home is “good” or “bad,” HomeTeam inspectors empower clients with knowledge and support them in making an informed decision. This builds trust and lays a foundation for a long-term client relationship.For prospective franchise owners, 2026 is a prime time to join the system. With AI-enhanced reporting, new marketing strategies and a changing real estate market, Cook says the team is preparing for “parabolic” growth in the coming years.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/hometeaminspectionservice">https://1851franchise.com/hometeaminspectionservice.</a>&nbsp;

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HomeTeam Franchise Opportunity: Capitalizing on New Build Trends

1851 Franchise

Builder credits and decreasing interest rates are making homeownership more attainable, driving both supply and demand. For HomeTeam franchise owners, this creates a strategic opening for growth.

This brand page has been paid for by HOMETEAM INSPECTION SERVICE. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

Capitalizing on the “Strategic Opening”: The HomeTeam Advantage in an Incentive-Driven Real Estate Market

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Why Team-Based Inspection Models Are the Future of the Home Inspection Industry

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How HomeTeam Inspection Service Navigates a Shifting Real Estate Market

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How HomeTeam’s Ancillary Services Turn a Single Sale Into Steady, Long-Term Revenue

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CINCINNATI — Even as the real estate market shifts,&nbsp;<a href="https://hometeamfranchise.com/">HomeTeam Inspection Service</a> has continued to grow, with more than 200 locations and a firm foothold in the home inspection industry. With double-digit growth across the system,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/hometeaminspectionservice/info">HomeTeam’s</a> focus on operations and strategic growth has paid off, driving it to outperform the broader market and close the year with a 10 percent increase in year-over-year revenue and over 80 percent of franchise owners seeing business stability or growth compared to last year.“Every single month of this year was up in revenue over last year; we didn’t have a single ‘down’ month,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-cook-a2810b8b">Matt Cook</a>, Director of Operations. “Our entire company is up 10 percent on the year, and 82 percent of our owners are even or up on last year. We’re thrilled to see that level of stability and success across our network.”In addition to steady revenue growth, HomeTeam grew its footprint throughout the year, welcoming new franchise owners in North Seattle; Northern Virginia; Douglas County, Colorado; Southern Tier, New York; Northwest Indiana; Camden County, New Jersey; Southwest Chicago; and Stockton and East Sacramento, California.HomeTeam also focused heavily on internal infrastructure in 2025, including significant investments in technology partnerships and the integration of AI-powered defect recognition tools in report-writing software to drive an even more efficient inspection process.Given the real estate market has largely remained stable and HomeTeam’s performance has continued to climb, and the brand has continued to invest in its teams, processes and systems to strengthen the model nationwide, HomeTeam is positioned for a great 2026.“We’re seeing transactions increase, and mortgage applications have hit new highs for the year,” Cook said. “All our data suggests a stable winter and a busy spring. This year, for our team, has been focused on rebuilding and revamping so that, when the market comes back strong, we’re already fine-tuned and ready to go.”Looking toward 2026, Cook says the team continues to build on its momentum for another great year.“Simply put, next year, we’re looking forward to continued growth,” he said. “We’ll continue to grow our footprint, and we’ll also continue working toward growth as an organization. The industry landscape is changing, and we’re adjusting our strategy to stay ahead of the curve. We’re making significant investments in digital advertising and other initiatives to drive inspection volume independently, ensuring our franchise owners are well-positioned to capture steady revenue regardless of broader industry shifts.”ABOUT HOMETEAM INSPECTION SERVICEFounded in 1992, HomeTeam Inspection Service is a full-service, independent home inspection franchise serving home buyers, sellers and real estate agents. For 30 years, HomeTeam has built a reputation for providing professional, reliable, efficient and accurate inspections on both residential and commercial property, focusing on electrical and plumbing systems, HVAC, exterior and siding, gutters and drainage, mold inspections, air quality reports and much more. Unlike other inspection companies, HomeTeam sends a team of certified inspectors to every appointment in order to provide a better and faster inspection, every single time. The brand’s reputation for excellence has made them a top choice among real estate agents and earned them the title of #1 home inspection franchise by Entrepreneur magazine's 2022 Franchise 500 listing. Now, HomeTeam Inspection Service has grown to include over 200 territories nationwide. For more information about HomeTeam please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hometeam.com">https://www.hometeam.com</a>.

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HomeTeam Inspection Service Closes 2025 With 10% Revenue Growth, Poised for Stable Winter and Busy Spring

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Capitalizing on the “Strategic Opening”: The HomeTeam Advantage in an Incentive-Driven Real Estate Market

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