To characterize the state of the U.S. economy as a rollercoaster would be a severe understatement. Over the past year, the news cycle has constantly rocked back and forth and every which way possible detailing swings of good and bad news.
Amid a backdrop of wildly unpredictable economic indicators, however, most experts can agree on one thing: the housing market has slowly but steadily rebounded. It’s important to note, though, that while homebuyers are coming back, the overall attitude is one of carefully wading back into the water instead of diving headfirst. Even people who are buying upscale homes are weighing their options very carefully, and the market for home automation technology is one of the best examples of this trend. High-end packages that enable whole-home entertainment and are priced into the tens of thousands of dollars still have a place and see sales, but more affordable options that provide basic functionalities such as the ability to control security, lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) are steadily cropping up and increasingly garnering attention.