National Homeownership Month is a time to celebrate the American dream of owning a home and building generational wealth. Owing a home offers families financial security, pride, and a place to build memories. But for many, owning a home also means facing the often-overlooked reality of managing one. From surprise repairs to misplaced warranties and the hunt for reliable service providers, homeownership is complex and time-consuming.
To better understand these challenges, WAV Group conducted the 2025 Homeownership Management Interest Survey, gathering insights from 250 homeowners across the country. The results are clear: homeowners want help and they value the idea of a portal to make it easy to maintain their home and make sound contractor choices while watching the value of their home increase.
Download the 2025 Homeownership Management Interest Survey
A Wake-Up Call: Homeownership Is Harder Than Expected
Nearly half of respondents (44%) said maintaining a home is more effort than they initially expected. That’s not just about mowing the lawn or fixing a leaky faucet. Many homeowners struggle to manage:
- Systems, appliances, and structural upkeep (43%)
- Repair and upgrade history (43%)
- Finding trusted contractors (35%)
The Case for a Homeownership Portal
The standout takeaway? Nearly 2/3 of homeowners are very or extremely interested in an online homeownership portal—an all-in-one platform to help manage, maintain, and protect their most valuable asset. Here’s what homeowners want it to do:
- Store important documents like closing papers and warranties
- Track property value and equity
- Send reminders for routine maintenance
- Provide access to trusted service providers
- Maintain a communication link with their real estate agent
What Features Matter Most
- Centralized Information Management
From paint colors to appliance receipts, homeowners crave a centralized, secure place to store details that matter. A portal keeps everything—from mortgage docs to maintenance logs—organized and easy to retrieve. - Real-Time Home Value Tracking
While 88% want monthly updates on their home’s value, only 17% currently receive them from their agent. A portal can automate this, helping homeowners monitor equity and make informed decisions about refinancing, renovations, or resale. - Effortless Maintenance Scheduling
Forgetting to change furnace filters or service HVAC systems can lead to costly repairs. A portal can send smart reminders and track service history, saving time, money, and stress for homeowners. - Trusted Contractor Connections
Though 63% of homeowners turn to Google for service pros, most would prefer referrals. Yet only 17% ask their agent. A portal that features agent-endorsed providers bridges this gap and provides a meaningful way for agents to maintain and deepen their client relationships significantly increasing the chances of repeat and referral business. - Staying Connected with Real Estate Agents
Agents are too often “one-and-done” after closing. A homeownership portal keeps them in the picture and continuing to act as a trusted, go to resource by sharing value updates, answering renovation questions, and being a partner in homeownership.
A Win-Win for Homeowners and Agents
The benefits of homeownership portals aren’t just for consumers. They give agents a powerful way to:
- Stay in touch post-transaction
- Deliver ongoing value and market insights
- Identify when clients may be ready to move, refinance, or invest again
Currently, only 13% of consumers return to their original agent for a second transaction. But when agents maintain a relationship through helpful, ongoing support, those numbers can skyrocket.
Personal Perspective: Making Life Easier, One Portal at a Time
This research was inspired by a very real personal challenge—managing four properties across three states. As a property owner, we turned to Homeowner.ai to keep it all straight for us. Our homeownership portal now tracks everything from paint formulas to furnace servicing and insurance documents. It even alerts us to local market shifts. It also helps me find trusted local contractors in California, New York and Florida. I feel a lot more comfortable that we are effectively maintaining all of these properties through snow storms, hurricanes and earthquakes.
The bottom line? Managing a home (or four!) doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The right technology has made it much more simple.
Looking Ahead
Today, some of the most progressive Associations like the California Association of REALTORS now offers Homeowner.ai as a free member benefit. Cotality now offers OneHomeowner as part of their MLS technology suite. Both are tangible ways to help agents and brokerages become more profitable by helping to increase repeat and referral business.
Happy National Homeownership Month. Let’s help homeowners not just buy homes—but thrive in them.
Download the 2025 Homeownership Management Interest Survey
If you would like to learn more about how your organization could offer Homeownership Portals, WAV Group is here to help. We can help you research options and outline the scope of what you might want to offer.
