Why Homebuilders Are Adding Zero-Threshold Showers in 2026

Episode 92 of The Housing Economy with Fexingo. Lucas and Luna discuss the surprising rise of curbless, zero-threshold showers in new U.S. homes. With housing starts down to 1.177 million units and the median home sale price falling to $403,200 from $412,300, builders are competing on aging-in-place features. Lucas cites data from the National Association of Home Builders showing that zero-threshold showers now appear in 43% of new single-family homes, up from 28% five years ago. Lennar and Pulte have made them standard in several Sun Belt communities. Luna notes that the shift connects to the broader trend of multi-generational living and the rising average age of first-time homebuyers. The episode also touches on how this feature affects resale value and insurance premiums. #ZeroThresholdShower #AgingInPlace #HomeBuilders #HousingMarket #Lennar #PulteHomes #NAHB #HomeDesign #SunBeltHousing #AccessibleDesign #RealEstateTrends #HomeValues #FirstTimeHomebuyer #MultiGenerationalHousing #2026Housing #TheHousingEconomy #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo