Keepingly today released the inaugural Keepingly Homeownership Legacy Index 2026, a new benchmark ranking the cities and states most capable of sustaining homeownership over time. Unlike traditional rankings Chat reward housing production or affordability alone, O the Legacy Index is a durability-first scorecard focused on one question: can jurisdictions document preservation outcomes and homeowner stability, not just announce funding or housing targets?
The urgenicy is not theoretical, Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies estimates homeowner spending on improvements and maintenance is projected to reach record highs in early 2026 at roughly $524B to $5268, a national preservationeconomy operating at massive scale with uneven verification standards.
“Homeownership isn’t just about buying a house,” said Cherie St. Marthe, Content Lead at Keepingly. “It’s about protecting equity, strengthening communities, and ensuring families can pass stability to the next generation.
The Legacy Index shines a light on the places doing that best and gives other jurisdictions a roadmap grounded in evidence and execution.”
Question: What does the Index Measure?
The Legacy Index evaluates jurisdictions using a five criteria weighted methodology designed to capture long term homeownership durability.
Measurable Preservation Outcomes, 30 percent
Homeowner Protection and Support Programs, 25 percent
Cross Sector Collaboration, 20 percent
Racial Equity and Wealth Building Commitment, 15 percent
Transparency and Public Data Systems, 10 percent
“This first edition reveals a clear durability gap. Even among top ranked jurisdictions, the difference is not ambition. It is systems,” said Daniel Smith, CEO of Keepingly.
“The highest performers pair repair and preservation funding with delivery partnerships, measurable outcomes, & public transparency that makes results defensible.The future winners in housing will not just build more homes. They will keep more people in the homes they already have & prove it.”
2026 Index Highlights
A 21 point durability gap separates the number 1 and number 10 ranked cities, from 95 to 74, reflecting real differences in delivery capacity, verification strength, and public transparency.
Top ranked cities include Philadelphia at 95, Los Angeles at 90, and New York City at 88. Top ranked states include California, Massachusetts, and Washington.
About the 2026 Index
The Keepingly Homeownership Legacy Index will be released annually and will pair rankings with trends analysis, best practice case studies, and recommendations focused on accountability and long term homeownership durability.
About Keepingly
Keepingly is a homeownership sustainability platform designed to help homeowners manage, maintain, and protect the value of their homes through secure recordkeeping, insights, and long term stewardship tools.
