NAR Library & Archives has already done the research for you. References (formerly Field Guides) offer links to articles, eBooks, websites, statistics, and more to provide a comprehensive overview of perspectives. EBSCO articles (E) are available only to NAR members and require a password.
The Basics
What Is Home Automation and How Does It Work? (security.org, Jan. 30, 2024)
“Home automation is the automatic control of electronic devices in your home. These devices are connected to the Internet, which allows them to be controlled remotely. With home automation, devices can trigger one another so you don’t have to control them manually via an app or voice assistant.”
Smart Home Devices (Wirecutter)
“To help make life easier, we've researched and reviewed the best smart-home and automation gear. Keep your home safe with intelligent locks and security systems, and improve energy efficiency with smart light bulbs and thermostats. If you're new to automation, never fear—our picks are geared toward versatility and ease of use.”
What is a Smart Home? (CEDIA: The Association of Smart Home Professionals, Jun. 14, 2026)
“A smart home is a dwelling that uses advanced technologies to control and monitor various aspects of the home, making it more convenient, efficient, and comfortable. Key components of a smart home include smart thermostats, lights, security cameras, door locks, and speakers. Smart homes work by using wireless connectivity and automation software to integrate these devices, allowing homeowners to adjust settings and monitor their home from anywhere.”
All About Smart Homes (This Old House, Jun. 5, 2026)
“Smart technology is changing how we live, offering more convenience, efficiency, and control over our living spaces. Smart homes use connected devices and systems to automate and manage different household functions. Whether adjusting the temperature or securing your property, smart tech provides various benefits that can enhance your daily life. In this guide, we’ll dive into the world of smart homes, their evolution, key features, and how you can create your own connected living space.”
How to Get Started
Guide to Smart Home Devices & Tech (Consumer Reports, Sep. 24, 2026)
“Consumer Reports tests a variety of smart home devices, including smart speakers, smart TVs, wireless security cameras, video doorbells, smart thermostats, and smart locks, with more product categories in the works. Our experts help you find the best products for your needs and make the most of them with guides to installation, setup, voice control, and automation.”
Best Smart Home Devices of 2026 (CNET, 2026)
This list focuses narrowly on the best product in each smart home subcategory.
The Best Smart Home Devices for 2026 (PC Magazine, Jun. 15, 2026)
“You can make your home a little more livable—and a lot more automated—by adding appliances and devices you can control from anywhere. [PC Magazine] tested hundreds of smart home products in more than 20 categories to help determine which ones are best for every room in (and out of) the house.”
The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up Your Smart Home (Wired, Feb. 23, 2023)
”With a myriad of ecosystems and standards to navigate, not to mention the diverse array of devices, the smart-home scene is daunting. [Wired] put together this smart-home guide to highlight your options, explain the jargon, and help you understand the consequences of the choices you make.”
Smart Home Tips for Saving Energy (Energy Star)
“Interested in automating your home but wondering where to start? Let us help you navigate the smart home landscape so you save energy, save money and help protect the environment. Smart products can be remotely managed from your phone even when you’re out of the house. Products can be programmed to perform actions automatically based on your schedule, send alerts about performance issues before they become a big issue, and even adjust energy usage based on occupancy detection.”
Energy Efficiency & Security
Home Security and Home Automation (U.S. News, Aug. 17, 2026)
“Home automation involves using technology to make your home work better for you. Powered by sensors, software, and wireless protocols (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Z-Wave, and Zigbee), everyday appliances in your home can do their jobs automatically. These “smart devices,” which include door locks, lights, thermostats, plugs, and other gadgets, communicate with each other and with your smart home security system. You can control smart home devices using an automated schedule, another smart device, or remotely from your smartphone.”
New Model Shows How to Make Smart Homes More Frugal (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Apr. 1, 2021)
In short, Sowers and his colleagues built a system that crunches a combination of hourly market prices, spot prices (updated every five minutes), and day-ahead prices (determined by energy market prices established a day ahead of time to reduce volatility) to predict the cheapest time to schedule residential loads such as dishwashers, washers, dryers, and the charging of electric vehicles.
Whole Home Battery Backup Goes Mainstream (NAR REALTOR® News, Jul. 31, 2026)
“A few years ago, whole-home battery backup systems existed, but they were expensive and difficult to expand when homeowners needed more capacity, and they often locked homeowners into a single brand. That has changed quickly. The cost of residential lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery storage has dropped significantly over the past two years. At the same time, manufacturers have introduced modular systems that let homeowners start with a smaller battery and add more storage later as their needs or budget change.”
Beyond the Sale: Smart Home Security Solutions (NAR REALTOR® News, Sep. 30, 2025)
“Today’s home security systems offer multilayered protection to homeowners. Learn more about how such systems deter crime—and about a new partnership between NAR and Safe Streets, an ADT authorized provider.”
Smart Home Tech That Enhances Home Efficiency (NAR REALTOR® News, Jun. 1, 2023)
“As we find ourselves more deeply embedded in the digital age, it’s exciting to see how technology is reshaping the way we interact with our homes. As home efficiency and green living continue to trend upward, smart home features meet the demand homeowners seek. Read about five technology advancements that make a home more convenient and more efficient, speaking loud and clear to those who want to optimize the comfort of their home while reducing their carbon footprint.”
Smart Homes and Accessibility
The Best Smart Assistive Devices for People with Disabilities (Wirecutter, Oct. 7, 2025)
“[F]or those who live with accessibility challenges, smart-home technology can be a powerful enabler, one that allows them to live a more independent and empowered life.”
How Smart Home Technology Made My Home More Accessible (The Verge, Mar. 7, 2024)
”In many ways, smart home tech represents accessibility and assistive technology at its very best. It’s not merely pragmatic — it’s empowering. It takes ostensibly mundane everyday objects like lamps and garage doors and microwaves and turns them into spectacular, borderline magical marvels.
“For many in the disability community, this transformation means the difference between inclusion and independence or exclusion and dependence.”
Smart Home Technology: A Game-Changer for Disability Support and Care (LDRFA, Jan. 6, 2023)
Smart home technology can benefit those with disabilities by providing enhanced accessibility, independence, safety and security, and enhancing quality of life.
Tech That Supports Accessibility and Aging in Place (R REALTOR® News, May 21, 2026)
Smart-home technology is helping older homeowners stay independent longer while giving caregivers peace of mind. Here’s why real estate professionals who understand aging-in-place tools are becoming trusted long-term advisors for clients and families.
Security Issues With Home Automation Systems
Practical Ways to Prevent Your Home Security Cameras From Being Hacked (c|net, Jul. 22, 2023)
While no one system is impervious to an attack, some precautions can further decrease your odds of being hacked and protect your privacy in the case of a hack.
- Use cameras from reputable manufacturers, whether they are part of a professionally monitored security system or a DIY device.
- Use cameras with high-level, end-to-end encryption.
- Change your credentials to something that cannot easily be guessed (in particular, avoid using passwords you already use for other online accounts).
- Update the camera firmware frequently or whenever possible.
- Use two-factor authentication if possible.
- Use a VPN (virtual private network)
Unwanted Connection: Who Has Control of Your Smart Home? (The New York Times, Feb. 17, 2023)
“If we have authorization from the former homeowner to deactivate their account, and correct documentation from the new homeowner for customer set up, it is an easy process,” said David Porter, Vivint’s senior vice president of customer experience, in an email statement. “Alignment with the buyer and seller plays a key role in this — we recommend home buyers discuss with their agent prior to closing to avoid equipment missing and delayed deactivation."
Securing Your Internet-Connected Devices at Home (Federal Trade Commission))
“Our homes are filled with internet-connected devices. They let us see what’s happening at our homes from wherever we are, get our favorite music and shows with a voice command, or change the temperature on the thermostat from our phone. Here are some steps that can help protect your internet-connected devices from malicious hackers.”
Survey on Smart Home Users’ Security and Privacy Perceptions and Actions: A Device Category Perspective (NIST, Dec. 19, 2025)
“Although smart home adoption in the United States (U.S.) is growing, smart home users may harbor security and privacy concerns or uncertainty about how to best protect their devices and the data those collect. Further, there have been few insights into how users' perspectives on smart home security and privacy differ depending on device category. This may leave the smart home community at a disadvantage in knowing how to focus user education efforts to address device specific misunderstandings or concerns. As a result, consumers may remain uninformed or lack motivation to protect some device categories, leaving devices and data vulnerable. Towards closing this gap, we conducted a survey of 401 U.S. smart home users with devices in five categories: lighting, security devices, sensors, thermostats, and voice assistants. Participants viewed voice assistants as most problematic and were most confident about security devices and thermostats. We also report novel results related to perceptions of smart home security and privacy responsibility and users' thoughts on device categories seldom explored in research. Our identification of differences across device categories can contribute to greater user empowerment through tailored smart home user education materials.”
Smart Home, Big Risks: Top Cybersecurity Threats Homeowners Need to Know (realtor.com®, Dec. 5, 2025)
“If I had to give homeowners one simple rule, it’d be this: Treat every smart device like a tiny computer. Update it, use a strong password, and don’t put it on the same network as the devices that actually matter, like your laptop or phone,” Dave Meister, cybersecurity evangelist of Check Point Software Technologies, added.”
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