Buying a new home in Indianapolis used to feel like the natural next step when your family grew or your lifestyle changed. But today, more homeowners are choosing to stay exactly where they are. They are choosing community over chaos. They are choosing to remodel instead of move.
During my conversation with Jeremy Portillo, founder of Retrofit Design, he explained why this trend has exploded across the city and how his work focuses on helping families reshape the homes they already love.
Jeremy describes most of his clients as people living inside the loop, inside 465, in homes built in the 1930s and 1940s. These are small houses on small lots, but the charm says everything.
People have fallen in love with their neighborhood and their neighbors. And that sense of community is powerful. In Jeremy’s words,
“There is a lot to be said for community when you have it. And I think in the Midwest especially, people are just real.”
Many of his clients look around and realize they already have everything they need except the space. That makes remodeling not only practical, but deeply meaningful.
Another key reason homeowners are staying is financial. Jeremy put it simply.
“A lot of people are not moving because the rates are higher than they used to be.”
At the same time, the type of homes people want are harder to find. If you already live in a walkable neighborhood with mature trees, close friends, and good schools, moving feels like a step backward, not forward.
So instead of hunting for a unicorn listing, homeowners are taking the house they have and turning it into the house they need.
Most of Retrofit Design’s clients come to Jeremy during major life transitions.
Families grow. Kids turn into teenagers. A parent needs to move in. Work-from-home becomes permanent.
Suddenly that world-war-era bungalow feels tight.
Jeremy said it best.
“All of a sudden that little tiny house does not fit their lifestyle. What we found is that our best clients are going through those types of struggles.”
These families are not looking for a mansion. They are looking for a plan that respects their budget, respects their neighborhood, and supports their lifestyle for the long term.
When a homeowner finally decides to remodel, they are not just buying design services. They are trusting someone with their day-to-day life. Their routines. Their pain points. Their future.
Jeremy’s philosophy is simple.
“We walk our clients through a very custom and bespoke design process that matches their budget and their lifestyle at a scale that works for them. Instead of being the architect that designs for the 1 percent.”
Retrofit Design has positioned itself as a champion for the other 99 percent, the families who already have community but often have no advocate in architecture.
Jeremy’s classical approach to design, his sustainability background, and his ability to think about homes the way families actually live in them has made him a trusted guide in this remodeling movement.
Homeowners sometimes think hiring a contractor first will save them money. But Jeremy has seen the opposite many times. Architects plan for the future. They uncover needs homeowners did not know they had. They help avoid mistakes that cost twice as much to fix later.
As Jeremy shared, “The most expensive projects are the ones where you do it first and it is wrong, and then you do it again, and then you make a change later.” That is where remodeling with an architect pays off. It is more than a redesign. It is a strategy for how you want to live for the next 10 to 20 years.
Why are Indianapolis homeowners choosing to remodel instead of move?
Because interest rates are high, inventory is limited, and homeowners love their neighborhoods. Remodeling lets them stay where their community is while improving their home.
Yes. Many 1930s and 1940s homes inside the loop have strong bones and great character. When redesigned well, they can support modern living without losing charm.
Is remodeling cheaper than moving?
In many cases, yes. With high rates and low supply, remodeling can deliver more long-term value than buying a new home.
Social Brick was built for homeowners who love where they live but need a home that works for the next chapter of life.
We match you with architects like Jeremy Portillo, who understand Indianapolis neighborhoods, understand family transitions, and design with intention and empathy.
If you are considering remodeling, expanding, or retrofitting your home, you deserve the right architect in your corner.