What you will learn
- What Carson Dunlop actually announced, and when the shutdown happens
- Why Horizon is closing instead of being sold or continued
- What happens to your account, reports, and data
- What to do next — and what your options are beyond the default recommendation
Table of contents
If you're a home inspector who's used Horizon for years, the news probably hit hard: Carson Dunlop, the company behind the software, is shutting it down. For a platform that's been a fixture in the industry — especially among inspectors trained through Carson Dunlop's own courses — this is a bigger deal than a typical vendor discontinuing a product. Here's exactly what's happening, why, and what you need to do about it.
What's happening
In mid-2026, Carson Dunlop confirmed that Horizon, its home inspection reporting software, is being retired. The platform will stop operating entirely in December 2026. This isn't a rebrand, a feature freeze, or a "sunset with continued support" situation — it's a full shutdown. Existing accounts will lose access once the date arrives.
Alongside the announcement, Carson Dunlop named Spectora as its recommended migration partner, offering current Horizon users a "one-click" path to move their data there. That detail matters, because it tells you this wasn't a decision made overnight — Carson Dunlop coordinated a transition path in advance, which is a good sign for how much runway inspectors have to plan.
Key dates and timeline
- Mid-2026 Carson Dunlop announces that Horizon is being retired and names Spectora as its recommended migration partner.
- Now through late 2026 The transition window. Horizon remains operational, but inspectors should use this time to export their data and evaluate new software — not wait until the final weeks.
- December 2026 Horizon shuts down completely. Accounts, hosted reports, and any data not exported beforehand may no longer be accessible.
You have a runway, not a cliff edge — but only if you start now. The inspectors who wait until November will be doing this under pressure; the ones who start today won't be.
Why Horizon is shutting down
Carson Dunlop is best known as a training and education company for home inspectors, not primarily a software company. Horizon was built to support that ecosystem — a natural extension for a company that was already teaching thousands of inspectors how to do the job. But building and maintaining reporting software is a different business entirely, and one that requires continuous investment to keep pace with where the industry is heading, particularly around AI.
Rather than continuing to split focus and investment between training and software, Carson Dunlop appears to be doubling down on its core business and outsourcing the software question to a dedicated partner. That's a reasonable business decision for them — but it puts the burden of finding the right next platform squarely on you.
What happens to your data
Once Horizon shuts down in December 2026, there's no guarantee that reports, templates, comment libraries, or client records left inside the platform will remain retrievable. If it isn't exported beforehand, treat it as data you may permanently lose.
We've written a full step-by-step guide covering exactly what to export and how: How to get your data out of Horizon before the shutdown.
What to do next
Whether or not you've decided on new software yet, there are a few things every Horizon user should do in the coming weeks:
- Export your reports, templates, comment library, and client records now
- Back up everything in at least two places
- Evaluate your software options — you are not locked into Spectora just because it's the default
- Choose a platform with enough runway before December to get comfortable, not the week of the shutdown
- Ask any new platform how they handle onboarding — rebuilding years of templates and comment libraries from scratch is avoidable if the vendor does it with you
On that last point: Carson Dunlop's recommended path, Spectora, is a reasonable option if you want the path of least resistance, but its AI features are an add-on bolted onto a traditional menu-driven workflow, not something built into the platform from the ground up.
InspectionX is built AI-first. Instead of clicking through menus, you speak your findings naturally as you inspect and the AI organizes them into your report. For Horizon users specifically, our team reviews your recent Horizon reports and rebuilds your comment library, templates, and report structure for you — so you're not starting from a blank screen. Most inspectors are up and running within 1–3 days, and we're currently offering 6 months free to Horizon users making the switch, regardless of where you are in your billing cycle. We also never sell inspector data.
Don't wait for December
See how InspectionX works and get 6 months free as a Horizon user.
Schedule a Demo Contact UsFrequently asked questions
Is Horizon really shutting down?
Yes. Carson Dunlop announced in mid-2026 that it is retiring Horizon home inspection software, with a full shutdown taking place in December 2026. Inspectors on the platform need to export their data and choose a new reporting tool before then.
Why is Carson Dunlop shutting down Horizon?
Carson Dunlop has positioned the move as a shift in focus back toward its core business of home inspector training and education, rather than continuing to build and maintain its own reporting software. Instead, it has named Spectora as its recommended partner for inspectors who need a new platform.
Do I have to move to Spectora?
No. Spectora is simply the migration path Carson Dunlop built a one-click shortcut for. Inspectors are free to choose any reporting software, including InspectionX, which is currently offering 6 months free to Horizon users along with hands-on help rebuilding your setup.
What should I do right now if I am still on Horizon?
Start by exporting your reports, comment library, templates, and client records. Then evaluate your options for a new platform and get set up well before December 2026, rather than waiting until the final weeks.
Will Horizon stop working suddenly, or is there a transition period?
Carson Dunlop has given inspectors a multi-month runway between the announcement and the December 2026 shutdown specifically so they have time to export data and migrate. Inspectors should use this window rather than waiting for a last-minute cutoff.