Confuserated

I think the answer largely depends on the devices you use. Many devices require an internet connection to integrate with HA. Fortunately, each HA integration should list whether or not they can work locally.

Here are some device suggestions:

• Bluetooth
• Zigbee/Zwave/Zwhatever (local radio control). I don’t use this, but a lot of HA gripes I notice tend to center around support for these devices.
• The HomeKit spec requires local only control at least as an option. HA can act as a HomeKit hub through the HomeKit Devices integration, so you don’t need any Apple hardware to use HomeKit devices.
• Shelly makes great wifi and Bluetooth devices that work locally.
• If you get wifi devices, put them on a separate network and/or have firewall rules that deny them internet access.
• Use a VPN like Tailscale to access your HA from the internet, rather than exposing your HA instance to the internet through port forwarding.

Just as an example, I have Ecobee thermostats that are HomeKit compatible. Ecobee provides a cloud service, but I don’t use it at all, and my thermostats are denied internet access at the network level. They still work great through the HomeKit Devices integration.

Good luck!

Anytype is local/offline first, P2P, end to end encrypted, open source, and has a great mobile app. They provide a (storage limited) cloud backup peer for free. You can either self host that yourself, or just rely on P2P syncing with your other devices. I’ve been using it for years and really like it.

https://anytype.io/

Not audio specific but…

Shelly products (smart relays, plugs, sensors, etc.) all work over local network control and I’ve been very happy with them. I have a bunch throughout the house, and they are all denied internet access at the network level.

Also, all HomeKit devices must, by the specification, allow local control. You should be able to use those devices locally using the Home Assistant HomeKit Device integration without having any Apple devices. My Ecobee thermostats work great through this integration even though they are also denied internet access.

Good luck, and have fun nerding out on your new home!

You only pay if you want to use > 1GB of their cloud storage, which you wouldn’t if you self-hosted it or relied entirely on P2P syncing.

https://anytype.io/pricing

Anytype: Free, open source, offline first, P2P sync, end to end encrypted.

As you should expect, the truth is actually between the extremes of “facist trope that is completely false” and “all immigrants are evil.” A person in Ohio recently killed and ate a cat, but was not an immigrant.

For anyone who doesn’t want to click the link, it contains bodycam video of a police officer in Ohio recently arresting a US citizen with blood all over her, fur in her teeth, a dead cat nearby, and multiple eye witnesses saying she killed and ate the cat.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13844919/bodycam-eating-cat-Ohio-trup-pets.html