Each month, Fannie Mae’s Economic and Strategic Research Group releases an outlook covering what they see ahead for the housing market and overall economy. In March, the group says they expect the housing market will continue to thaw after a slow 2023. Home sales will trend higher and so will the number of available listings. The group sees affordability constraints continuing, though, with mortgage rates remaining elevated due to inflation and a strong job market. “Hotter-than-expected inflation data and strong payroll numbers are likely to apply more upward pressure to mortgage rates this year than we’d previously forecast, as markets continue to evolve their expectations of future monetary policy,” Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae’s senior vice president and chief economist, says. “Still, while we don’t expect a dramatic surge in the supply of homes for sale, we do anticipate an increase in the level of market transactions relative to 2023 – even if mortgage rates remain elevated.” (source)
