05/21/2024
Light at the End of the Tunnel: Freddie Mac Sees Lower Mortgage Rates in 2024
For prospective home buyers struggling with today's elevated mortgage rates, some light at the end of the tunnel may be coming in 2024 according to predictions from Freddie Mac.
The government-sponsored mortgage giant recently released its quarterly forecast, providing insights into where mortgage rates are headed over the next couple of years. And there's potentially good news on the horizon for those priced out of the housing market due to soaring financing costs.
After averaging around 6.9% in 2023, Freddie Mac expects 30-year fixed mortgage rates to steadily decline throughout 2024, falling to an average of 6.4% by the end of next year. While still elevated compared to the ultra-low rates seen during the pandemic, this projected decrease could make monthly payments more manageable for buyers.
So what's driving this forecasted rate drop? According to Freddie Mac's economists, continued cooling of inflation combined with a slowing economy should allow the Federal Reserve to ease off aggressive interest rate hikes. This monetary policy shift is expected to gradually push mortgage rates lower from their current 20-year highs.
However, the forecast also notes that home price growth is projected to remain positive in 2024, just at a more moderate pace compared to the eye-watering appreciation seen over the past two years. So while monthly payments may become slightly more affordable with lower rates, buyers will still be contending with elevated home values.
Of course, these are just predictions and subject to change based on actual economic conditions that unfold. But for now, the light at the end of the affordability tunnel seems to be a potential decline in mortgage rates starting in 2024 according to Freddie Mac's outlook. Prospective buyers may want to start preparing their finances for that possibility.