The U.S. housing market is facing an arduous path to recovery due to the significant surge in mortgage rates over the past year. The rapid increase in rates has brought an “abrupt end” to the real estate boom that once thrived in the economy. Moody’s Analytics has now projected a 2.4% decline in property values for the upcoming year as these elevated mortgage rates continue to weigh heavily on the real-estate market.
A Challenging Scenario for Homebuyers
“While maturing millennial households drive housing demand, the doubling of U.S. mortgage rates is causing notable retreats in certain markets, mainly in western states,” stated the analysis by Moody’s. This means that aspiring homeowners are facing considerable challenges in affording their dream properties, particularly in regions where the impact of higher rates is most acute.
The Federal Reserve’s Campaign and its Effects
The surge in mortgage rates can be attributed to the aggressive campaign by the Federal Reserve to combat high inflation. In a span of just 15 months, the Federal Reserve approved 10 rate hikes, causing mortgage rates to spike significantly. While the federal funds rate does not directly affect mortgage payments, it does impact borrowing costs for home equity lines of credit, auto loans, and credit cards, thereby affecting the overall affordability for potential buyers.
The Burden of Higher Rates on Borrowers
Even a minor change in mortgage rates can have a substantial impact on the monthly payments for homebuyers. According to a recent study conducted by LendingTree, comparing average monthly payments on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages in April 2022 (around 3.79%) with rates one year later (jumping to 5.25%), borrowers now have to pay hundreds of dollars more each month. Over the lifetime of a 30-year loan, this increase in rates could potentially add as much as $75,000 in costs.
Current Mortgage Rates and Outlook
Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported a slight decline in the average rate on the 30-year loan, falling from 6.96% to 6.78%. However, this rate is still significantly higher than the 5.54% recorded just one year ago and the pre-pandemic average of 3.9%. Unfortunately, experts do not foresee a return to the lower 3% levels anytime soon.
The Fed’s Expected Rate Hike
The Federal Reserve is anticipated to approve an 11th rate hike, bringing the federal funds rate to a range of 5.25% to 5.5%, the highest level seen since 2007. Policymakers are also expected to emphasize the likelihood of another rate increase this year and downplay any possibility of rate cuts in the near future. This stance is in line with the central bank’s strategy to control inflation without triggering an economic downturn.
Projections for the Future
Moody’s research suggests that as long as the Federal Reserve maintains a tight monetary policy, mortgage rates are likely to remain higher than pre-pandemic levels. Various risks also loom over mortgage rates, including the unwinding of the Federal Reserve’s $2.5 trillion mortgage bond portfolio as part of its quantitative tightening process, higher credit concerns, market volatility, and potential fallout from bank balance sheet stress.
Housing Prices and Inventory Woes
Despite the higher interest rates, home prices have been slow to decline due to a worsening inventory shortage. Many sellers who secured a low mortgage rate before the pandemic are now hesitant to sell their homes while rates remain near a two-decade high. This limited housing supply is leaving few options for eager buyers, exacerbating the challenges of the current housing market.
Hope for Future Easing
Lisa Sturtevant, the chief economist at Bright MLS, remains cautiously optimistic about the future. She believes it is unlikely that mortgage rates will dip below 6% before the end of 2023. However, she also hopes that rates will continue to decrease from the elevated levels seen in the summer. The question remains whether these lower rates will be enticing enough for sellers to enter the market, willing to give up the super low mortgage rates they secured during the pandemic.
In conclusion, the U.S. housing market is facing a long road to recovery, hindered by the soaring mortgage rates that followed the Federal Reserve’s aggressive campaign against inflation. As the central bank continues to tighten its monetary policy, mortgage rates are projected to stay higher than pre-pandemic levels. With a limited supply of available homes and elevated borrowing costs, prospective homebuyers are grappling with significant challenges in their pursuit of homeownership. Only time will tell if the market can find stability amidst these turbulent times.
Download our app MadbuMax on the Apple App Store for the latest news and financial tools. Interested in getting your finances in order do not forget to check Dr. Paul Etienne’s best-seller book on personal finance. To access more resources, tools and services please click here. Also do not forget to follow Dr. Etienne on IG or Twitter.
