Economy

Mortgage rates should decline very gradually next year as the Federal Reserve will keep to its implied path of short-term rate reductions, Freddie Mac said.

Releasing the GSEs from government conservatorship is on the agenda for the incoming Trump administration. Doing so could threaten the 30-year fixed rate mortgage.

Flood insurance could hold up some home sales and lending, while major bank regulatory agencies will remain funded even if the government is unable to pass the necessary legislation before funding runs out.

The residential market is expected to face challenges from stubbornly high mortgage rates and limited supply in 2025, particularly after Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments on Wednesday indicating fewer rate cuts are coming.

Over the past two weeks, the 10-year Treasury yield, priced on market expectations, increased over 40 basis points and that is finally being seen in the Freddie Mac survey.

Mortgage originators should expect more of those interest rate dips that took place in September, but when they happen is the unknown factor, economists said.

Businesses across several industries have already started budgeting for expected price increases

President-elect Trump's victory will have a direct impact on how much the Federal Open Market Committee will cut short-term rates next year, Wolters Kluwer found.

Average rates for the 30-year fixed fell for the third consecutive week, Freddie Mac said, but the 10-year Treasury yield rose to the highest point in weeks.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s Q3 Quarterly Banking Profile report highlighted net bank income falling 8.6%, but also showed slow delinquency growth in commercial real estate and core income metrics improving across the banking sector.