Tag Archives: Home Price Expectations

The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index revealed consumers' optimism surrounding mortgage rates surged in December, and according to Mark Palim, VP and Deputy Chief Economist at Fannie Mae, "a more optimistic rate outlook among consumers may signal an expectation that home affordability pressures will ease in 2024."

Americans continue to have a dire view of their housing prospects, as only 14% of those surveyed reported having a positive outlook on the U.S. housing market.

New findings from Fannie Mae’s HSPI revealed consumers are increasingly expressing “pessimism toward the larger economy this month, in addition to their ongoing frustration with the housing market,” said Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae Senior VP and Chief Economist.

High mortgage rates have pushed consumer housing sentiment even lower, according to Fannie Mae's latest Home Purchase Sentiment Index, as more Americans are now pointing to mortgage rates rather than home prices as the primary obstacle to achieving housing affordability.

For a litany of reasons—including rising prices and inflation—most consumers surveyed believe that now is not a good time to purchase a home.

“Confidence in the housing market appears to have plateaued at a relatively low level, suggesting that many consumers may be coming to terms with elevated mortgage rates and high home prices,” said Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae SVP and Chief Economist.

“Consumers also indicated that they don’t expect these affordability constraints to improve in the near future, with significant majorities thinking that both home prices and mortgage rates will either increase or remain the same over the next year,” said Mark Palim, Fannie Mae’s VP and Deputy Chief Economist.

Fannie Mae’s latest Home Purchase Sentiment Index reverses course, picking up from the previous month’s lows.

"The HPSI reached an all-time survey low this month, in line with expectations that the housing market will continue to cool in the months ahead," said Doug Duncan, Fannie Mae SVP and Chief Economist.

According to Fannie Mae's Home Purchase Index, the percentage of Americans that believe now is a good time to buy a home decreased alongside those who expect mortgage rates to go down in the next year. Meanwhile, the percentage who say it is a bad time to buy increased to 75%.