At first glance, it seems like the economic conditions first-time buyers have waited for could finally be here.Interest rates are rising, meaning it’s more expensive to buy a house now than in previous months.
At the start of 2022, the federal funds rate was close to 0%, and many buyers secured mortgage rates between 2% and 3%. But the fed rate rose to 0.33% in March 2022 and then again to 0.83% in May. As a result, mortgage rates are now hovering around the 5% mark.
In February, a poll of 33 property analysts found that these experts predicted US house prices would rise by 10.3% in 2022.The prediction was even higher than the same poll from September when the same group estimated prices would rise by 8% this year.