WASHINGTON, DC – Stronger-than-expected economic and inflation data have pushed interest rates higher and financial markets to price in fewer Federal Reserve rate cuts this year, according to the April 2024 commentary from the Fannie Mae Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group. While higher mortgage rates present renewed headwinds to the expected recovery in home sales this year, as well as homebuyer affordability more generally, the ESR Group notes that new listings of homes available for sale have continued to rise. While the ESR Group is forecasting existing home sales to rise modestly over the course of the year, it expects the flow of new listings to outpace home sales, which should help gradually thaw housing inventory and contribute to decelerating home price growth. …The ESR Group expects home prices to rise 4.8 percent in 2024, up 1.6 percentage points from last quarter’s projection, and then another 1.5 percent in 2025.