Fed’s Interest Rate Decision Today: What to Expect

Featured Multi-Unit Listings

Utah Market Snapshot

Sold Multi-Unit Listings This Week

Rates & Financing

> Mortgage Rates as of 12/18/2024

Property Management

> Seasonal Maintenance Reminders

One way to stay ahead of costly repairs is by sending seasonal maintenance reminders to your tenants. Whether it's preparing for winter by cleaning out gutters or checking HVAC filters, a little proactive care goes a long way. Providing tenants with a simple checklist of tasks to complete each season—like checking weather stripping or testing smoke detectors—helps prevent issues before they arise. Plus, it shows tenants that you’re invested in keeping the property in top shape. You’ll save on maintenance costs and keep your property running efficiently year-round.

Headlines & Insights

Featured Story

> The Fed’s Upcoming Interest Rate Decision: What to Expect

Key Details:

• The Federal Reserve (Fed) is expected to lower interest rates by 0.25% on Wednesday, bringing its target range to 4.25%-4.5%.

• This decision has stirred debate, as some argue inflation is still too high, while others believe the economy needs rate cuts to sustain growth.

• Fed Chair Jerome Powell and other officials will also share updated economic forecasts and their outlook for future rate moves.

Why This Matters: Inflation has been steady but above the Fed’s 2% target, while the economy is growing strongly. Lowering rates could support the economy, but some fear it might worsen inflation. The Fed’s move will be closely watched for signs of how aggressive or cautious they plan to be in future cuts.

What’s Next:

• Powell will address questions on the economy, inflation, and how President-elect Trump’s policies, like tax cuts and tariffs, might affect the Fed’s plans.

• The Fed is also expected to update its "dot plot," showing where officials see rates going over the next few years.

The Big Picture: While a rate cut seems likely, the Fed wants to ensure markets understand it is still focused on controlling inflation. Investors and economists will analyze Powell’s statements and the updated forecasts for clues about the Fed's long-term strategy.

More News & Reports

Utah

Rezoning Rejected in Orem: Orem City Council voted against rezoning proposals for Canyon Park Tech Center and Wilkerson Farm. While Canyon Park's shift to residential was unanimously denied due to community opposition, the Wilkerson Farm discussion was extended to explore preservation options.

Groundbreaking on 'The Point': Utah leaders launched the first phase of 'The Point,' a transformative project on the site of the old state prison, promising a mix of high-tech industry, retail, and residential spaces aimed at revitalizing the area and driving future economic growth.

National

Trump's Housing Market Policies: President-elect Donald Trump plans to open federal lands for housing construction to address the U.S. housing shortage. However, his other policies, like mass deportations and proposed tariffs, might increase construction costs and reduce the construction workforce, potentially countering efforts to enhance housing affordability. Trump's deregulatory measures could lower home prices by reducing construction-related regulatory costs.

Bank CRE Loan Modifications on the Rise: According to a Moody’s Ratings report, banks have continued to modify commercial real estate (CRE) loans, with a notable increase in the last nine months. The modifications are seen as a strategy to prevent loans from becoming delinquent amidst limited refinancing options due to the Federal Reserve’s rate cuts. Data revealed that smaller banks had a significant increase in loan modifications compared to larger banks, suggesting varying impacts across bank sizes.

5 Housing Market Predictions: Fannie Mae predicts continued affordability challenges and the 'lock-in effect' will keep housing market activity subdued, with existing home sales near 30-year lows despite a modest decline in mortgage rates.

Home Sales Surge In November as Buyers Adjust to Elevated Rates: Existing home sales hit their highest level since March 2023, rising 0.7% month-over-month and 4.5% year-over-year in November, as buyers grew accustomed to elevated mortgage rates and election uncertainty eased. With constrained supply and rising prices, 2025 is expected to see moderate growth in housing activity.

Whenever you’re ready, there are a few ways I can help you:

1. Free Multi-Unit Deal Finder App

   Use our custom deal finder app to quickly find, screen and analyze the best multi-unit deals available in our market.

2. Buy Off-Market Multifamily Deals:
   Skip the competition and discover exclusive off-market and top-performing multi-unit properties tailored to your investment goals.

3. Sell Your Multi-Unit Property for Top Dollar
   List your multi-unit property on the Utah MLS and dozens of other websites through our brokerage and save thousands with our flat fee MLS listing.