The Fed May Have Crushed the Housing Market: Top Economist El-Erian

“When you go from record-low mortgage rates to levels that we haven’t seen for almost 20 years, you’ve destroyed both demand and supply,” El-Erian said. High mortgage rates, with the 30-year fixed rate at 7.48%, have frozen the market, impacting supply and demand. Prospective buyers are priced out, while existing homeowners hold onto low-interest mortgages, keeping prices elevated. The market’s caught in limbo, needing significant mortgage rate reductions to improve affordability. El-Erian highlights the central role of the housing market in the economy and the risk of a recession due to Fed’s rate hikes.