Federal policy changes could impact real estate in surprising ways, but economists are predicting fairly modest shifts in the new year. The Trump administration's proposals could lead to an uptick in new home construction, but also increase inflation, deterring rate cuts. Economists generally agree that home sales and prices will go up — but not necessarily a lot. Mortgage rates are expected to stay above 6%, while agent commissions may fall. Forecast season has arrived, but for housing market economists, 2025 may be one of the more challenging years to predict. (click on title to read the full article)