Throughout much of this year, homebuyers have watched mortgage rates remain stubbornly in the 7% range, meaning that affordability has remained a real issue, especially as home prices have remained elevated across most markets. Things began to shift recently, however, when the Federal Reserve issued back-to-back rate cuts in September and October in a bid to support economic growth. As the Fed slashed its benchmark rate, first by 25 basis points and then by another 25 basis points the following