Tapping the Brakes

Housing and mortgage activity will slow somewhat in 2006, according to top economists. They predicted fewer sales, less price appreciation, fewer loans. Representatives from realtors organizations and builders, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac spoke on a conference call sponsored by the Homeownership Alliance. Consensus: "a modest slowdown," which the Alliance said "only represents 'a tapping of the brakes on a hot market.'"