America’s housing market is finishing a year of high prices, sluggish sales and elevated mortgage rates. But there are factors that could give it a boost next year.

The Federal Reserve began to slash interest rates in September, but mortgage rates have actually risen since then.

The average rate on a standard 30-year fixed mortgage was 6.72% this week, Freddie Mac said Thursday, up from last week’s 6.6%. Mortgage rates are expected