Sales of previously owned homes in the United States fell sharply in August, despite mortgage rates plummeting that month. But much more housing demand will likely be unleashed onto the market after the Federal Reserve finally cut interest rates this week for the first time in four years — and signaled more rate cuts by year’s end.

The Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it was cutting interest rates for the first time in four years. How far will mortgage rates fall from here on out? Not so much, economists say. The central bank announced a 50-basis-point cut to its benchmark rate,