In a commentary shared with theMReport.com, Peter Muoio, chief economist for Auction.com Research, revealed the company's predictions for 2014. Chief among his predictions: Housing will get its second wind, the Federal Reserve's stimulus taper will take longer than most people expect, and Congress will (hopefully) get out of the way of the housing recovery--though even Muoio acknowledges the latter prediction might just be hopeful thinking on his part.

Investors remain a crucial factor in the U.S. housing market. As mortgage rates rise along with home prices, it decreases affordability and edges owner-occupier buyers out of the market.

While many analysts cite varying reasons for the tepid, start-stop nature of this recovery, we attribute much of the lethargy to the heightened level of uncertainty that has gripped consumers.