The Fed Raised Rates: What Does that Mean for Housing? Well, if the experts are correct and rates remain below 5% for 2017, then that is a good thing and will help housing recover. But two things to remember - no guaranty that rates will stay that low and, even marginal increases impact the amount of house you can buy. Those incremental increases plus rising home prices affect your buying power! The sooner you can make the move to becoming a home owner or move up to another home, the sooner you can lock in the 30 year fixed payment. Read more about it