(iBerkshires.com) by Bill Schmick - The long-term implications are that interest rate will begin to rise but not immediately. At some point, probably at the end of this year, interest rates should rise anyway. It is a natural course of events when the economy begins to recover. Remember too that rates are at historical lows with nowhere to go but up. That means mortgage rates as well, so if you have been toying with the idea of buying a piece of real estate, now is the time.