After much discussion by financial pundits, the Federal Reserve raised rates on December 14, 2017 by a quarter of a percent to a range between .5% and .75%. While many indicate that the Fed will continue to raise short term interest rates, what's lost by many is that as short term rates increase the market's response indicates that long term rates will fall. This makes for an ideal time, the calm before the storm, to purchase or refinance a home.