[quote]I really don’t understand how they keep interest rates under 5%. The Fed pumping money into treasuries? Then the treasuries bubble pops and we’re all going to die? In what scenario do interest rates increase and housing prices stay the same? Is that possible?[/quote]
I posted this in another thread, but it might help to answer your questions.
I have considerable knowledge of the bond market and fed policy. All I can say is trust me…the bond market is a bubble just waiting to burst. Back in Q1 when the Feds finally realized that demand for US treasuries was weakening, they took drastic measures of last resort…measures that Bernanke was hoping to avoid. Which is to say, the Feds started buying US treasuries in what some might describe as a last ditch panic effort to avoid a depression. So far, Bernanke’s actions seem to be working in the short term, as buying treasuries has had the effect of lowering mortgage rates to record low levels – and as a result, has created a real estate buying frenzy among investors and first timers.
The problem for the Fed, and they are openly discussing it now, is that in order to avoid continued deflation, they have created inflation, and potentially hyper inflation. Later this summer Bernanke will have to make a very important decision…which is to say, he will have to decide whether or not to pull back on future Fed investment in US treasuries. If he decides to pull out, you will see the stock market drop, and at the same time, you will see mortgage rates spike.
