How does the recent interest rate increase affect you? There are a few ways you need to be mindful of.

First, you need to know that when the Federal Reserve moves interest rates, what they're actually doing is moving the federal funds rate. The federal funds rate is the rate at which banks lend money to each other.

The first way this affects you is through credit cards. Most credit cards have variable interest rates, so as the Fed moves the federal funds rate (or prime rate), more of your monthly payment goes toward interest instead of your principal. Basically, you're paying more for interest, and it will take you longer to pay off your credit card.

Rising interest rates also affect student loans. If you got your student loans before 1996, then those student loans have a variable interest rate. As the prime rate increases, your student loan payment will increase as well. The only time rising interest rates don't affect you is when you have fixed interest rates.

Rising interest rates make car payments more expensive as well. If you currently own a car and you have an adjustable rate, your payment will be higher this coming month.

"The only time rising interest rates don't affect you is when you have fixed interest rates."

Rising interest rates impact your mortgage payment too. You might say, "Well, I have a fixed interest rate, so I have nothing to worry about." You have nothing to worry about now during your fixed period, but what happens when you want to refinance, take some cash out to make some improvements, or get a line of credit? Your payment will be higher because you're subject to that higher interest rate. Even with a fixed rate, you'll be affected if you decide to refinance or change your terms.

The same applies to people with adjustable-rate mortgages, which is why they're so dangerous. You have a small payment now while interest rates are low, but according to Freddie Mac, rates are expected to rise from 4% to 4.6% at the end of 2018.

If you're in the market to buy a house, rising interest rates means your purchasing power diminishes and your house payments increase. If you want to take advantage of the currently low interest rates to either buy a house or refinance your property, give me a call so we can review your situation and see if it's conducive for you to do so.

If you have any other questions about how rising interest rates might affect you or you have any other real estate needs, don't hesitate to reach out to me. I'd be happy to help you.