Are predictions this morning that the Federal Reserve will cut the federal funds rate by up to 3/4 of a percentage points in the coming weeks likely to have much impact on the local real estate market? While a reduction in the Fed’s benchmark rate is no guarantee that longer-term rates and, by extension, mortgage rates will drop and a Fed cut won’t necessarily make it easier to get a mortgage in the wake of the sub-prime crisis, there’s likely to be some psychological boost to the market. In New York, it seems like good timing given that those bonus checks will start clearing in the next couple of weeks. Think it’s meaningful or a lot of hot air?
Fed Chief Signals Further Rate Cut [NY Times]