While the National Association of Realtors anticipates a near-record year in real estate sales for 2006, following five years of record-breaking sales, rising interest rates may have an effect, but are higher rates really so bad?

Mortgage banker, author and humorist David Reed, is steamed about so-called experts trying to scare people by making them think rising interest rates are going to keep them from buying homes, or put them out of the homes they're in.

During a radio interview with a Los Angeles station, Reed was paired with another guest, a financial planner. The host of the show asked, "So, rates are at some of the highest levels we've seen for a couple of years