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Need a mortgage rate prediction? I am a regular participant in the Bankrate.com Mortgage Rate Trend survey and this week's survey may point you in the right direction.

The Bankrate.com survey is for conventional, conforming mortgages only. It does not apply to FHA mortgages or jumbo mortgages. Nor is the survey specific to Cincinnati or Chicago.

for a real-time rate quote.

Here's the group's 30-day prediction for mortgage rates:

• 27% predict mortgage rates will increase
• 13% predict mortgage rates will decrease
• 60% predict mortgage rates will remain unchanged

I expect mortgage rates to increase.

My advice not be appropriate for your individual situation and I'm not always right. Ultimately, you may find your time better spent on everyone's favorite movie game show than reading my analysis.

Either way, here's what I told Bankrate.com:

"The first effects of the Fed's market withdrawal are coming. "

Mortgage rates have been low for a very long time. You probably can't remember back this far, but in August 2008, when gas prices were crossing $4 and inflation was all the rage, rate shoppers were snapping up 6.500 percent mortgage like they were deals at Sofa King.

Then, the dam leaked. Banking fell apart, the economy went to the brink, and the Federal Reserve stepped in to clean up the mess.

The Fed made many moves to heal the economy, but one of its most important ones was its backstopping of the mortgage-backed securities market to the tune of $1,250,000,000,000.

Visualize that for a minute. It's a huge number. And the Fed used it to become a big-time buyer of mortgage bonds. The goal? Use the extra demand to lead bond prices higher which, in turn, would lead bond yields lower.  And this is exactly what happened.

Internal studies from the Fed say the intervention lowered rates 1 percent last year.

In other words, we've been getting low rates because the mortgage-backed market is "artificial".  The Fed is a non-natural buyer.  Starting April 1, 2010, though, life goes back to normal.  The Fed is ending its support and the market will be left to its own.

It's simple, folks. If the Fed's presence dropped rates 1 percent in 2009, its absence will cause rates to rise in 2010.  Mortgage rates are going up.  The question is "how soon until markets react?"

For now, rates look good and low. Economic data is soft and inflation is tame. Plus, the dollar is rallying.  These are all conducive to low mortgage rates.  However, at some point, Wall Street will start pricing bond for the Fed's MBS exit.

It could get ugly. The move will likely be swift.

Rate shoppers should really have a plan in place.  Be patient, but not too patient. Locking mortgages is a game of timing and,  for that, you may need some help.

If you don't have a loan officer you can call up for advice, know that you can always call me. Or, , whichever is easier. I handle all of my own email and I would happy to help you get your mortgage rate lock ready.  The key is to be ready for the changes before they come and that's what I do best.

Also, my bank has good, low rates. Just ask me about it.

Dan Green is an active loan officer. Email or call 513-443-2020. Dan is on Twitter at @mortgagereports.