Today's extremely low interest rates could sprout home inventory shortages. : If this is your first time registering, please check your inbox for more information about the benefits of your Forbes account and what you can do next! Today's low mortgage rates are helping home buyers, but they might also lead to future inventory ... [+] shortages and affordability challenges. In a coronavirus-created environment of severe inventory shortages and rising prices, home shoppers do have one advantage in the form of extremely low interest rates.