On October 1, 2025, the U.S. federal government officially shut down after lawmakers failed to reach a deal to fund operations. The shutdown affects a wide range of federal agencies and services, many of which are relevant to the residential real estate market. One immediate impact is the lapse in authority for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), which prevents new or renewed flood insurance policies from being issued. This directly affects home closings in flood zones, including parts of the St. Louis region where flood insurance is mandatory for federally backed loans.
While Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac continue Continue Reading →
