If you’ve been in the middle of buying or selling a home lately, you might have noticed something unusual — more deals than usual are getting delayed, or worse, stuck in limbo. The reason? The ongoing federal government shutdown that began this fall is now rippling through the U.S. housing market.

While political headlines often dominate the conversation, this shutdown has quietly created real problems for homebuyers, sellers, and real estate professionals across the country. Let’s break down what’s happening — and what it means for the market, especially here in New England.