Is Now A Good Time to List My Home?
- Charles "Skip" Geiser
- 3 minutes ago
- 8 min read
There’s been a lot of talk lately about how a government shutdown impacts the housing market. You might be wondering: Is it causing everything to grind to a halt?
The short answer? No.
The housing market doesn’t stop. It keeps moving. Homes are still being bought and sold, contracts are still being signed, and closings are still happening. The difference is that a few parts of the process may slow down a little, but overall, the market continues to function.
Here’s What Typically Happens
Whenever the government shuts down, some federal agencies temporarily close or scale back their operations. That can cause a few hiccups in real estate, especially when it comes to processing certain types of government loans and insurance requirements:
“Applicants for FHA, VA, or USDA loans—which account for about one-quarter of all mortgage applications—may encounter significant processing delays due to agency furloughs.” - Selma Hepp, Chief Economist at Cotality
“By recent estimates, more than 2,500 mortgage originations per working day are at risk of delays during a shutdown . . .” - Zillow
Flood insurance approvals may also be paused. The National Flood Insurance Program can be temporarily affected, which delays closings in flood zones.
Even with those challenges and delays, most transactions still go through. Buyers keep buying, sellers keep selling, and agents keep helping people move forward.
The Housing Market Usually Bounces Back Fast
And you can see that play out in this data. If you look back at the most recent government shutdown that began at the end of 2018 and lasted for 35 days, sales activity dipped very slightly during the closure but picked right back up once the government reopened.
Data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows existing home sales slowed for about two months, and then rebounded quickly as delayed closings worked their way through the system when the government reopened (see graph below):
What’s important to note is that the slowdown you see in the orange bars on this graph wasn’t simply due to seasonality in a typical housing market cycle. The sharper, shorter drop in this case lines up exactly with the 35-day government shutdown, and then sales bounced back as soon as it ended.
What This Means for You
If you’re in the middle of buying or selling a home, don’t panic. Most deals will still move forward, even if it takes a few extra days. Jeff Ostrowski, Housing Market Analyst at Bankrate, explains:
“If you’re expecting to close in a week or a month, there could be some slight delay, but I think for most people, it’s probably going to be a blip more than a real deal killer.”
And if you’re just starting to think about buying or selling, this could actually work in your favor. Some buyers and sellers may become cautious and pause their plans during times of uncertainty, like this, and that can open a short window of opportunity.
When fewer people are active in the market, well-prepared buyers may find less competition for homes, and motivated sellers may be more willing to negotiate. These brief slowdowns often create a moment where you can make a move that would be harder once activity ramps back up.
Bottom Line
A government shutdown can cause short-term delays for some buyers, but it doesn’t derail the housing market. The last time this happened, sales picked back up as soon as the government re-opened.
If you’re unsure how this might affect your plans, or just want to make sense of what’s happening, let’s connect.
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Think Your Smart?
Done...What Most Religions Don't Tell You About The Bible
Cary Schmidt's Introduction of Done
Don't Worry About Dying...You Will Live Forever...
It's All About Location, Location, Location!
God gave His only begotten Son Jesus Christ for us to be saved from this sinful world. Time is at Hand and while it is not too late, secure your salvation.
If you don’t know how to secure salvation, this simple easy to follow “ABCs of Salvation” will guide you on how to accept genuinely Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior to secure salvation for you to surely go to Heaven.
But before going through the steps you might ask: Why do I need to Secure Salvation? And why do I need to go to heaven? This because:
You might be wealthy but it cannot be exchanged for your soul.
Whatever you have here on earth, they are nothing and there is no forever on Earth.
Kingdom of Heaven is more valuable than anything else.
It is appointed that we will die physicaly and we will be judged (Hebrews 9:27).
You only have two destinations: Heaven or Hell
Hell has no exit and Heaven has only one door – Jesus
So how to secure salvation?
A – ADMIT that you are a Sinner
B – BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ
C – CONFESS with your mouth
D – DEPART from evil
A – ADMIT that you are a Sinner
We all have sinned.
17 For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
And no matter how you try to be good, you will still fail.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;Romans 3:23 KJV
You are still unclean.
But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.Isaiah 64:6 KJV
B – BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ
God gave His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to save us. And through His blood, our sins washed away.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.John 3:16 KJV
Only by His grace and not by works.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV
There is no other way but only through Jesus Christ alone.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.John 14:6 KJV
God commended His love toward us.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:8 KJV
If we have Jesus Christ living in us, we will live eternally.
He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.1 John 5:12 KJV
In the power of our Lord Jesus Christ.For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.1 Corinthians 5:3-5 KJV
By the blood of our Savior Jesus Christ
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.Titus 3:5-7 KJV
C – CONFESS with your mouth
Now that you accepted that you are a sinner and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, confess with your mouth your sins and that you believe in Him. Let Him come to you and accept Him as your Lord and personal Savior.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.1 John 1:9 KJV
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 10:9-11 KJV
Now do the Sinner’s Prayer:
Holy, thoughtful, gracious, and Heavenly Father, I recognize and acknowledge I am a miscreant not deserving of your grace and I ask forgiveness of my sins. I know your son is the truth the light and the way, I give myself freely to His control and welcome him into my heart. I ask you to walk with me and guide me, teach me your way and your truth. Thank you for the gift of your Son’s sacrifice on the cross that I may live. Thank you for your forgiveness and for accepting me as your child. Amen.
Now that you are saved and you have Jesus Christ living in you, you should not stop there. What is next? Follow Him, His words, submit yourself, and don’t forget to
D – DEPART from evil
This is not part of the step to secure salvation but it is a way of proving yourself that you are now truly of Christ. Forget your past and follow Him.
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.Psalms 34:14 KJV
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) 2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV
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This article provides information and opinions but is not meant as investment advice. Skip Geiser LLC, Charles "Skip" Geiser or Plum Tree Real Estate Marketing does not assure the accuracy or completeness of the information or opinions presented here. It is important to conduct your own research, due diligence, and seek professional advice before making any investment decisions. Skip Geiser LLC, Charles "Skip" Geiser or Plum Tree Real Estate Marketing is not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from relying on the information or opinions in this article.