After weeks of stalemate, the federal government has passed a spending deal that re-activates vital housing programs and lifts the freeze on loans and insurance processing. The move brings relief for buyers, sellers, lenders, and agents who had been hit by stalled National Association of REALTORS® (NAR)-surveyed workflows for loan approvals and flood-insurance policies. (Rauber, 2025)

Context & Analysis

The article by Michael Rauber (2025, November 13) in the NAR Magazine reports that after Congress approved a spending bill and the President signed it, housing programs served by agencies such as Federal Housing Administration (FHA), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) are now resuming operations. The deal also extends the authority of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through January 30, 2026. 

For real-estate professionals — including those working in Tennessee or on investment/development deals — it means a return of predictability: loan commitments, insurance renewals, rating updates and closing timelines can begin to stabilize. The six-week backlog cited in the article suggests that while activity resumes, bottlenecks will persist into year-end.

In your world — where timing, documentation and funding channels are paramount — this reopening is a signal. It underscores the value of proactively communicating with clients, setting contingency plans for lingering delays, and integrating federal program timelines into your marketing, listing, or acquisition strategies. For example, when structuring a buyer’s closing for a Wilson County investment property or lining up a USDA loan for a rural Tennessee tract, you can now resume assuming program access, but build in a buffer given the backlog.

READ MORE 

Reference
Rauber, M. (2025, November 13). Federal housing programs to resume following government spending deal. NAR Magazine. https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/real-estate-news/federal-housing-programs-to-resume-following-government-spending-deal
© 2025 National Association of REALTORS®. All Rights Reserved.