Since 90% of loans are underwritten by government affiliates, you might be wondering how real estate will be affected by the shutdown. There will be a small impact initially, maybe some minor delays, but for the most part you won't see any changes. The VA will continue to guarantee mortgages since the loans are funded by user fees. The VA is where you might see some delays in  processing.  To read more:  http://www.forbes.com/sites/morganbrennan/2013/10/01/heres-how-the-government-shutdown-will-affect-housing/