As Congress faces off in another government shutdown showdown, trade groups are warning real estate and mortgage professionals to prepare for potential disruptions to their clients’ closings. President Donald Trump threatened a mass firing of federal workers if the government shuts down. In a statement, Realtor.com® Senior Economist Anthony Smith warned that certain areas with high shares of federal workers would experience the most direct impacts, especially if the shutdown drags on. “The housing market would undoubtedly recover, as it has from prior shutdowns, but this unforced error will have consequences for buyers and sellers and the industry,” Hale said. The housing market already faces headwinds from mortgage rates that, while down from recent peaks, remain elevated compared to the ultra-low rates of recent years.