Chase Franklin had everything set for his cross-country move this month from North Dakota to Kansas for a new job. But a stalemate in Washington has thrown his plans into chaos.
Days before Franklin was supposed to close on his new home and relocate, the government shut down — freezing the US Department of Agriculture-backed mortgage he planned to use to buy the home. That left him rushing to find housing for his family.
Franklin is not alone. More than one-third of home buyers across the country turn to federally backed loans to make homeownership possible, according to a 2024 report from the National Association of Realtors. A prolonged shutdown could put some of their dreams in jeopardy.
Franklin’s loan was one of thousands backed each year by the USDA program, which is intended to encourage low- and moderate-income Americans to purchase homes in rural and suburban areas.
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