Shutdown is intruding on many aspects of life.

Byline: Susan Spencer

Dr. Timothy J. Doherty finds himself unexpectedly carrying double housing costs because of the federal government shutdown.

"I have a rent and a mortgage,'' said the internal medicine physician, who relocated with his wife and daughters from Brookfield to a rental town home in New Jersey three weeks ago.

It's just one of the stresses that people are running into as normally routine day-to-day activities hit roadblocks, or at least speed bumps, caused by the federal government shutdown Oct. 1 because Congrefaled to pass a continuing budget resolution.

The Doherty family's Massachusetts home was supposed to be sold at the end of September but the sale was extended while the buyer awaited a certificate from the U.S. Department of Agriculture backing the mortgage, which had been approved.

The USDA offers loan guarantees to certain buyers through its Rural Development Office.

October 1 came with no USDA certificate and the government shutdown, stalling the sale.

Dr. Doherty said he asks himself: "Do I wait and hope that the government shutdown resolves quickly, or forget this buyer and look for a new buyer?''

Right now he said he believes that cooler heads will prevail in Washington and his sale will be able to proceed in the not-too-distant future. And he feels fortunate he has a good job that he was able to start without waiting for his home to sell.

But the shutdown in processing federal mortgage guarantees or verifying income information through the Internal Revenue Service has caused what real estate agent Karen Landry called "gridlock'' in property transactions.

"This is across the board. If you don't have your USDA certificate, you can't close,'' said Ms. Landry, who works with RE/MAX Vision Worcester. "Technically, they're (the buyers are) out of contract. They could forfeit their deposit.''

She said, "This is bad. It really is hurting families.''

Brian Moore, vice president of Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation in Holden, said USDA-backed loans are on hold but conventional mortgages and VA loans are proceeding without a hitch, for now.

"Fairway has decided to waive the tax transcript until 'post condition','' Mr. Moore said. Under this practice, the loan is approved based on detailed financial information submitted upfront, without Internal Revenue Service verification. When the IRS tax transcript is obtained, it will be included with the package.

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