Government Shutdown, Declining Markets, and Zero Property Taxes?

Happy Finance Friday! In this South Florida Mortgage Report (Oct 3, 2025), Craig Garcia (President, Capital Partners Mortgage) and co-host Billy dig into a wild week for rates and real estate: a federal government shutdown, softer jobs data, stocks at highs, and why “bad news” can sometimes be “good news” for mortgages. We break down how closings are affected (or not), practical flood-insurance workarounds while NFIP is paused, VA loan processing during a shutdown, and Florida’s headline-grabbing property-tax proposal—what it is, what it isn’t, and how it could impact buyers, owners, and local services. Plus: an appraisal curveball on a no-income-verification deal, and advice for agents on keeping fragile deals together right now.What we cover:Mortgage rates: Freddie Mac trend vs. real-time relief and the “bad news = good news” dynamicGovernment shutdown: what it actually means for closings this weekFlood insurance: private-market options while NFIP is paused (so deals don’t stall)VA loans: expected processing slowdowns vs. deal-killer mythsFlorida property taxes: what a 2026 proposal could mean for homesteads & local budgetsAppraisal discrepancy on a no-income-verification loan: lessons learnedAgent playbook: prioritize keeping current deals together over chasing new onesKey takeaways:Most purchases can still close with private flood coverage if NFIP isn’t issuing new policiesVA loans may see minor delays, but they’re still closingProperty-tax “elimination” headlines need a careful read—real impacts depend on scope and revenue replacementIn choppy markets, communication and contingency planning save dealsIf you found this helpful, follow/subscribe and share with a friend in real estate. Send questions for a future episode and we’ll tackle them on air!#SouthFloridaMortgageReport #MortgageRates #RealEstate #FloridaRealEstate #FloodInsurance #VALoans #PropertyTaxes #HousingMarket #MortgageTipsHelpful Links·        📩HousingNewsletter:Stay informed with curated mortgage and housing insights delivered straight toyour inbox: ⁠⁠Subscribe here⁠⁠·        ✅ Pre-Approvals 24/7: Get started anytime:o    ⁠⁠Option 1⁠⁠o    ⁠⁠Option 2⁠⁠