Buyers of homes in flood zones could be encountering unexpected hurdles this week: The government shutdown that took effect on Wednesday also has suspended the National Flood Insurance Program’s ability to write new policies or renew existing ones.

No state has more flood insurance policies than Florida, home to 1.7 million of the 4.7 million homes covered by the program, which is managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

While the program can still pay claims during the shutdown, a lengthy suspension could thwart real estate transactions where mortgages require flood insurance, said Shannon McGahn, executive vice president and chief advocacy officer at the National Association of Realtors. Lenders are prohibited from issuing government-backed mortgages for properties in FEMA-d

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