A side effect of the ongoing federal government shutdown has been a drop in fixed mortgage rates, the National Association of REALTORS® and Freddie Mac report. Last week for the third straight week, rates were lower with the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage falling to 4.22 percent, the lowest level since June 20, 2013. Read the release from Freddie Mac.

In other headlines:

September home prices up for 5th consecutive month – WREX Rockford

Channahon pondering housing issues – The Herald-News