According to Stu Feldstein, the president of a mortgage research firm, if the Democratic and Republican parties do not reach an agreement within the next couple of days, interest rates could increase considerably when the government breaches the debt ceiling. There are several scenarios that experts are preparing for, including a stall in housing recovery growth. Many experts are suggesting that individuals who plan to apply for a mortgage this week should lock in offered rates in order to protect themselves against a rise in mortgage rates due to the government shutdown. More here