WASHINGTON — Real estate transactions may be more dependent on physical mail than many agents and brokers realize, creating potential exposure if U.S. Postal Service (USPS) disruptions worsen.

USPS may run out of cash by early 2027, officials say, and delivery reductions or post office closures remain possible without congressional action.

“There’s one thing we can’t do, and that is the status quo,” Postmaster General David Steiner said. That matters for real estate because legal notices, homeowners’ association (HOA) correspondence, title documents, lender communications, and other time-sensitive materials can still move through the mail, often under firm contractual or legal deadlines.

The risk may be especially acute in rural markets and among older clients who are more likely to rely on mailed documents and payments. Identifying mail-dependent steps now and building in electronic alternatives where possible may help reduce disruption if delivery delays worsen.

Source: Inman (04/15/26) Healey, Jessi

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