The region’s housing market was facing potential roadblocks going into the spring market, the busiest home-selling and buying season.

A shortage of homes in the lower price range combined with the new federal tax law that capped the amount of local tax deductions threatened to cast a pall on the market.

Yet, as the season progresses, a sense of optimism and relief seems to have spread in the suburbs of New York City in northern New Jersey and the Lower Hudson Valley region.