Economy

Vermont Governor Phil Scott joined legislative and housing leaders in a press conference last week to update the public on the first year progress of the Building Homes Together campaign.

In each of Vermont's northernmost counties, the median price of homes sold during the first half of 2017 was more than 10% higher than a decade earlier, according to our recent analysis of VT Tax Department data on non-vacation homes. 

Home price data through June 2017 for every town and county in the state was recently added to the Vermont Housing Data website's community profiles. 

Governor Phil Scott signed S. 135 last week, a bill to encourage economic growth and affordable housing. Although the law was signed on June 8, 2017,  portions of the bill are effective on date of enactment of the FY 2018-2019 budget. Vermont State Treasurer Beth Pearce (pictured), also on VHFA's Board of Commissioners, was one of the bill signing speakers. 

Housing developers, business leaders, smart growth policy experts and poverty advocates joined together to support the passage of a $35 million housing bond this afternoon at a press conference at Vermont’s State House in Montpelier. 

Strong financial performance  contributed to a rating upgrade to Aa2 for VHFA's multiple purpose bonds from Moody's Investors Service last week.  The rating applies to new multiple purpose bonds and all outstanding long-term debt under the multiple purpose bond program.

The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is seeking input from the business community about their experiences with permitting and environmental regulation in Vermont.  Please share your insights at one of the "listening tour" meetings the Agency is holding over the next two weeks at locations around the state. 

In Vermont, the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits allocated by VHFA have financed 6,513 apartments, providing affordable homes to 15,175 low-income Vermont households and supporting 7,360 jobs.

The median price of non-vacation Vermont homes sold during the first six months of 2016 was $200,000, virtually unchanged from 2015. Like prices, the number of sales also held steady compared to the first six months of 2015. 

Building Homes Together  was launched yesterday. It is a collaboration of organizations and communities seeking to remedy some of the most pressing challenges in Chittenden County’s housing market.

Although most non-vacation condominiums sold each year in Vermont are near Burlington, several towns in other parts of the state also play an important role in this segment of the housing market. About 80 percent of all primary residence condo sales in Vermont each year take place in 10 towns--7 inside Chittenden County and 3 beyond its boundaries.