Vacancies figures for Vermont released yesterday might give a false impression of the amount of available housing in the Green Mountain State.
New numbers from the 2010 U.S. Census show Vermont has a 20.5 percent vacancy rate. While that number may be accurate, the devil's in the details: That statistic includes Vermont's substantial stock of "vacation" homes — units that may, in fact, have no one living in them year-round, but are also unavailable for sale or rental.
The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) reported to Congress yesterday "worst case housing needs" grew by more than 20% from 2007 to '09. That figure represents a growth of 1.2 million households.
On average, closing costs rose 37% in 2010, according to Bankrate.com's annual survey of the closing costs for a $200,000 home purchase mortgage.
Home buyers faced increased origination fees from lenders and increased fees from third parties for items such as appraisals and title insurance.
"Location, location, location" has long been held as a primary factor in real estate sales. Turns out the same might be said for successful home loans.
New research from Ohio State University reveals low-income homeowners who get their mortgages from a local lender — within 10 miles of their new home — were less likely to default on their loan than borrowers who go with more distant lending institutions.
Chip Sawyer from the Center for Rural Studies (CRS) at the University of Vermont appeared on TV and radio yesterday, talking about the release of the 2010 Census numbers. (See our post from yesterday: "Census: Vermont population up 2.8% over past decade.")
Vermont’s total population is 625,741, according to the first set of data released from the 2010 Census.
This represents an increase of 2.8% from the count in 2000 — a dramatic slowing of the population growth rate compared to the 8.2% growth between 1990 and 2000. Only six states grew more slowly than Vermont between 2000 and 2010.
The Census Bureau released new estimates yesterday that provide information about the characteristics of residents and homes in every Vermont community during 2005-2009.
These estimates are based on the annual American Community Survey (ACS), which asks a sample of Vermonters questions about their home and household members living there.
Here’s a sample of the types of information collected through the ACS:
The Burlington Free Press today published a front page story about the City of Burlington's "Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice" report.
Writer Joel Banner Baird quotes VHFA Policy & Planning Manager Maura Collins, one of the authors of the report, in the article.
Representatives from VHFA will join people from Burlington Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) and the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) Fair Housing Project (FHP) in presenting the new "Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice" report to the Burlington City Council.
VHFA staff recently analyzed income data of 5,068 tenants of subsidized rental housing in Vermont. The results confirm Vermont's housing organizations are helping those who are truly in need.
