Today's Wall Street Journal article "Vermont Mortgage Laws Shut The Door on Bust — and Boom" examines Vermont's low rate of foreclosure and attributes it, in part, to banking regulations and land use practices.

Property owners in Charlotte have until the end of August to apply for grants to help them convert or add an affordable unit or two to their existing property.

The money — a total of $40,000 each year for three years — comes from the town's Affordable Housing Trust Fund, approved at the 2007 town meeting.

Up to $5,000 is available for a feasibility study; $10,000 for construction of a single unit, up to $30,000 in construction grants per project.

Burlington Co-Housing East Village (pictured) and other Vermont co-housing developments are written up in this month's issue of Champlain Business Journal.

Registration is open for "Housing Policy," a 3-credit graduate-level course being offered at the University of Vermont in Burlington this fall.

The course, taught by VHFA Policy and Planning Manager Maura Collins, will meet Thursday nights from 4 to 6:45, Aug. 31 through Dec. 9.