Our friends at Smart Growth Vermont in Burlington have a job opening for a Program Director.

Considering the unprecedented economic downturn focused on the housing market, VHFA wanted to better understand the values of the homes underlying its single-family mortgages. It’s clear Vermont has among the lowest delinquency and foreclosure rates, but how VHFA-financed properties were faring was important to understand.

George Demas, VHFA's new General Counsel, started Aug. 10.

He comes to the Agency from the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration (BISHCA) in Montpelier.

Last week developers broke ground in Essex Junction on what will become Village Haven, the state's first designated "neighborhood" under the new Vermont Neighborhoods law passed last spring.

Dousevicz Inc. of South Burlington plans to build 18 two- or three-bedroom single-family homes and six duplex homes on the property.

The houses will sell for $258,000 to $320,000.