A recent study released by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University finds the current housing downturn could be the worst in a generation.

The report shows the number of homeowners paying more than half their income on housing increased from 6.5 million in 2001 to 8.8 million in 2006.

VHFA wrapped up its eight-week walking program with Loss Management Specialist Polly Thibault as the Agency's top walker.

For walking a total 293 miles, Polly won a beach bag full of beach necessities and a gift certificate for lunch.

Director of Administration Pat Loller was a close second.

The program encouraged staff members to wear Agency-supplied pedometers to count their steps and increase their physical activity. We tracked progress of each participant on a map representing a path from Burlington, Vt., to the coast of Maine, more than 210 miles away.

The 2008 Vermont Statewide Housing Conference Web site is now live.

Register online now for the Nov. 18 event. Do it before Oct. 17 and take 20% off the registration fee, paying the "early bird" fee of just $40 for the day-long event.

This conference is Vermont's premiere housing event. Watch the site as we add details about speakers and the agenda for the day.

VHFA's fiscal year ends June 30, so summer is the time we announce all our top originators for the previous year. Homeownership Outreach Coordinator Erin Perrin made presentations to our first two honorees yesterday.

Sarah Britton Cote with New England Federal Credit Union in Williston is VHFA's top mortgage loan originator in Chittenden and Grand Isle counties for 2008. Carol McKinney, at New England Federal Credit Union in St. Albans, takes the honor for Franklin County.