VHFA released its annual "Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Housing and Wages in Vermont" report today.

The report found, in spite of the softening real estate market, Vermonters earning the median income still cannot afford the median priced home.

“The real estate market was helped this year by low interest rates and a generous federal tax credit,” said VHFA Executive Director Sarah Carpenter.

VHFA has selected Swap Financial Group LLC to perform swap analysis services related to GASB 53.

The 6-person South Orange, N.J., firm was founded by Managing Directors Peter Shapiro and John Keenan in 1998.

Thanks to all the firms who responded to our RFP.

The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University released its "State of the Nation’s Housing" report today.

The report shows home sales and housing starts nationwide staged an uneven comeback starting in early 2009. Improved affordability for first-time buyers and government intervention helped spark a turnaround and drove all of the increase in existing home sales last year, but record foreclosures continue to pressure markets and homeowners.

Despite positive signs early in the 2010 spring buying season, housing continues to face significant challenges.

NeighborWorks of Western Vermont won a $4.5 million grant for innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.

The Rutland County nonprofit housing organization received the grant — one of only 20 nationwide — for its proposal to save energy and create jobs retrofitting homes and municipal buildings.

"Working with our partners we will be able to retrofit 40 percent of the homes in Rutland County for energy savings, create an estimated 352 jobs, and show the entire country what a single county in Vermont can do with resources and the determination to get it done, " says Ludy Biddle, Executive Director of NeighborWorks of Western Vermont.