The Rutland Herald and Times Argus published a piece yesterday about the global credit crisis and its effect on the ability of Vermont organizations such as VHFA to serve first-time homebuyers.

"It's diminished our ability to serve those low-income homebuyers that are our mission to serve," Executive Director Sarah Carpenter says in the article. "In the big picture, it's meant less opportunity for Vermont borrowers."

Two interesting economic-related reports were released recently:

The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston releases housing related economic indicators monthly. The results, shown in the table below, are from the October release.

Vermont's home prices have dropped less than New England's and the nation's, and the drop in the number of permits has been about equal to the decrease nationally.

Gov. Jim Douglas appointed Thomas N. Pelletier of Montpelier to be chairman of the VHFA Board of Commissioners. The change took effect upon the Governor’s appointment Tuesday.

Numbers released yesterday by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) show foreclosures and mortgage loan delinquencies were at a record high in the third quarter of 2009.

Nationally, approximately 14 percent of all home loans were either delinquent or in some stage of foreclosure.

Vermont's numbers aren't nearly as bad (See map).