Although Census surveys show a clear decline in the national homeownership rate, they don’t show a similar decline for Vermont. At least not yet. Second quarter 2015 estimates show Vermont’s rate at 72 percent, nearly eight and a half percentage points higher than the national 64 percent rate.
Economists expect the national homeownership rate to reach a turning point soon, as the economic recovery and gradual credit standard loosening bring first-time buyers back to the market.
Few housing units in the U.S. are accessible for people with disabilities and even fewer are both affordable and accessible, according to a recent comprehensive study from HUD. About a third of housing in the U.S. is potentially modifiable for a person with a mobility disability, currently less than five percent is accessible for individuals with moderate mobility difficulties and less than one percent of housing is accessible for wheelchair users.
The Vermont Community Loan Fund is recruiting a loan coordinator to support the Child Care Loan Program. The person selected will work in support of an experienced program director and other program staff in all aspects of loan processing and servicing. The position, based in Montpelier, VT, is full-time, 40 hours/week.
A beautiful, new ranch-style home in St. Johnsbury and fully-renovated historic home in Rutland are for sale to qualified buyers at greatly reduced prices. The Housing Acquisition & Rehabilitation Program (HARP), administered by VHFA, helps qualified home buyers purchase beautifully restored and energy efficient homes. We've just finished with the improvements to these homes and are now offering them at greatly reduced prices thanks to Vermont Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds. HARP's an economic stimulus success story — creating jobs for Vermont building contractors and more affordable homes for Vermont buyers.