Join us this Wednesday, October 25, 2017 for the Green Real Estate Symposium hosted by our friends at Vermont Realtors.

The event will include information on three main topics. First, appraisers will be educated on how to accurately evaluate a house for its energy efficiency. They'll also learn how to point out areas that could be performing better. 

Next, market research on green energy will show us why we are measuring sustainable energy in the first place. 

Finally, the symposium will cover guided techniques and phrases for articulating the true value of a green home to prospective residents.

Plans were made over two years ago to make renovations to Applegate Apartments, located in Bennington, VT. It's one of Vermont's largest affordable housing developments and threatened by rising fuel costs before improvements were made. The complex paid $175,000 a year on fuel costs, which required rent to rise, and owners were worried that tenants would not be able to keep up.

Last week, the Applegate community celebrated the addition of a new "central biomass plant" which replaced the need for 23 oil burners - one for each building. The project also included a insulated underground pipeline that delivers hot water to all of the buildings.

VHFA has three immediate job openings: Development Underwriter, Business Development Coordinator and Research and Communications Coordinator. 

Caño Martín Peña, a sister community land trust to Vermont's own Champlain Housing Trust, needs our help to rebuild the homes it operates for 26,000 lower income San Juan residents. 

September's hurricanes have left these homes partly or completely destroyed. Donations will be used to buy construction materials and replace furniture and goods for those who have lost everything.

The Caño residents won last year's United Nations / BSHF World Habitat Award for their Community Land Trust -- joining the Champlain Housing Trust as a past award recipient.