VHFA launched a new website today: Vermont Rental Housing Codes. The site provides guidance on the health and safety standards that existing residential rental housing in Vermont must meet.

“Finally landlords, tenants, and municipalities have one place to look for rental codes, instead of searching through several different websites to cobble together what applies to them,” said Executive Director Sarah Carpenter. “For most renters –and landlords – it has been hard to know exactly what applies to them and who is responsible for what. This site tries to clarify the most common questions.”

VHFA lowered its home mortgage loan interest rates today to the lowest point in agency history.   As of Friday, August 12, 2011 the new rates are:

3.875% with 0 points for our government program

4.00% with .25 point  for our conventional MOVE program (4.012% APR with points)

Borrowers through both types of VHFA programs receive help that makes buying a home more affordable, such as savings on Vermont’s Property Transfer Tax.    Borrowers using VHFA’s government programs also receive low down payment options including zero-down payments for some products.

VHFA lowered our home mortgage loan interest rates today.

Our Government program — 30-year, 0 point, fixed rate — is 4.50% (4.50% APR).

Our Conventional program — 30-year, 0.25 point, fixed rate — is 4.625% (4.647% APR).

Read about VHFA’s home loan programs online. If you’re unsure which program might be right for you, we have a quick online quiz you can take to help.

The State of Vermont is proposing systematic changes in its delivery of housing services to the homeless population. Two potential programs that may stem from these changes are a state-funded security deposit guarantee program and a renter risk pool.

A working group charged with recommending how these new programs would work would like your feedback on important components of each program and what will make them successful.  All landlords and housing managers are strongly encouraged to complete the survey.   The results of this survey will be reported to the state with the final recommendations.

Take the survey.