An annual survey of municipal officials in 29 large U.S. cities found unemployment at the top of the list of homelessness causes, according to a recent report from the The U.S.
          
  
            HUD Consolidated Plan public hearing on Feb. 13
      
        
        
        
        
          
  
            
The State of Vermont’s Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development will conduct a public hearing in preparation of developing its 2012 Action Plan for the HUD Consolidated Plan for 2010-2015, to hear views about the State’s housing and community development needs, including 
          
  
            Materials available for next week's QAP public hearing 
      
        
        
        
        
          
  
            
Next Thursday, February 2, 2012, Vermont's Joint Committee on Tax Credits will conduct a public hearing to discuss changes to the Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) used to select the projects that will receive state and federal housing tax credits.
          
  
            Hefty down payment requirements may block creditworthy home buyers
      
        
        
        
        
          
  
            
According to a recent study, requiring down payments of at least ten percent is less likely to prevent a mortgage from defaulting than other measures, such as requiring borrower income documentation and prohibiting hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages with “teaser payments”.