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”.   

Researchers at the University of North Carolina’s Center for Responsible Lending used national level data to examine the effect of various requirements on borrowers’ access to mortgage credit and on the number of defaults they would be likely to prevent.   

Citing three deaths of people who were homeless this winter, Governor Peter Shumlin re-instituted the Vermont Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) at a press conference yesterday. Angus Chaney, Agency of Human Services (AHS) Director of Housing, has been named chair and will work with the 22-member Council to:

If you're walking down Church Street in Burlington this week and want to help shape the future of the city's downtown areas, stop by the PlanBTV design charrette underway in the former Ann Taylor store space at 1 Church Street.   

Read more in today's Burlington Free Press or watch a short video about PlanBTV.

The Vermont Division of Fire Safety has issued new proposed Vermont Access Rules and Adaptable and Visitable Standards for Dwellings.   The rules will become effective on March 15, 2012. 

A public hearing to discuss the proposed rules is scheduled for Friday, February 17, 2012, at 10A M, at the Division of Fire Safety office located at 1311 US Route 302 in Berlin, Vermont

Review the proposed rules.