The Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Boston has announced its training schedule and application deadlines for the Affordable Housing Program (AHP) for 2019. The program awards approximately $20.7 million in grants and low-interest loans through member institutions to organizations promoting homeownership and rental housing opportunities for low income households.

Among the recent projects that have received funding through this program are Lake Paran, an affordable rental housing development in Shaftsbury, Vermont that will break ground in the coming months. 

The Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Board of Commissioners announced yesterday that its annual allocation of federal and state housing tax credits will support the development of 214 permanently affordable apartments in nine communities across the state. Low and moderate income Vermont renters will benefit from a 12.5 percent increase in Vermont’s annual allocation enacted by Congress last year.

Housing tax credits are the single largest source of funding for the development of affordable rental housing in Vermont. VHFA awarded the developers of the eight projects state and federal tax credits that are expected to yield an estimated $41 million in total upfront equity for development costs.

Great news!  A Mortgage Credit Certificate provides a mortgage interest tax credit benefit for homebuyers whether or not deductions are itemized. 

A Mortgage Credit Certificate is a federal tax credit for up to $2,000 and unlike a tax deduction, a Mortgage Credit Certificate reduces federal tax liability dollar for dollar for homebuyers.

How is a Mortgage Credit Certificate obtained?

Today marks the date in 1974 that Governor Thomas Salmon signed legislation creating Vermont Housing Finance Agency. In the 45 years since then, we've helped over 29,000 Vermont households become homeowners and have provided financing, development and management support, subsidy administration and tax credits to approximately 8,800 rental apartments. In total, 15 percent of all Vermont homes and over 136,000 Vermonters have been assisted through VHFA.