A new report from the Center for Investigative Reporting reveals that lenders across the United States are denying conventional mortgage loan applications for African American and Latino applicants at higher rates than comparable White applicants.
Housing in the news
Governor announces successful sale of Vermont’s first Sustainability Bonds for affordable housing
Governor Phil Scott announced Thursday the successful sale by Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) of Vermont’s first Sustainability Bonds. The bonds sale raised $37 million to fund the “Housing for All” initiative, the largest state investment in housing in several decades. Proceeds from the sale of the bonds will be awarded by the Vermont Housing Conservation Board (VHCB) for constructing and rehabilitating 550-650 homes statewide over the next two to three years. Vermont investors played a critical role in the success of the bond sale.
Vermont Bankers Association 2nd Annual Women in Leadership Conference
The Vermont Bankers Association (VBA) is hosting the 2nd Annual Women in Leadership Conference on Wednesday March 7, 2018 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel & Conference Center in Montpelier. VHFA is a proud sponsor of this event that is open to men, women and all levels of staff at any VBA member institution.
The conference provides an opportunity for all VBA member participants to network with colleagues and business leaders as well as learn about emerging industry topics.
To learn more or register for this event please access additional details here.
2017 VHFA Single Family Homeownership Program Top Performers
VHFA is pleased to announce the 2017 Top Performers across the local Vermont banks, credit unions and mortgage companies who participate in the VHFA single family homeownership program. VHFA's participating lenders are essential to meeting VHFA's mission to provide homeownership opportunities for low to moderate income Vermont households.
Please join VHFA in congratulating the following organizations and individuals who originated the highest VHFA mortgage loan production volume in 2017:
VHFA introduces Sustainability Bonds to deliver more affordable housing to Vermonters in need
This week the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Board of Commissioners approved plans to sell $37 million of bonds during the week of January 8, 2018 as the first Sustainability Bonds to be issued in the State of Vermont. Building upon the strength of the market in Green Bonds and the growing interest in socially responsible investments, the designation as “Sustainability Bonds” will enable VHFA to maximize funding for the “Housing for All” initiative enacted by the Vermont Legislature in 2017. Bond proceeds will be administered by the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board to create 550-650 homes statewide for low- and moderate-income Vermonters.
How will federal tax reform affect Vermonters?
VHFA's Sarah Carpenter and Maura Collins talked with reporters this week about likely impacts of the many provisions related to housing included in the federal tax reform bill passed this week.
VAHC: House and Senate Tax Bills Will Decimate Affordable Housing In Vermont
The Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition (VAHC), a state leader in housing policy, research and advocacy, issued the following statement last week on the tax bill recently passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and under consideration in the Senate:
At a time when Vermont already has a shortage of 10,866 affordable homes for extremely low income renters and the 5th highest affordability gap for renters in the country, the pending tax proposals would eliminate tax credits and financing tools that have helped create thousands of affordable apartments in our state and made homeownership more affordable for thousands of Vermonters.
Vermonters weigh federal tax reform proposals
When the Senate and House released their initial tax reform proposals last week in Washington, Vermont's Congressional delegation went to work to protect valuable resources that are part of the tax code, such as private activity bonds and housing tax credits. Tax programs are responsible for most affordable housing developed in Vermont in the past 30 years.
House Tax Bill ‘Would Have Devastating Impact on Affordable Housing in New England’
From the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition -