Automatic federal tax increases and spending cuts due to take effect this year are likely to push the economy into a recession in 2013, according to an analysis released this week by the Congressional Budget Office. The contraction would be accompanied by a dramatic fall in the federal budget deficit.
Publications
Housing policy key to equalizing access to high quality education
Lower income and non-white students lack equal access to top performing schools largely because of housing availability and cost, according to a recent report from the Brookings Institution. Based on research pertaining to 84,077 schools nationwide, the report documents disparities between the performance of schools in areas with low housing costs and tho
Pre-disaster planning tools
After Tropical Storm Irene, there has been a lot of talk about how Vermont communities can take the lessons learned in the aftermath and plan better for future possible disasters. Similarly, after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the federal government was prompted to help state and local governments as they prepared and planned for disasters.
Home lending in Vermont compared to New England
A recent study looking at the six New England states’ home lending activity between 2006 to 2010 shows Vermont compared to neighboring states. Some highlights are:
Baby boomers and the echo generation will shape U.S. housing markets for decades
Aging baby boomers will change the housing market in ways that have never been experienced before, according to a new report on demographic effects on U.S. housing markets from the Bipartisan Policy Center.
The report projects the extent of new unprecedented demands for affordable, accessible housing from the 65+ population. It also describes the impact of seniors on the supply of housing, as they vacate their homes. Although many of their homes will be purchased by younger people, the number of homes left by the baby boom may well exceed the demand from younger potential buyers, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest.
Unemployment is most common cause of homelessness
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. Conference of Mayors’ Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness. Respondents were asked to provide information on emergency food assistance and homeless services provided between September 1, 2010 and August 31, 2011.
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”.
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.
Designing the future of Burlington's downtown areas
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.