News

More HUD funding for housing counseling coming to Vermont

Posted January 5, 2011

HUD has awarded $252,800 to seven additional Vermont nonprofits to help low and moderate income Vermonters become first time homeowners, to prevent foreclosures and help mobile home owners preserve their homes.  The following each received a share of the federal funds to support their important homeownership and foreclosure counseling work:

  • Central Vermont Community Land Trust
  • CVOEO Mobile Home Project
  • Champlain Housing Trust
  • Lamoille Housing Partnership
  • NeighborWorks of Western Vermont
  • Rockingham Area Community Land Trust
  • Windham Housing Trust 

The funding is part of a $1,440,300 HUD grant to Boston-based Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA).  The Central Vermont Community Action Council and Bennington-Rutland Opportunity Council also received $76,883 in direct funding from HUD for homeownership, foreclosure prevention and tenant counseling. 

“HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are a critical part of the nation’s housing recovery,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.  “This critical funding will help counseling organizations continue to assist families in making more informed choices before they purchase a home and counsel families facing foreclosure.” 

CHAPA received full funding for its application on behalf of the New England Housing Network.  The Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition is the state’s lead agency for the Network and helps provide technical assistance to the Vermont grantees.  The Obama Administration awarded nearly $73 million in housing counseling grants to more than 500 national, regional and local organizations, a 22% increase over last year’s funding level. 

You can read HUD’s press release here: http://tinyurl.com/24roqt7.

 



Vermont Joins Other States in Foreclosure Investigation

Posted October 14, 2010

Source: Burlington FreePress, October 14, 2010

By Sam Hemingway

“Vermont banking regulators and the Attorney General’s Office have joined officials from 48 other states investigating claims that several large mortgage loan servicing entities engaged in the “robo-signing” of documents to initiate thousands of foreclosure actions around the country. [More ...]

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Foreclosed properties rehabbed to create affordable housing

Posted August 29, 2010

Source: Rutland Herald, August, 29, 2019

By: Bruce Edwards


“It’s a tough time for first-time home buyers.

Consumer confidence isn’t high and while mortgage rates are extremely low, banks have tightened up their lending standards.

But thanks to a year-old housing program, some low-income Vermonters are realizing their dream of home ownership. [More ...]

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Vermont Foreclosures Continue To Rise

Posted March 31, 2010

Susan Keese

Source: Vermont Public Radio, March 31, 2010

“(Host) The number of mortgage foreclosures in Vermont continues to rise, and experts expect that trend to continue into the near future.

But help is available for homeowners in trouble.

And more may be on the way, as VPR’s Susan Keese reports. [More ...]

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Officials unveil home loan plan

Posted March 26, 2010

Associated Press

Source: Bennington Banner, March 26, 2010

“WASHINGTON (AP) — Under pressure to stem the foreclosure crisis, the Obama administration launched a plan Friday to reduce the amount some troubled borrowers owe on their home loans and give jobless homeowners a temporary break.

Administration officials cautioned that the plan won’t stop all foreclosures or help all troubled homeowners. Instead, officials said their goal is to meet their original target, announced last year, of helping 3 million to 4 million borrowers avoid foreclosure. [More ...]

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House to pass bill to reduce home foreclosures

Posted March 17, 2010

“Montpelier, Vt – Today, the Vermont House of Representatives passed H. 590, An Act Relating to Mediation in Foreclosure Proceedings.  The bill is a consumer protection act which seeks to keep struggling Vermonters in their homes.

[More ...]

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Vermont foreclosures rise by 17 percent

Posted February 28, 2010

By Bruce Edwards

“The recession continues to make its presence felt in Vermont as the number of homeowners facing foreclosure jumped 17 percent last year.

There were 1,928 foreclosures filed in the state in 2009 compared to 1,639 the prior year, according to the Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration. [More ...]

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Foreclosures Seen Still Hitting Prices

Posted February 16, 2010

By James R. Hagerty

“More waves of foreclosures will keep downward pressure on home prices in parts of the U.S. over the next several years, two new studies project.

The studies—by John Burns Real Estate Consulting Inc. and Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC—both conclude that most efforts to modify loans with easier terms will delay, not prevent, the loss of homes to foreclosure. [More ...]

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U.S. sets record for foreclosure filings in 2009

Posted January 14, 2010

By Adrian Sainz, The Associated Press

“MIAMI — A record 2.8 million households were threatened with foreclosure in 2009, and that number is expected to rise this year as more unemployed and cash-strapped homeowners fall behind on their mortgages.The number of households that received a foreclosure-related notice rose 21 percent from 2008, RealtyTrac Inc. reported Wednesday. One in 45 homes were sent a filing, which includes default notices, scheduled foreclosure auctions and bank repossessions…” [More ...]

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