Flemming: Dour housing predictions

By David Flemming

In EAI’s August survey asking “How do you anticipate housing shortage situation to progress?” 82% of respondents chose, “This is a long term, self-inflicted trend that is here to stay unless Vermont officials reform local zoning laws and Act 250 restrictions.”

3% believe “Factors like COVID-19, greater numbers of wealthy Boomers retiring, and a mass exodus from the New York metropolitan area are responsible. This trend will continue for the next 6-7 years as these new populations change the core demographic of Vermont.”

And just 5% think “This is a short-term, post-pandemic trend that will resolve itself in 1-2 years.”

Regardless of which option you chose, it is clear that housing is a major, hot button issue. The Vermont Housing Finance Agency defines “Severely cost-burdened households” as those paying at least 50% of their income on housing. 3 counties are especially badly off. 19% of Lamoille County households, 17% of Grand Isle and Windham county households fit this description. Overall throughout Vermont, this number stands at 15%, using US Census Bureau American Community Survey 5 year estimates. These households are at a high risk of eviction or foreclosure.

David Flemming is a policy analyst for the Ethan Allen Institute. Reprinted with permission from the Ethan Allen Institute Blog.

Image courtesy of Public domain

One thought on “Flemming: Dour housing predictions

  1. aS A LONG TIME MEMBER OF pROPERTY OWNERS STANDING TOGETHER
    and Citizens for Property Rights

    I HAVE BEEN PREACHING THESE TWO issues FOR DECADES. cITIZENS FOR pROPERTY rIGHTS AND pROPERTY OWNERS STANDING TOGETHER. aCT 200, aCT 250, AND PRETTY AND PERFECT BUREAUCRACIES, STATE, COUNTY AND LOCAL RIDICULOUS AND EXPENSIVE MANDATES, STOP MORE HOUSING THAN CAN BE BELIEVED, aND RAISED THE PRICES FOR LAND AND HOMES THRU THE ROOF

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