More and more homes are hitting the market in Maine, but inventory still remains well below what experts consider a balanced level.
Maine housing
The USDA wouldn’t let her give up her house and crushed her with debt
The USDA failed to follow its own guidance for a rural mortgage program, taking years to foreclose on delinquent loans. As a result, 55 Maine borrowers racked up, on average, $110,000 in additional debt before the agency moved to take the homes.
New housing report paints dour picture for Portland’s poorest renters
A new report from Harvard University shows that for the first time, more than half of Portland renters are considered cost-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
MaineHousing announces $13M for new projects, including in Time and Temperature building
The quasi-state agency warns that without more money from the Legislature, affordable housing production will slow dramatically.
Maine lawmakers give mobile homeowners a leg up in park purchases
Legislators passed a bill to give mobile homeowners the ‘right of first refusal’ when their parks go up for sale.
Mainers call on lawmakers to protect renters, boost housing production
The Legislature’s Housing and Economic Development Committee heard from renters, advocates, landlords and developers during a daylong hearing on the state’s housing crisis.
Legislation could create starter home program modeled after Lewiston project
Amy Smith, executive director of Healthy Homeworks, said a state program could close the financing gap for renovating aging housing stock for first-time homebuyers.
Mobile homeowners back bill to help them fight sales to investors
Maine lawmakers are weighing several bills designed to protect mobile homeowners, including one that would give residents the right of first refusal if their park comes up for sale.
Hundreds of apartments headed for East End, Thompson’s Point
Two projects approved by the Portland Planning Board this week will add much-needed housing — but for one of them, the lack of parking could spell trouble.
How can Maine fix its housing crisis? A new report has dozens of ideas
The 83-page breakdown creates a roadmap for lawmakers on incentivizing development, collecting data and assembling a workforce to build the thousands of units the state desperately needs.