{
  "id": 17222899,
  "title": "Forget Zillow. Vermonters are fighting the housing crisis with catalogs",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/forget-zillow-vermonters-are-fighting-the-housing-crisis-with-catalogs",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-30T11:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Fast Company",
    "slug": "fast-company",
    "url": "https://www.fastcompany.com/91630700/forget-zillow-vermonters-are-fighting-the-housing-crisis-with-catalogs"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Vermont is stepping up to address the housing crisis by preapproving a series of home designs through a 10-home catalog called 802 Homes. Named after the state's sole area code, this catalog is set to be released early next year, offering free blueprints for builders and developers. With over 10 million homes needed, preapproved building plans aim to expedite the zoning and approval process. The U.S., facing a shortage of homes, is increasingly turning to preapproved housing programs. These programs help create affordable, versatile housing that meets local needs and aesthetics, reducing delays and costs. In Vermont, the 802 Homes catalog features single-family and starter homes, townhouses, duplexes, multifamily units, and a unique railroad flat design, all crafted to blend in with Vermont neighborhoods and support walkable communities. Pilot communities of Essex Junction, Hartford, and Manchester will test the on- and off-site construction methods. Vermont's approach adopts the idea of preapproved home designs from past initiatives, adapting them to fit local context and needs.",
  "summary": "One state is preapproving a whole neighborhood’s worth of home designs in advance, and it’s a step that a growing number of local governments across the U.S. are taking to build more homes—and fast. In Vermont, state officials are preparing a 10-home catalog called 802 Homes that’s named after the state’s sole area code and is expected to be released early next year. Once it’s out, the catalog’s…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}