08 May Home, Family, and a Future in Bristol: A Homeowner’s Path to Stability
Home, Family, and a Future in Bristol: A Homeowner's Path to Stability
When Marcie Cousino needed to find a new place to live, staying in the community she loved felt increasingly out of reach. Through Addison Housing Works’ Shared Equity Homeownership program, funded by VHCB, she found more than an affordable home — she found lasting stability close to family, work, and community.
For Marcie Cousino, home has always meant more than a house. It means Bristol. It means family nearby. It means being part of the community that has shaped her life.
A lifelong Addison County resident, Marcie had long hoped to stay close to the people and place she knows best. But as housing costs climbed and affordable options grew scarcer, that hope began to feel uncertain.
“My whole family is here,” she said. “I have a huge support group. I really wanted to stay close to them, but finding something affordable was nearly impossible.”
A Housing Search at a Stressful Time
Marcie’s path to homeownership began during a difficult transition. After renting the same apartment for several years, she learned that the property had been sold and the new owner planned to move in. She suddenly needed to find a new place to live in an extremely tight housing market.
“It was a really stressful time,” she said. “The housing market was so tight.”
Then she learned that a homeowner was preparing to sell through Addison Housing Works’ Shared Equity Homeownership program. Marcie moved quickly.
“That’s when I started the application process,” she said.
Even then, the outcome was far from guaranteed.
“I had to jump through hoops to get everything done quickly,” Marcie said. “Two people were ahead of me to see the house, and I almost didn’t get it. But everything fell into place. I’m so grateful it did.”
How Shared Equity Keeps Homes Affordable
The home Marcie purchased first became part of Addison Housing Works’ shared equity portfolio in 2014, when a single mother bought it for $200,000. With a $40,000 VHCB investment, the original homebuyer only needed to borrow $160,000, making homeownership possible for her family.
When that home was resold in 2022, Vermont’s real estate market had changed dramatically. Its market value had risen to $300,000. In a traditional sale, that increase likely would have priced out many local buyers.
But because the home remained in the shared equity program, it stayed affordable for the next homeowner. The value of the original VHCB investment had grown along with the market, creating a $105,000 affordability subsidy with no additional public funding. That allowed Marcie to purchase the home with an affordable mortgage of $195,000.
It is a powerful example of how shared equity works over time: one public investment not only helps a family buy a home today, but also preserves affordability for the next family tomorrow.
At Home in Community
Today, Marcie works as a purchasing manager and also drives a school bus for the Mount Abraham Unified School District — a role she took on when, as she put it, “life threw me a curveball.” She takes pride in both jobs and in the life she is building in the community she has always called home.
Owning her home has brought more than relief. It has brought peace of mind.
“I like knowing that I have a home where I won’t be asked to leave,” Marcie said. “Having the support of AHW [for things] that are outside my financial ability, [things that have to get fixed], has helped tremendously.”
That sense of stability matters deeply. So does the ability to remain close to family, maintain community ties, and look ahead with confidence.
An Investment That Lasts
Marcie’s story is about more than one homebuyer finding the right home at the right time. It is also about what long-term affordability makes possible for Vermont communities.
Through partnerships between VHCB and nonprofit housing organizations like Addison Housing Works, shared equity homeownership helps ensure that homes remain within reach for generations of Vermonters. One investment can serve multiple families, preserve affordability in a changing market, and help people stay rooted in the places they call home.
For Marcie, that meant more than purchasing a house. It meant finding security, staying close to the people who matter most, and building a future in the community she loves.
“I like knowing that I have a home where I won’t be asked to leave.”Marcie Cousino
Learn More About Home Ownership Programs
To learn more about shared equity homeownership and how VHCB helps keep homes affordable for future generations of Vermonters, visit the Home Ownership Programs page.