Laurel Wamsley

3 weeks ago | npr.org | Laurel Wamsley

After a couple extremely slow years, more inventory is finally hitting the market this spring. But buyers might be put off by high prices and an unsteady economy.

3 weeks ago | wgbh.org | Laurel Wamsley

April 03, 2025 It’s springtime, and “For Sale” signs are popping up in front of homes across the country. But with so much uncertainty in the economy, it’s an open question whether the spring housing market will be hot … or not. Let’s check out the forecast. Mortgage rates and home prices are both highIt’s certainly not the cheapest time to buy a home. The average 30-year mortgage rate is now 6.65% , down a bit from January, but still pretty high.

3 weeks ago | wfdd.org | Neda Ulaby |Marc Silver |Laurel Wamsley

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1 month ago | ideastream.org | Laurel Wamsley

Elon Musk's team within the Trump administration has sought sweeping access to databases that store personal information on millions and millions of Americans. The data collected and maintained by the government isn't just your name, home address, and Social Security number. Some federal agencies store information that many people don't share even with their closest friends and family: Medical diagnoses and treatment. Notes from therapy sessions. Whether a person has filed for bankruptcy.

1 month ago | boisestatepublicradio.org | Laurel Wamsley

Five years on, the onset of the coronavirus pandemic is still fresh – though the speed of the news cycle can make it feel like long ago. Some hallmarks of the pandemic era are still common: Working from home, at least some of the time. Zooming or FaceTiming with friends and associates. Masks and nasal swab tests tucked into a drawer. While some changes happened gradually, there was one day that marked the beginning of the new era. March 11, 2020.