Podcasts in the Classroom is back! This week’s PITC uses a variety of shorter, readily available podcasts to discuss how housing costs have been impacted by the current economy. These recent headlines are aimed to inspire discussion. 

Here are some 2-4 minute Marketplace podcasts discussing these headlines:

• 8/23 Marketplace Is housing in a recession or a reality check?
• 7/18 Marketplace Homebuilders’ confidence in housing market plummets 
• 7/7 Marketplace Is the rental market slowing down? Maybe.

Here are some relevant Marketplace Minute podcasts.

• 9/1 Midday Report 30-year mortgage rates reach 5.66%.
• 8/30 Midday Report Housing prices rose in June but at a slower pace.
• 8/23 Closing Bell New home sales drop and median home prices rise again in July.
• 8/18 Midday Report Existing homes sales drop for the 6th straight month.
• 8/16 Closing Bell Housing starts fall in July (but Home Depot sales are up).
• 8/15 Closing Bell Homebuilders’ confidence drops, apartment building construction rises.

Assignment:

Determine how much time you want to devote to this activity, and select podcasts to provide students with background information.

Have students then tackle these discussion questions. This can be done individually, in groups, or as a class. You can also access ready-to-use slides here.

1. What do you think has been driving housing prices up during the pandemic?
2. How much have mortgage rates increased in the last year?  How does this contribute to the affordability issue?
3. What impact do you think these issues have had on the rental market?

If you use this assignment in your class, please let us know how it went!

About the Authors

Beth Tallman

Beth Tallman entered the working world armed with an MBA in finance and thoroughly enjoyed her first career working in manufacturing and telecommunications, including a stint overseas. She took advantage of an involuntary separation to try teaching high school math, something she had always dreamed of doing. When fate stepped in once again, Beth jumped on the opportunity to combine her passion for numbers, money, and education to develop curriculum and teach personal finance at Oberlin College. Beth now spends her time writing on personal finance and financial education, conducts student workshops, and develops finance curricula and educational content. She is also the Treasurer of Ohio Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.

Ren Makino

Ren started interning at NGPF in 2014, and worked part-time through high school and college. With his knowledge growing alongside NGPF, he joined the team to work full-time after graduating from college in 2020. He is also the producer of the NGPF podcast. During his free time, he likes to try out coffees from different roasters across the world.