Laurel Wamsley
Laurel Wamsley is a correspondent on NPR's Business Desk, where she covers personal finance and housing. She reports on how news events and the economy affect people and their money, and explains how to make sound financial choices in a fast-changing world.
Before joining the Business Desk, Wamsley was a reporter on NPR’s National Desk, where she reported on cities. Wamsley has reported on cities’ efforts to change zoning rules and parking requirements to allow more housing, how Baby Boomers feel locked in by low mortgage rates, and how downtowns are adapting to post-pandemic lifestyles. She also explored the economic impact of the bridge collapse in Baltimore.
She previously was a reporter on NPR's Newsdesk, where she reported breaking news and features on a wide range of subjects, including criminal justice, technology, sports, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wamsley spent several months reporting from Berlin as an Arthur F. Burns Fellow in 2019, and that year was NPR's lead reporter at the Women's World Cup in France.
Previously, Wamsley was a producer for NPR's shows and desks. She got her start at NPR as an intern on Weekend Edition Saturday.
Wamsley graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was a Morehead-Cain Scholar. Wamsley also holds a master's degree from Ohio University, where she was a Public Media Fellow and worked at NPR Member station WOUB. Born and raised in Athens, Ohio, she has also called Austin and Chicago home. She now lives and bikes in Washington, D.C.
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Home prices skyrocketed during the pandemic — and have stayed high. For some Americans, making their budget work means having fewer children than they'd envisioned. -
The median sales price of existing homes set a new record in June. But home sales were actually at a nine-month low in the same period.
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Many Americans received an email from the Social Security Administration applauding the megabill's passage. Experts say it was misleading. -
Services that split up payments into installments are increasingly popular, especially among young and low-to-middle income shoppers. But now the FICO credit scoring company will be tracking that debt. -
The Social Security trust fund is expected to run out of money by 2033, according to a new report. Unless Congress acts before then, benefits for millions of retirees will be cut by 23%.
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Fresh statistics on building permits and builder sentiment show a challenging environment for home builders and indicate fewer homes will be built in the U.S.
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Agents have typically taken a commission on the sale of a home that totals 5% to 6% of the price. But new rules have created an opening for brokers who charge much less. -
Amid stock market volatility, polling finds most Americans believe their finances are deteriorating. Financial analysts advise global diversification and for recent retirees to rein in spending.
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More inventory hitting the market was expected to drive sales. Instead, existing home sales suggest a continued slump in the housing market, with mortgage rates hurting affordability. -
After a leadership shakeup at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, a look at what's ahead for the giant firms and how the changes could affect mortgage affordability.
