If you think you’re ready to take the plunge but feel overwhelmed by rising costs and the competitive landscape of the housing market, this episode is for you. In the second episode of our special series, “Buying a Home in 2025: Navigating the Crunch,” we’ll hear from a woman who recently closed on a house in Virginia. Host Ariana Aspuru will be joined by Wall Street Journal reporter Veronica Dagher and financial coach Bernadette Joy to discuss the steps you can take to prepare, whether as a buyer or a seller: what’s in your control, what isn’t, and other unexpected expenses. If you missed episode one, listen here. The final episode of our series airs next Sunday. Sign up for the WSJ's free Markets A.M. newsletter. Further reading: Home Sales Rose 4.2% in February, Beating Expectations If You Want to Buy a House, First Figure Out All the Hidden Costs Home Buyers Start to Come Off Sidelines Even as Rates, Prices Stay Stuck - WSJ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.