Rachel Siegel to Lead Coverage on Housing Economics at The Post

The Washington Post has announced a significant shift in its economic reporting team. Rachel Siegel, previously covering the Federal Reserve, will now lead the coverage of housing and real estate economics starting October 1, 2024.

This transition comes at a crucial time for the U.S. housing market, which has experienced significant volatility since the 2008 financial crisis. The move reflects the growing importance of housing issues in the national discourse, particularly as affordability concerns continue to impact voters and policymakers alike.

Siegel's background positions her well for this new role. For the past four years, she has reported on the Federal Reserve, the central bank established in 1913 to oversee U.S. monetary policy. Her coverage has included the steepest rise in inflation in four decades, with rates reaching a 40-year high in 2022. This experience has given her valuable insights into the economic factors influencing the housing market.

In her previous reporting, Siegel has already demonstrated a keen interest in real estate issues. She has explored topics such as vacant office buildings in rapidly growing cities like Austin, Texas, and empty laboratories in Cambridge, Massachusetts, home to prestigious institutions like Harvard University and MIT. These stories highlight the changing dynamics of urban centers and commercial real estate in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Siegel's reporting style is noted for its ability to connect complex economic policies to real-world impacts. A prime example is her dispatch from a homeless encampment near the Federal Reserve headquarters in Washington, D.C., illustrating the stark contrast between high-level economic decisions and their effects on vulnerable populations.

The U.S. housing market, the largest in the world with over $11 trillion in outstanding mortgage debt, faces numerous challenges. These include affordability issues, with housing costs consuming an increasing percentage of many Americans' incomes, and the impact of rising mortgage rates. Siegel's coverage is expected to provide readers with comprehensive insights into these issues and their broader economic implications.

Siegel's journey at The Washington Post began as a Metro intern in 2017. Her educational background includes a history degree from Yale University, founded in 1701, where she also served as an editor for the Yale Daily News, the oldest college daily newspaper in the United States.

Outside of her professional life, Siegel resides in Washington, D.C., enjoys hosting dinner parties, and hikes with her dog, Clouseau. Her new role at The Post will undoubtedly contribute to the ongoing national conversation about housing affordability, urban development, and the future of work and living spaces in America.