🎧 Audio
📖 Script
In recent years, the real estate market has experienced a slowdown due to high mortgage rates. These elevated rates made it more challenging for people to afford homes, causing a decrease in home sales. However, recent data suggests that the market may be starting to improve. This week, new information was released indicating some positive changes in the housing sector.
One of the key indicators of this warming trend is the slight decrease in mortgage rates, which makes borrowing more affordable for potential homebuyers. As a result, more people are considering purchasing homes, leading to an increase in home sales. Additionally, there has been a rise in homebuilding activities, which is another sign that the market is gaining momentum.
Furthermore, experts believe that this trend might continue if the economic conditions remain stable. A healthy job market and steady income growth are crucial factors that could support the recovery of the housing market. If these conditions persist, the real estate market might see a more sustained improvement in the coming months.
However, it is important to note that while the market is showing signs of recovery, it is not yet back to the levels seen before the slowdown. Potential buyers still face challenges such as high property prices and competition for available homes. Despite these hurdles, the recent data provides some optimism for those looking to enter the housing market.
Overall, the real estate market is showing signs of a slow but steady recovery. With favorable mortgage rates and increased homebuilding activities, there is hope for a more vibrant market in the near future.
📝 Vocabulary
- mortgage: a loan used to buy a home
例文: “Many people rely on a mortgage to purchase their first home.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- mortgage rate
- mortgage payment
- mortgage lender
住宅ローン - slowdown: a reduction in speed or activity
例文: “The company is experiencing a slowdown in sales this quarter.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- economic slowdown
- market slowdown
- slowdown in growth
減速 - indicator: something that shows the state or level of something
例文: “Unemployment rates are a key indicator of economic health.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- key indicator
- economic indicator
- performance indicator
指標 - momentum: the force that keeps something moving
例文: “The project gained momentum after receiving additional funding.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- gain momentum
- lose momentum
- maintain momentum
勢い - competition: the activity or condition of competing
例文: “There is strong competition among tech companies for market share.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- fierce competition
- face competition
- increase competition
競争
✏️ Grammar Point
Conditional sentence (type 1) – “If these conditions persist, the real estate market might see a more sustained improvement in the coming months.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
条件付きの状況を話すときに使われる。未来の結果や可能性を予測する会話やビジネスシーンでよく使われる。
📝 使用例文
“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”
❓ Listening Questions
- True/False: The real estate market has fully recovered to pre-slowdown levels.
- MCQ: What has been one of the main causes of the real estate market slowdown?
a) Low mortgage rates
b) High mortgage rates
c) Increased homebuilding
d) Decreased property prices - MCQ: What is a sign that the real estate market is improving?
a) A decrease in homebuilding activities
b) A rise in mortgage rates
c) An increase in home sales
d) A decrease in job market stability
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- False
- b
- c
📚 Reading Questions
- What recent data suggests a positive change in the housing market?
- Why might the trend of market recovery continue according to experts?
- What does the word “momentum” mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- The recent data shows a slight decrease in mortgage rates and increased homebuilding activities.
- The trend might continue if economic conditions remain stable, including a healthy job market and steady income growth.
- Momentum means the force that keeps something moving.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
最近、不動産市場が少しずつ回復の兆しを見せています。過去数年間、高い住宅ローン金利が販売を冷え込ませていましたが、今週のデータでは市場の温暖化が示唆されています。住宅ローン金利のわずかな低下が住宅購入を促進し、販売の増加につながっています。国内では、このトレンドが続くことで景気回復に寄与する可能性がありますが、依然として高い物件価格が課題です。国際的には、安定した経済状況が不動産市場のさらなる改善をサポートするでしょう。
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/08/22/nx-s1-5510058/housing-market-mortgage-rates-homebuilding
