✨ The Learn English with AI Challenge
📆 Starts Monday, 2nd March
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House prices have soared across the world, rising far faster than wages and locking many people out of home ownership.

This episode looks at why cheap credit, global investors, short-term rentals, and slow building have pushed prices ever higher.

It also asks whether governments can really fix the problem, or if expensive housing is the new normal.

• How house prices have outpaced wages since late 1990s.
• Cheap credit and low interest rates drove prices higher.
• 2008 crisis; policies kept prices from falling much.
• Homes treated as a global safe asset for investors.
• Demand outstrips supply: planning, NIMBY, limited land.
• Rising costs, labour shortages, and developers holding land constrained building.
• Population changes, migration, and smaller households increased demand.
• Higher interest rates raised mortgages; prices stayed high from lock-in.
• Local factors: Airbnb and visa schemes pushed prices up.
• Housing wealth passed down; family help now often essential.
• Are there any solutions?

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية

For decades, Saudi Arabia was ruled by ageing princes, until one young royal began changing the system from within.

This episode tells the story of Mohammed bin Salman, and how he rose rapidly to become Saudi Arabia’s most powerful figure.

• Saudi royal family is huge; succession once moved between brothers.
• Pressure grew to pass power to a younger generation.
• Mohammed bin Salman’s early life, connections, and growing ambition.
• His father becomes king; MBS controls money and army.
• MBS replaces Mohammed bin Nayef as Crown Prince, 2017.
• Ritz-Carlton purge targets princes, businessmen; power and assets seized.
• Vision 2030: modernise society, move economy beyond oil.
• Global investments and NEOM aim to change Saudi image.
• Opponents targeted; Khashoggi murder shocks the world.
• Women driving, cinemas reopen; activists jailed, Yemen war continues.

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You might like:

🔓 Unlock bonus episodes, interactive transcripts, subtitles & vocabulary lists

✨ 5 Powerful Tips for Learning English with Podcasts (Faster & Effectively!) [YouTube]

📹 A look inside Leonardo English membership

📧 Join our FREE weekly newsletter

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Keywords: Learn English, vocabulary, lessons, idioms, aprende inglés, idiomas, aprender inglês, apprendre l'anglais, imparare l’inglese, ingilizce öğren,英語を習う, تعلم الإنجليزية