Money Talks Miami: The price of paradise and the cost of calling it home (includes audio story)

Money Talks Miami dives deep into South Florida’s financial pulse. We talk about how rising costs are changing the economic landscape and impacting people who call the Magic City home. Join us as we explore the factors leading to the increase of cost of living for locals and newcomers.

Episode 1: The Rising Cost of Paradise

Meet Lucas Mondino . This commercial real estate broker works with Kabani Hotel Group in Miami, a boutique development brokerage. He talks about different housing market trends over the years in South Florida and how inflation has played a challenging role for people trying to afford a home.

Pricilla Cordova is a senior at Florida International University who is passionate about marketing. Cordova has experience in working with Adobe software such as Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and Illustrator. She enjoys drawing, designing, and video editing. Cordova aspires to work as a creative director for a movie project in the future. Cordova will graduate from the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media with a bachelor’s degree in digital communication & media in Fall 2025. 



Marisol Nicole Lopez Ninahuanca is a junior majoring in Digital Communication and Media at Florida International University. She has experience in design and video editing and has a passion for the arts. Marisol likes learning new languages, knowing English and Spanish fluently, and having some knowledge of Japanese and French.

Sofia Lander is a Florida International University junior interested in multimedia production. Lander has experience in video production and editing. She has produced news packages and worked on music videos.  Lander aspires to become a producer, director, or editor to make a positive impact through storytelling and visual communication. Lander will graduate from the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media with a bachelor’s degree in digital communication & media in Spring 2026.



Alyssa Ferro-Lloret is a junior at Florida International University who is interested in videography. Ferro-Lloret serves as the public relations officer for FIU’s all-gender a cappella group, HEARTbeats. She captures photos and videos of the group to curate social media content. Ferro-Lloret will graduate from the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media with a bachelor’s degree in digital communication and media with a minor in social media and e-marketing analytics in Spring 2026.



Daniel Torres is a senior majoring in digital media and communications. After he is finished with his studies, he wishes to pursue a career in law.