CARA MICHELLE SMITH
COMEDY WRITER & JOURNALIST
Here's a small sampling of the reporting I've done throughout my nine years in journalism. Throughout that time, I've mostly written about real estate, housing and economic development. I've reported for several publications throughout Houston, Chicago and New York, and either worked (or currently work) as a full-time reporter at the following publications.
Since 2021, I've been a full-time reporter and writer at NerdWallet: a leading personal finance publication trusted by 20 million monthly unique readers. My time at NerdWallet is mostly split between two efforts: writing breaking news briefs on current events that affect consumers' wallets, and producing easy-to-understand guides and reviews on everything from reproductive health care resources to car insurance.
Women’s Soccer Games Are Way Cheaper Than Men’s, So Cheer Them On
Why Is Everything So Expensive?
Another Big Bank Gets Into Small-Dollar Loans
Why Are There So Many Big Lottery Jackpots?
How Much Does an Abortion Cost?
How Silicon Valley Bank Failed (and Why That Probably Won’t Happen to Your Bank)
For two years, I worked as a reporter at CoStar News: a new publication helmed by former Bloomberg and Washington Post editors focused on breaking the biggest stories in commercial real estate: housing, office space, retail, industrial, life sciences and more. Within a year, I was named the publication's National Apartments Reporter.
Evanston Historic Reparations Plan Aims to Forge New Path Amid Concerns
'I Don't Think We'll Ever Be Back to Normal': Apartment Industry Trade Show Becomes Support Group
Single-Family Builders Are Changing Jobs. They're Becoming Landlords.
Innovation Hub Project Targets Biggest US Animal-Sciences Corridor You've Never Heard Of
With Biden as President, Affordable Housing Advocates Aim To Rebrand Issue As ‘Infrastructure’
Houston Pushes to Stay at the Edge of Space Exploration 50 Years After the Moon Landing
During my four years as a reporter with the Houston Business Journal, I regularly broke news about some of the biggest corporate players in the city: Amazon, Ikea, Wayfair, Exxon and countless other energy companies. I wrote just under 1,100 stories for the publication: breaking news briefs, data-driven analyses, deep-dive cover stories and Q&As with civic and private sector power players. Two years into my tenure, I was promoted to Commercial Real Estate Reporter: regularly the paper's most well-read beat, right after the Energy section.
Houston's innovation district needs to be 'an asset to communities like the Third Ward'
Here's why Capitol Tower appealed to Waste Management, Bank of America
One year after Harvey, Houston leaders working to secure Harvey funds and change policies
Houston transit leaders: 'We've got to do more' after Amazon HQ2 rejection
HERO's hiccup: What took down the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance
City upside down: How Houston lost control of its wallet
Exclusive: Barclays inks lease at new downtown Houston office tower
Exclusive: North America's largest liquor distributor buys industrial facility in Katy
After merger, one of Houston's oldest architecture firms is projecting serious revenue growth
Costco looking in Houston to buy land for distribution space