Profile for Wendy Usrey
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Wendy Usrey
Lecturer
Finance
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
Wendy Usrey
Lecturer
Finance
Specialty area(s)
- Real Estate (including brokerage, valuation, finance, investments and rental properties, including short-term/vacation rentals)
- Student Loans (including how they affect housing decisions)
- Personal Finance and Financial Literacy
- Economics and Behavioral Finance
Brief biography
Dr. Wendy Usrey is a faculty member in the Department of Finance at the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. With over a decade of experience in higher education and more than 25 years in the real estate industry, she brings a unique blend of academic insight and practical expertise to the classroom. Dr. Usrey’s work spans real estate finance, personal financial planning, and applied economics, with a research focus on student debt, homeownership, and behavioral aspects of financial decision-making.
She is also a licensed real estate broker in both Colorado and Missouri, a partner in a vacation rental consulting firm, and has served as an expert witness in real estate litigation cases involving short-term rentals. Dr. Usrey is passionate about making finance accessible and relevant, emphasizing real-world applications and student engagement in all of her courses.
Current courses at UWL
Fundamentals of Finance (FIN355) online
Education
- Ph.D., Personal Financial Planning — Kansas State University (2023)
Dissertation: How Do Student Loans Impact the American Dream? - M.A., Economics — Colorado State University (2012)
Thesis: The Rental Next Door: The Impact of Rental Proximity on Home Value - B.S., Economics and Marketing Management — Missouri State University (2009)
Additional Credentials:
- Graduate Certificate in Personal Financial Planning — Kansas State University
- Licensed Real Estate Broker — Colorado & Missouri
- Certified Master Real Estate Coach — Leading Edge Academy
Career
Teaching history
Dr. Usrey has taught a broad range of undergraduate and graduate courses in finance, real estate, and economics at multiple institutions including:
- University of Wisconsin–La Crosse (currently teaching Fundamentals of Finance online)
- Colorado State University
Courses: Fundamentals of Finance, Personal Finance and Investing, Financial Markets & Institutions, Intro to Financial Planning, Real Estate Principles, Contemporary Business Topics: Real Estate, Real Estate Finance (Graduate), and Real Estate Finance & Investing (Graduate). - Kansas State University
Courses: Understanding Debt and Credit, Intro to Personal Financial Planning - Front Range Community College
Courses: Macroeconomics, Microeconomics, and Economics of Social Issues
She is experienced in traditional, hybrid, and fully online instruction and has developed several courses from the ground up, particularly in the areas of real estate and personal finance.
Professional history
In addition to her academic career, Dr. Usrey brings decades of industry experience to her teaching:
- Real Estate Broker & Owner, Home Again Properties Realty
A licensed broker in multiple states, specializing in residential sales, investment analysis, and short-term/vacation rental property management. - Co-Founder, Coastal Soul Properties
A boutique consulting firm for vacation property management, short-term rental optimization, and international property investment, with properties throughout the US and the Riviera Maya region of Mexico. - Expert Witness
Providing testimony and financial damage analysis in real estate and short-term rental litigation cases. - Real Estate Analyst, Everitt Real Estate Center, Colorado State University
Led econometric modeling and forecasting projects for Northern Colorado real estate markets.
Research and publishing
Dr. Usrey’s research explores the intersection of real estate, finance, and well-being, with a focus on how debt—particularly student loans—affects financial behaviors like homeownership. Her recent dissertation examined the impact of federal, private, and Parent PLUS loans on housing outcomes.
Select Publications:
- “The Rental Next Door: The Impact of Rental Proximity on Home Values”, in Measuring Amenities and Disamenities in the Housing Market, Regional Research Institute (2021).
- “Who Is Investing in ETFs? Exploring the Role of Investor Knowledge”, Journal of Financial Planning (2019).
Recent Presentations:
- Academy of Financial Services Conference
- Financial Planning Association National Conference (Best Paper Award)
- Academic Research Colloquium for Financial Planning and Consumer Finance
Her work has been presented internationally, including in South Korea, and she continues to contribute to real estate and financial planning literature.