Entries by JKents

Appeals court restores ban on CFPB mass layoffs

A U.S. appeals court on Monday restored a temporary block on mass layoffs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, allowing employees to keep their jobs for the time being despite the Trump administration’s plan to cut the agency’s staff by 90%. On Monday, Judges Cornelia Pillard and Gregory Katsas reinstated the ban on mass firings, […]

Mortgage rates cool down as the spring housing market marches on

Mortgage market conditions have improved slightly as the calendar is set to flip to May, but anyone expecting sub-6% rates at the start of the year will be disappointed. Data at HousingWire’s Mortgage Rates Center on Tuesday showed that 30-year and 15-year conforming rates were averaging 6.95% and 6.82%, respectively. These figures were down slightly […]

Why old Bellevue Hill house doubled in value in two years

20 Rosslyn St, Bellevue Hill has just sold for $13m, having previously sold at $7.4m in February 2023 at auction. An old Bellevue Hill home has just sold for $13m, nearly double the price it sold for two years ago — because of two key factors. The five-bedroom house on a 536sqm block at 20 […]

Texas bill aims to eliminate NAR speech code

A recently introduced bill in Texas seeks to eliminate the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) speech code within the state and to bar any other trade associations from taking similar action. Texas S.B. 2713, introduced by Mayes Middleton (R), explicitly bans any trade association from “denying access, membership, or participation based on various factors, including […]

NRMLA co-chairs offer industry advocacy update

Kicking off the first 2025 event held by the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association (NRMLA) Tuesday morning in Irvine, Calif., the association’s co-chairs offered an update on the industry’s advocacy efforts. Mike Kent and Jim Cory – SVP of corporate development and industry relations at Liberty Reverse Mortgage and managing director of reverse at Guild […]

Landmark historic home set to fetch top dollar

The Gables. No.334 Davey St, South Hobart. Picture: Supplied Davey St is home to some of Hobart’s finest homes — large, luxurious, historic — and The Gables is a prime example of this type of prestigious property. This 1905-built house stands as a testament to Hobart’s rich architectural heritage. Aptly described as a landmark residence, […]