Net equity among U.S. mortgage holders has increased by nearly $1 trillion in the last year, reaching the highest level since 2007, according to Black Knight Financial Services July 2015 Mortgage Monitor.

Although the rate hike is expected to occur at some point before the end of 2015, mortgage bankers indicate that the real estate market in 2016 will favor sellers.

Commentary is an ongoing series on theMReport.com that focuses on opinions, ideas, and insights from experts across mortgage banking. This advisory piece features Tim Anderson, director of eServices for DocMagic, Inc., providing a final checklist to ensure mortgage lenders and servicers are fully prepared for TRID and avoid costly fines.

Walter Investment Management Corp., has agreed to pay $29.63 million to resolve allegations that the company and its subsidiaries submitted false reverse mortgage loan claims, the Justice Department announced on Friday.

The city of Los Angeles has dropped a lawsuit accusing JPMorgan Chase of discriminatory lending toward minority borrowers that drove up foreclosures.

Despite housing market challenges, U.S. state housing finance agencies remain financially sound as mortgage revenue bond issuance, net interest, median ratios, and other factors trend upward.

Morningstar Credit Ratings, LLC recently assigned its ‘MOR RV1’ residential vendor ranking to eMortgage Logic, LLC, according to an announcement from Morningstar.

Compliance defects on closed mortgage loans are already a costly problem for lenders, but with the new TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure rules just one month away, lenders can expect to face even more risks and costs.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently revived three lawsuits the were brought about by the City of Miami, accusing Wells Fargo & Co, Bank of America Corp., and Citigroup of discriminatory and predatory mortgage lending practices to minority borrowers.

The number of federally insured credit unions dropped in the second quarter, but the National Credit Union Administration reported Thursday that total loan growth was positive. Total loans at federally insured credit unions reached $745.2 billion in the second quarter of 2015, an increase of 3.2 percent from the previous quarter and 10.6 percent from last year.