Core Conversations

CoreLogic
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Core Conversations

Get in the know about real estate housing market trends, affordability, severe weather risk and climate change, as well as how that all ties into promoting thriving communities. Hosted by Maiclaire Bolton Smith, Vice President of Hazard and Risk Management at CoreLogic, tune in for timely insights and in-depth conversations with experts to keep a finger on the pulse of the global housing economy.

  1. 6D AGO

    Can We Bridge the Widening Property Insurance Gap?

    For years homeowners’ insurance was just there. It was a safety net in the background, ready to catch someone when disaster struck. But now, that net is fraying, and homeowners are scrambling to understand why coverage is becoming so expensive — or in some areas, nearly impossible to obtain. Homeowners across the country — especially in wildfire-prone states like California — are seeing their premiums skyrocket, their policies canceled, or, in some cases, they are left without any options at all. Insurers too are feeling the pressure. For years, they relied on traditional risk models to calculate premiums, issue policies, and assume predictable loss patterns. But the landscape is changing. Rising claims, extreme weather events, and economic pressures are pushing the industry to a breaking point. At the center of this crisis is a fundamental question: how does the industry adapt to a world with accelerating natural hazard risk? On this episode of Core Conversations, host Maiclaire Bolton Smith sits down with the co-founder of Wows Insurance to talk about this issue and what can be done to address this ongoing crisis. In This Episode2:46 – Why are insurers paying out more than they are taking in? 4:48 – What will happen to the housing market if insurance becomes too expensive or impossible to get? 6:52 – Are there alternative paths to providing insurance beyond the traditional avenues? 9:51 – How can governmental policy development and homeowner participation help improve insurance accessibility? 14:08 – Is it possible for insurance to remain a profitable business long-term? 17:10 – Erika Stanley does the numbers in the housing market in The Sip. 18:12 – How do you insure the value of a home long-term as the market continues to drive up prices? 22:26 – Comparing the 2024 and 2025 California wildfire season. 24:27 – In which other states is wildfire risk increasing dramatically? 26:43 – What does the future landscape of wildfire insurance look like? Up Next: The Homes the LA Wildfires Left: A Hidden Insurance Crisis? Links: Will Trump Tariffs Harm Home Affordability?What Is the Real Price of LA’s Wildfire Disaster?What Will a Second Trump Presidency Mean for U.S. Housing?Explore CoreLogic DataRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD5 Copyright 2025 CoreLogic Will Trump Tariffs Harm Home Affordability?What Is the Real Price of LA’s Wildfire Disaster?What Will a Second Trump Presidency Mean for U.S. Housing?Explore CoreLogic DataRead CoreLogic...

    30 min

  2. FEB 19

    New Tariffs, Higher Costs — Who Really Pays the Price?

    As the U.S. waits for the final decision on the fresh tariffs imposed on Canadian, Mexican, and Chinese imports, the housing industry is bracing for the impact of this policy decision. With material costs already a growing concern, these new trade policies could send ripples through supply chains, development timelines, and affordability. Tariffs on steel, lumber, concrete and other key building materials have the potential to drive up construction costs, exacerbating an already tight housing market. Builders and developers may need to rethink sourcing strategies, while policymakers weigh the broader economic consequences of trade restrictions on inflation and consumer spending. From rising home prices to shifting supply chains, host Maiclaire Bolton Smith sits down with industry experts Pete Carroll CoreLogic's, EVP of Public Policy and Industry Relations, and Jay Thies CoreLogic's Vice President of Pricing Analysis and Delivery to explore the immediate and long-term effects of these tariffs. Tune into this episode of Core Conversations to listen to the break down on what thse tariffs could mean for homebuilders, affordability, and the future of the housing market. In This Episode:2:10 – What are Trump’s tariffs and how will they affect the property industry — particularly construction? 5:50 – What are the preliminary estimates on how much tariffs could increase homebuilding costs? 9:12 – Will adding additional cost to homebuilding conflict with Trump’s executive order to provide affordability relief to the housing market? 13:58 – How will material and labor costs be affected? 16:32 –  Erika Stanley does the numbers in the housing market in The Sip. 17:32 – Canadian lumber tariffs, they’re not new, but these tariffs will make them substantial. 19:22 – Could the U.S. domestically supply the necessary materials for home construction? Are there alternative materials that could be used? 22:30 – Will the tariffs have long-term consequences on U.S. home affordability? 24:54 – How will these tariffs affect rebuilding efforts following January’s Los Angeles wildfires? 28:30 – Will these tariffs affect the future of the U.S. property market? Up Next: What Will a Second Trump Presidency Mean for U.S. Housing? Links: What Is the Real Price of LA’s Wildfire Disaster?Construction Cost Update ReportRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD5 Copyright 2025 CoreLogic What Is the Real Price of LA’s Wildfire Disaster?Construction Cost Update ReportRead CoreLogic Intelligence

    33 min

  3. FEB 5

    Will Congress Regulate AI's Rapid Growth in Real Estate?

    From Capitol Hill to the mortgage industry, AI is everywhere. It’s even finding its way into the halls of government. But while AI promises innovation, it’s also raising a ton of questions—especially for policymakers. Last year, Congress introduced over 350 AI-related bills, and while many of these bills simply served to spark debate, it’s clear that lawmakers are considering everything from data privacy to mitigating bias in algorithms. Now, with a new Congress in session, the real question is: will AI regulation finally take center stage? Although no property-focused AI bills made it to the floor last session, there’s been plenty of groundwork. From Senate hearings on AI in financial services to conversations about the technology’s impact on housing, policymakers have been laying the foundation for regulation. One theme keeps emerging: the need to balance innovation with fairness. Technology often moves faster than regulation, but if regulators move too fast or ignore industry concerns, it could stall progress. And then there’s the wildcard: the Supreme Court’s 2024 repeal of the Chevron doctrine, which shifted interpretive power from agencies to the courts. This means Congress now has to be ultra-specific when drafting laws, which could further slow regulation initiatives. The future of AI regulation may be uncertain, but one thing’s clear: the stakes couldn’t be higher. In this episode of Core Conversations, host Maiclaire Bolton Smith and Russell McIntyre, an expert in public policy and industry relations at CoreLogic, discuss the need for AI regulation and how the government could approach this task. In This Episode:1:50 – Is the U.S. government currently regulating AI? What about AI in the property industry? 5:19 – Whose responsibility is it to regulate AI? 7:19 – How will the Chevron doctrine going to influence AI regulation in Congress? 10:00 – What are the concerns and opportunities if AI regulations change in the property industry? 12:28 – How will AI affect climate science? 14:27 – Erika Stanley goes over the numbers in the property market with The Sip. 15:26 – Is it impossible to eliminate inherent bias in AI technology? 17:49 – How will the U.S. government handle AI and how can companies prepare for upcoming regulations around AI? Up Next: What Are the Ethical Implications of AI in the Property Industry? Links: What Are the Ethical Implications of AI in the Property Industry?SEC Climate Disclosure Guidance Timeline Pause: Why Companies BenefitExplore CoreLogic DataHazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD5 Copyright 2025 CoreLogic What Are the Ethical Implications of AI in the Property Industry?SEC Climate Disclosure Guidance Timeline...

    24 min

  4. JAN 22

    The Homes the LA Wildfires Left: A Hidden Insurance Crisis?

    January’s wildfires in Los Angeles will leave scares. Even those whose homes seem to be structurally sound may actually be hiding severe damage that will only be uncovered as LA begins to recover and rebuild.   Garret Gray, CoreLogic’s President of Global Insurance Solutions is one such case. Following a harrowing race against time to evacuate the threatened area with his family, Garret prioritized safety, not possessions. Miraculously, while nearby homes burned to the ground, his house remained standing. While at first glance this seems like a small miracle, on the inside, the hidden damage tells a very different story — a story that highlights a significant and often-overlooked cost of wildfires: the massive, unanticipated strain on the insurance industry from homes that appear intact but are uninhabitable. Garret’s home, while structurally sound, was inundated with soot, ash, and toxic smoke particles. His story is one of many. While the focus must remain on the families who have lost everything, it’s crucial to recognize the hidden costs for those who only experienced partial damage. Homes like Garret’s reveal a secondary, equally significant layer of loss that will also take years to recover from and may have long-term implications for insurers grappling with claims far more complex than they initially appear. In this episode of Core Conversations, host Maiclaire Bolton Smith and CoreLogic’s President of Global Insurance Solutions Garret Gray sit down to discuss the emotional and financial toll that these hidden losses can have on families, communities, and the insurance industry. In This Episode:2:27 – Listen to Garret Gray’s experience evacuating from the Palisades Fire and how he learned that his house remained standing. 6:50 – Why do wildfires impact some homes and not others even if they are on the same street? 11:22 – Erika Stanley goes over the numbers in the property market with The Sip. 12:33 – What are the hidden costs of wildfires, even for homes that seem to be structurally sound? 16:22 – How will the scale of this disaster – both for complete losses as well as partial losses  –  impact the insurance industry? 21:24 – How long will it take to rebuild or restore properties in LA where the construction industry is already strained? How are we going to accommodate the demand in materials and the resulting prices? Up Next: Does Low Wildfire Risk Create a False Sense of Security? Links: Explore CoreLogic DataHazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD5 Copyright 2025 CoreLogic Explore CoreLogic DataHazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence

    28 min

  5. JAN 15

    How the Stories Properties Tell Shape the U.S.'s Future

    Imagine a world where every piece of property tells a story—where every plot of land, building permit, and insurance claim contributes to a dynamic narrative that evolves over time. In the first episode of Season 5 of Core Conversations, you are invited you to step beyond the ordinary view of properties as an amalgamation of square footage and floor plans to uncover the living, breathing essence of property. Join host Maiclaire Bolton Smith and CoreLogic’s Chief Data and Analytics Officer John Rogers as they take you on a journey into the $45 trillion real estate market — America’s largest and most influential asset class. Discover how every event in a property’s lifecycle, from its beginning as raw land to construction and finally its role in society  — as well as everything in between like its vulnerabilities to climate risks — shapes its unique story. But this isn’t just a story about data. It’s about the groundbreaking innovations, like AI and Climate Risk Analytics, that are empowering industries like real estate, insurance, and government to navigate an increasingly complex world. Listen to real-world examples of how technology is automating listings, helping reduce wildfire insurance premiums, and driving decisions that build resilience for the future. In This Episode:1:53 – What does it mean to have the full picture of a property, and why would someone need all that data? 7:17 – How can AI help someone see the full picture through all of the data that a single property (or a portfolio of properties) holds? 13:18 – What will it look like to be a housing industry professional as AI evolves into an everyday tool? 16:24 – How can high-quality climate data help the insurance industry in a market where it’s becoming increasingly difficult to be profitable? 20:04 – Erika Stanley does the numbers in the housing market in The Sip. 21:15 – How can companies use climate resilience to ensure financial resilience? 27:29 – How will data increase resilience in the property industry going forward? Up Next: What Will a Second Trump Presidency Mean for U.S. Housing? Links: Explore CoreLogic DataRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD5 Copyright 2025 CoreLogic Explore CoreLogic DataRead CoreLogic Intelligence

    31 min

  6. 12/11/2024

    How 2024’s Housing Market Sets the Stage for 2025

    As 2024 slides into 2025, those who have been following the housing market know that there is a lot to unpack from the year. Home affordability, when adjusted for inflation, has reached its lowest point in decades. Inventory trends are diverging across the nation. Generational dynamics are influencing how people are buying homes. But even if the trends that made 2024 so noteworthy are understood, the question is, how will they influence where the housing market is headed in 2025? In the season finale of Core Conversations, CoreLogic Chief Economist Selma Hepp explores what happened in 2024 and provides a comprehensive outlook for 2025, including insights on mortgage rates, inventory, and affordability. In This Episode1:58 – How exactly did interest rates affect the housing market in 2024? Do we expect them to lower in 2025? 6:26 – How affordable in the U.S. housing market, really? 9:24 – Are property taxes and capital gains taxes going to continue to balloon into 2025? 10:46 – Will people continue to stay in their homes or will they finally move and open up supply in 2025? 14:39 – Erika Stanley does the numbers in the housing market in The Sip. 15:32 – Is a refinancing wave on the horizon for 2025? 17:07 – Will there be more creative housing solutions to help with affordability? Do we anticipate buying a house to become more accessible to younger generations? 22:15 – How will the presidential election affect the housing market in 2025? 26:54 – Erika Stanley reviews natural catastrophes and extreme weather events across the world. 27:58 – What can we expect for the property market in 2025? Up Next: What Will a Second Trump Presidency Mean for U.S. Housing? Links: What Will a Second Trump Presidency Mean for U.S. Housing?Explore CoreLogic DataHazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD4 Copyright 2025 CoreLogic What Will a Second Trump Presidency Mean for U.S. Housing?Explore CoreLogic DataHazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence

    32 min

  7. 11/27/2024

    What’s Driving the Appraisal Industry’s Move to Modernize?

    The appraisal industry is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades, blending innovation with tradition to reshape how appraisers value real estate. As the appraisal industry enters a new era driven by technology and changing consumer expectations, advancements like AI-powered valuation tools, as well as desktop and hybrid appraisals may provide an avenue for the industry to offer transparency and lighten some of the cumbersome, paperwork-laden processes that define current standards. But what does this mean for the future of the industry — and for those who rely on it? In the latest episode of Core Conversations, host Maiclaire Bolton Smith sits down with Shawn Telford, Chief Appraiser at CoreLogic, to unpack the innovations reshaping how appraisals are conducted. From leveraging risk-based frameworks to streamline processes to modernizing appraisal reports for greater transparency, Telford provides a comprehensive look at how these changes are improving efficiency without compromising quality. For lenders, investors, and homeowners, these shifts offer exciting opportunities and a glimpse into what’s next for real estate valuation. In This Episode:1:55 – What is appraisal modernization, how did we get here, and what is the timeline for the overhaul? 6:22 – Erika Stanley does the numbers in the housing market in The Sip. 7:28 – What exactly is going to change in the Universal Appraisal Dataset (UAD) and how will it impact the industry? 12:40 – How will appraisal waivers fit into the new, modernized appraisal standards? 16:05 – Are there any other alternative appraisal methods that this industry change will help support? 17:41 – How will appraisal modernization affect the underwriting process? 20:22 – Does generative AI have a place in the appraisal industry? How could it be integrated into current processes? 24:07 – Erika Stanley reviews natural catastrophes and extreme weather events across the world. 25:13 – What are the challenges that lie ahead for the appraisal industry? Up Next: Do Appraisers Have What It Takes to Value Short-Term Rentals? Links: Explore CoreLogic DataHow Is Automation Affecting the Appraisal IndustryHazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD4 Copyright 2025 CoreLogic Explore CoreLogic DataHow Is Automation Affecting the Appraisal IndustryHazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence

    29 min

  8. 11/13/2024

    What Will a Second Trump Presidency Mean for U.S. Housing?

    As the U.S. looks ahead to Donald Trump once again taking office in January, the real estate and housing industry is watching closely. Given Trump’s previous term and recent rhetoric on the campaign trail, when the president-elect returns to the White House on January 20, the property market landscape could shift dramatically. A Trump administration has historically leaned toward deregulation, favoring less federal oversight. This could mean a rollback of initiatives championed by the previous Biden administration and could spell major changes for property professionals, particularly in areas like climate policy, housing affordability, and regulatory reform. From regulatory rollbacks to bipartisan debates over zoning, host Maiclaire Bolton Smith and Chay Halbert, a principal public policy and industry relations at CoreLogic, discuss the likely rollback of Biden-era climate initiatives, shifts in regulatory scrutiny, and the potential changes surrounding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac oversight. Halbert also sheds light on potential flood risk management alterations and how these moves could reshape lending and affordability across the country. Tune in to this episode of Core Conversations hear a comprehensive breakdown of the policy changes that property professionals should watch for as they prepare for what lies ahead. In This Episode2:24 – What types of housing policies do we expect Donald Trump to favor? 3:50 – Are there any specific changes we can expect around climate policy? 4:58 – Will there be any changes to Biden-era policies? 8:34 – How will the new administration influence interest rates? 10:32 – Affordability is complex, but will the rules around institutional and foreign investment change to help with this? 11:52 – Will there be any international ramifications from these possible policy changes? 13:43 – Erika Stanley does the numbers in the housing market in The Sip. 14:57 – How could federal policy changes affect local jurisdictions? 19:40 – Erika Stanley reviews natural catastrophes and extreme weather events across the world. 20:58 – What should property professionals pay attention to in the months leading up to an administration change? Up Next: How to Solve the US Affordable Housing Crisis Links: Hazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD4 Copyright 2025 CoreLogic Hazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence

    25 min
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Get in the know about real estate housing market trends, affordability, severe weather risk and climate change, as well as how that all ties into promoting thriving communities. Hosted by Maiclaire Bolton Smith, Vice President of Hazard and Risk Management at CoreLogic, tune in for timely insights and in-depth conversations with experts to keep a finger on the pulse of the global housing economy.

Information

  • Creator
    CoreLogic
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    113
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 CoreLogic
  • Show Website
    Core Conversations

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