Keys to Real Estate

October Research, LLC
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Business
  • Updated Weekly

An industry-centric podcast, Keys to Real Estate features in-depth conversations for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the real estate ecosystem. Listeners can take charge of their self-learning in business-critical information and key topics that are central to thriving under the ever-changing demands placed on businesses today. Our long-form conversations featuring today’s newsmakers and thought-leaders, allow listeners to engage with each episode at the time and place of their choosing.

  1. 6d ago

    Inside a Regulator’s Thinking on AI: A Texas Conversation with National Implications - Amanda Crawford | S3E24

    What happens when you get the chance to sit down with one of the country's most influential insurance regulators – not for five minutes at a conference, but for a candid, in-depth conversation? In Part One of this special two-part series, October Research Chief Knowledge Officer Mary Schuster welcomes Texas Insurance Commissioner Amanda Crawford to discuss one of the nation's first AI guidance bulletins for regulated insurance entities. More importantly, she explains the thinking behind it. Why issue guidance now? Where does AI belong in the real estate transaction? Where does human judgment remain indispensable? And how can innovation move forward without compromising consumer protection? Even if you don't operate in Texas, the questions Commissioner Crawford is wrestling with are the same ones regulators, underwriters and title companies across the country are beginning to confront. This special two-part conversation with Texas Insurance Commissioner Amanda Crawford explores how regulators are balancing innovation, consumer protection and professional accountability in the age of artificial intelligence. Chapters: 0:00 Introduction to AI guidance in Texas 2:11 The importance of consumer protection laws 3:31 Commissioner Crawford's background and perspective 5:15 Defining AI and its impact on decisions 7:12 Human oversight and accountability in AI decisions 9:20 Licensed professionals versus AI capabilities 11:06 Examples of safe AI use in workflows 12:28 Frameworks for AI governance and risk management 13:23 Common misunderstandings about AI regulations 14:20 Final thoughts and guidance for industry The Commissioner’s Bulletin #B-0003-26 on the Use of AI: https://www.tdi.texas.gov/bulletins/2026/b-0003-26.html Information about Commissioner’s recent transparency initiative: https://www.tdi.texas.gov/news/2026/tdi06222026.html Read the findings from the regulatory efficiency review by the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) and the Governor’s Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office (TREO) with more than 300 potential opportunities to streamline TDI rules: https://efficiency.texas.gov/ Get In Touch… Guest email: GovernmentRelations@TDI.texas.gov Host email: mschuster@octoberresearch.com To find more episodes of “Keys to Real Estate” or learn more about October Research – the nation’s leading independent provider of market intelligence, industry news, expert analysis and regulatory information for professionals in the real estate, title, financial and settlement services industries – visit https://www.octoberresearch.com. Episode sponsored by TrustLink – https://www.trustlinkservices.com Episode produced by October Research – https://www.octoberresearch.com

  2. Jul 30

    After More Than a Decade, Is TRID About to Change? - Rich Horn | S3E22

    The CFPB has opened the door to the most significant review of the TRID rule since it took effect more than a decade ago. In this episode, Garris Horn Co-Manager Partner and former CFPB Senior Counsel Rich Horn breaks down the bureau's Request for Information and explains the specific changes under consideration – from disclosure timing and the three-day right of rescission to construction lending, reverse mortgages, and potential revisions to the TRID forms. Rather than walking through the RFI line by line, Rich helps listeners understand what the bureau is trying to accomplish, why these issues were selected, and which proposals could have the greatest operational impact on lenders, title companies, and settlement professionals. Chapters: 2:23 – Why the RFI matters now 5:03 – Why timing rules are under review 13:23 – The rescission period and waiver questions 19:33 – Construction lending and reverse mortgages 24:08 – Why form changes are hard Rich’s analysis of the Executive Order: https://www.garrishorn.com/blog/trump-executive-order-targets-trid-atrqm-hmda-and-other-rules-for-revision-in-regulatory-relief-effort-for-banks-in-mortgage-industry-what-your-company-needs-to-know Rich’s analysis of the RFI: https://www.garrishorn.com/blog/cfpbtridrfi Full text of the CFPB’s RFI: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-07-09/pdf/2026-13834.pdf Get In Touch… Guest email: rich@garrishorn.com Host email: mschuster@octoberresearch.com To find more episodes of “Keys to Real Estate” or learn more about October Research – the nation’s leading independent provider of market intelligence, industry news, expert analysis and regulatory information for professionals in the real estate, title, financial and settlement services industries – visit https://www.octoberresearch.com. Episode sponsored by TrustLink – https://www.trustlinkservices.com/ Episode produced by October Research – https://www.octoberresearch.com

  3. Jul 23

    Beyond the AI Hype: What Lenders Value Most - TJ Harrington | S3E21

    Technology, such as artificial intelligence and automated solutions, are changing lending at an incredible pace. Listen as Stewart Lender Services Senior Vice President TJ Harrington shares what lenders are actually investing in, where companies are seeing real returns, and why trust remains an important competitive advantage in this episode of October Research’s Keys to Real Estate podcast, with host Mary Schuster. They sort out where AI is delivering measurable value versus just hype, what lenders really expect from title and settlement partners, and – perhaps most importantly – why relationships still outperform technology when transactions become difficult. Chapters: 1:37 - The importance of trust and relationships in a high-trust business 4:02 - Industry consolidation and integrated platforms 8:24 - Industry resilience and the importance of continuous innovation 12:49 - Strategic guidance for title executives: Make smart AI investments 14:12 - Industry's future challenges, hope for innovation, and closing thoughts Get In Touch… Guest email: tj.harrington@stewart.com Host email: mschuster@octoberresearch.com To find more episodes of “Keys to Real Estate” or learn more about October Research – the nation’s leading independent provider of market intelligence, industry news, expert analysis and regulatory information for professionals in the real estate, title, financial and settlement services industries – visit https://www.octoberresearch.com. Episode sponsored by TrustLink – https://www.trustlinkservices.com/ Episode produced by October Research – https://www.octoberresearch.com

  4. Jul 16

    What Is the Title Industry Really Selling? - TJ Harrington | S3E20

    Listen as Stewart Lender Services Senior Vice President TJ Harrington challenges and reframes the way the title industry thinks about itself during this episode of October Research’s Keys to Real Estate podcast, with host Mary Schuster. The two subject matter experts explore what business title companies are really in, why the industry's invisible work creates enormous value, discuss questions that linger about attorney opinion letters (AOLs) and the pilot programs offered by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and why the true value of title insurance has never been a more important story to tell. This isn't another discussion about AI replacing jobs or title alternatives. It’s a conversation about why title insurance exists in the first place. Chapters: 2:31 - Changing landscape: title industry in 10 years 6:15 - The role of automation and AI in title manufacturing 10:42 - How title premiums are structured and risk premiums need updating 15:10 - Industry pilots from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac explained 20:14 - ROI on AI investments: Success stories and future potential 24:56 - Data ownership, AI training, and intellectual property concerns 30:05 - The importance of trust and relationships in a high-trust business Get In Touch… Guest email: tj.harrington@stewart.com Host email: mschuster@octoberresearch.com To find more episodes of “Keys to Real Estate” or learn more about October Research – the nation’s leading independent provider of market intelligence, industry news, expert analysis and regulatory information for professionals in the real estate, title, financial and settlement services industries – visit https://www.octoberresearch.com. Episode sponsored by First American Trust – https://www.firstamtrust.com Episode produced by October Research – https://www.octoberresearch.com

  5. Jul 9

    Everything Is Fine Until It's Not - Tom Cronkright and Bill Svoboda | S3E19

    There is a lot of discussion around the need for trust among coworkers, but does that outweigh the need for frameworks that ensure the security of your company’s critical systems? CertifID Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Tom Cronkright and CloseSimple Co-Founder Bill Svoboda explained how too much trust and not enough objective verification can lead to major problems during the closing process. They joined October Research Chief Knowledge Officer Mary Schuster on the Keys to Real Estate podcast for a second time to talk about why companies are increasingly finding they are better off automating certain operations than relying on humans to spot every issue that could crop up during a closing amid a myriad of variables. Chapters: 1:15 – Why Fraud Has Become a Business Risk 3:30 – How Fraudsters Have Evolved 9:00 – Automation and Passive Identity Verification 13:35 – The Account Takeover Fraud Threat 18:10 – New Fraud Tactics Targeting Realtors 23:50 – Quick Wins for Better Fraud Protection 27:05 – Why Intentional Friction Matters 30:35 – What Helps Agencies Recover Faster Get In Touch… For more on CertifID: https://www.certifid.com/ For more on CloseSimple: https://www.closesimple.com/ Tom Cronkright’s email: tcronkright@certifid.com Bill Svoboda’s email: bill@closesimple.com Host email: mschuster@octoberresearch.com To find more episodes of “Keys to Real Estate” or learn more about October Research – the nation’s leading independent provider of market intelligence, industry news, expert analysis and regulatory information for professionals in the real estate, title, financial and settlement services industries – visit https://www.octoberresearch.com. Episode sponsored by First American Trust – https://www.firstamtrust.com Episode produced by October Research – https://www.octoberresearch.com

  6. Jul 2

    What If Two Tech Companies Had a Baby? - Tom Cronkright and Bill Svoboda | S3E18

    Many real estate professionals, business owners and borrowers have had a less than stellar relationship with technology at one point or another during a transaction. By joining forces, Certified Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Tom Cronkright and CloseSimple Co-Founder Bill Svoboda hope to achieve their mission of creating a closing process that is more secure, more automated and more consumer-friendly, and to do so at scale. They joined October Research Chief Knowledge Officer Mary Schuster on the Keys to Real Estate podcast for a conversation centering on how they aim to provide title and settlement professionals reduced friction, an improved customer experience and stronger fraud prevention at the same time. Chapters: 2:36 – Why the Companies Joined Forces 6:32 – Consumer Expectations Have Changed 11:15 – Automation as the Missing Link 13:38 – Customer Care, Reviews, and Brand Trust 16:09 – The Biggest Friction Points in Closing 19:16 – Tech Fatigue and Vendor Consolidation 23:30 – Turning Fraud Fighting Into a Brand Advantage 27:04 – Why Security Now Needs to Be “Unapologetically Secure” 30:15 – What Happens Next for Existing Customers 33:31 – The Future of Closing in an AI World 36:45 – Fraud Education and the New Reality Get In Touch… For more on CertifID: https://www.certifid.com/ For more on CloseSimple: https://www.closesimple.com/ Tom Cronkright’s email: tcronkright@certifid.com Bill Svoboda’s email: bill@closesimple.com Host email: Mary Schuster mschuster@octoberresearch.com To find more episodes of “Keys to Real Estate” or learn more about October Research – the nation’s leading independent provider of market intelligence, industry news, expert analysis and regulatory information for professionals in the real estate, title, financial and settlement services industries – visit https://www.octoberresearch.com. Episode sponsored by First American Trust – https://www.firstamtrust.com Episode produced by October Research – https://www.octoberresearch.com

  7. Jun 25

    What Can't AI Replace in Your Business? - Ryan Ozonian & Adam Schlesinger | S3E17

    Is artificial intelligence (AI) coming to take your job or change how you do it? That is an albatross of a question hanging over just about every technology-dependent industry. It is also one of many tackled by MyHome (a WFG Company) Senior Director of Innovation and AI Ryan Ozonian and First American Data & Analytics Vice President of Product Underwriting Adam Schlesinger during the October Research’s 2026 National Settlement Services Summit (NS3) in Kansas City. OR Chief Knowledge Officer Mary Schuster asked them about the transformative potential of AI in the real estate and settlement services sectors, specifically, while touching on its practical applications and how AI could help bridge demographic talent gaps while maintaining trust, building cross-functional teams and ensuring successful implementation while keeping ethical and regulatory considerations front and center. Chapters: 2:16 - Balancing AI adoption: all-in vs gradual integration 4:25 - Process mapping as a foundation for AI deployment 6:19 - Building cross-functional teams and assigning accountability 8:51 - Addressing team resistance: fear of job loss and change management 12:11 - The evolving roles of professionals with AI support 14:25 - Five-year predictions: misconceptions and breakthroughs 15:28 - Practical advice for getting started: identify pain points 15:57 - Embrace change: start somewhere and stay curious 17:58 - Is AI a solution looking for a problem or an evolution driven by necessity? Get In Touch… Host email: mschuster@octoberresearch.com To find more episodes of “Keys to Real Estate” or learn more about October Research – the nation’s leading independent provider of market intelligence, industry news, expert analysis and regulatory information for professionals in the real estate, title, financial and settlement services industries – visit https://www.octoberresearch.com. Episode sponsored by First American Trust – https://www.firstamtrust.com Episode produced by October Research – https://www.octoberresearch.com

  8. Jun 19

    AI Is Not Your Strategy: Real Talk About Risk and ROI - Ryan Ozonian & Adam Schlesinger | S3E16

    Artificial intelligence (AI) may be reshaping how we approach real estate finance and title insurance, but does that mean professionals in this industry can just set it and forget it? MyHome (a WFG Company) Senior Director of Innovation and AI Ryan Ozonian and First American Data & Analytics Vice President of Product Underwriting Adam Schlesinger took the stage at October Research’s 2026 National Settlement Services Summit (NS3) in Kansas City to discuss how organizations should be incorporating AI adoption strategically, starting with targeted use cases, experimenting responsibly and establishing governance frameworks before scaling investments. The discussed with OR Chief Knowledge Officer Mary Schuster the importance of building cross-functional teams that combine technology, operations, compliance and business expertise to ensure successful implementation while keeping ethical and regulatory considerations front and center. Chapters: 2:00 - Industry outlook on AI's future impact 4:13 - The importance of tangible AI application development 6:39 - Material changes AI will bring to title and settlement workflows 8:22 - Customer experience improvements through AI-driven transparency 9:58 - Pace of AI evolution and managing hype cycles 14:36 - Prioritizing AI investments and internal team building 17:57 - Recognizing wasted AI investments and trial pitfalls 20:54 - Regulatory considerations and governance in AI deployment 24:08 - Accountability and liability when using AI tools 27:45 - Building internal AI expertise versus relying on vendors 30:20 - Addressing industry talent gaps with AI and automation Get In Touch… Host email: mschuster@octoberresearch.com To find more episodes of “Keys to Real Estate” or learn more about October Research – the nation’s leading independent provider of market intelligence, industry news, expert analysis and regulatory information for professionals in the real estate, title, financial and settlement services industries – visit https://www.octoberresearch.com. Episode sponsored by First American Trust – https://www.firstamtrust.com Episode produced by October Research – https://www.octoberresearch.com

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

An industry-centric podcast, Keys to Real Estate features in-depth conversations for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of the real estate ecosystem. Listeners can take charge of their self-learning in business-critical information and key topics that are central to thriving under the ever-changing demands placed on businesses today. Our long-form conversations featuring today’s newsmakers and thought-leaders, allow listeners to engage with each episode at the time and place of their choosing.

Information

  • Creator
    October Research, LLC
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025
  • Show Website
    Keys to Real Estate

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