For technology to be useful, it has to make life easier for the people using it. In this episode, Settlor Co-Founder and President John Freyer, Jr. describes how his company set out to create a platform that did just that for title agents. He highlights the importance of engaging directly with customers to build solutions that actually work in practice, rather than relying on one-size-fits-all approaches. He and Keys to Real Estate host Mary Schuster also discussed how meaningful progress in creating effective digital and automated solutions depends on effective collaboration across the industry. Regardless of how many technological advancements make, they agreed that maintaining human relationships will always be a paramount. And what are the potential negative long-term repercussions of replacing human staff with artificial intelligence?

Chapters:

0:00 Overcoming legacy platform frustrations and industry needs

6:01 Tailoring solutions for different states and local markets

8:27 The value of truly understanding customer needs through on-the-ground engagement

13:09 Industry collaboration as a force for good

14:08 The irreplaceable value of human relationship in a digital age

15:13 The risks of short-term thinking and automation replacing key human roles

16:20 Final reflections on industry evolution and embracing future opportunities

For more about Settlor: https://settlor.com/

For more about National Settlement Services Summit (NS3): https://ns3thesummit.com/

To access the Housing Inventory & Attainability Watch Library: https://www.thetitlereport.com/housing-inventory-attainability-watch.aspx

Get In Touch…

Host email: Mary Schuster - [email protected]

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

Despite an array of challenges facing the settlement services industry, many title agencies are leaning forward. In this episode, Settlor Co-Founder and President John Freyer describes the evolving role of title companies in the real estate sector, highlighting their strategic importance in fostering consumer trust and ensuring successful transactions. He and October Research Chief Knowledge Officer Mary Schuster delve into how the pandemic accelerated technological transformation and opened new avenues for innovation and growth within the industry that are still being expanded upon. How are many companies reinventing themselves to better cater to the needs and expectations of consumers? And what are the main concerns they should remain cognizant of over the next five years?

Chapters:

0:02 Early Experiences that Shaped a Career.

1:58 Why Title Companies Are Leaning Forward

4:16 Reinvention and Modernization Create Opportunities

6:20 From Traditional Offices to Consumer-Friendly Environments

9:27 Five-Year Industry Outlook

12:03 Fraud, Cybersecurity, Consolidation…Oh My!

16:34 AI and Blockchain: Rapid Evolution and Cautious Adoption

23:05 Overcoming Legacy Platform Frustrations and Meeting Industry Needs

For more about Settlor: https://settlor.com/

For more about National Settlement Services Summit (NS3): https://ns3thesummit.com/

To access the Housing Inventory & Attainability Watch Library: https://www.thetitlereport.com/housing-inventory-attainability-watch.aspx

Get In Touch…

Host email: Mary Schuster

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

With new FinCEN reporting requirements on hold and the ever-present need for new fraud protections, title and settlement professionals find themselves with a prime opportunity to make their voices heard in the nation’s capital. ALTA’s VP, Head of Federal Government Affairs Kevin Cameron joins October Research Chief Knowledge Officer Mary Schuster to talk about how ALTA helps those who are on the ground every day helping homebuyers at the closing table effectively tell their story to federal legislators on Capitol Hill. At the ALTA Advocacy Summit, ALTA helps members prepare and feel confident when they step into their representative’s office. He emphasized that the best thing they can do is simply tell their story, so the people charged with crafting housing policies that affect their industry have a better understanding of what it is they do. Be at the table, not on the menu.

Chapters:

0:00 – Advocacy is All About Telling Your Story

3:35 – Prepping for the ALTA Advocacy Summit

6:20 – Share Real-World Experiences With Lawmakers

10:20 – Critical Time for Housing Policy

13:05 – Addressing FinCEN Requirements

15:44 – The Impact of Fraud on Real Estate

21:04 – Personal Perspective Over Talking Points

For more about Kevin Cameron: ALTA - Contact ALTA

For more about the Advocacy Summit: 2026 ALTA Advocacy Summit - ALTA Meetings

For more about National Settlement Services Summit (NS3): https://ns3thesummit.com/

To access the Housing Inventory & Attainability Watch Library: https://www.thetitlereport.com/housing-inventory-attainability-watch.aspx

Get In Touch…

Guest email: Kevin Cameron - [email protected]

Host email: Mary Schuster - [email protected]

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

For housing professionals, this is one of those moments where the industry is being shaped in real time and the people on the ground have an opportunity to influence what’s coming next. October Research Chief Knowledge Officer Mary Schuster sat down with someone who knows plenty about making that happen – ALTA’s VP, Head of Federal Government Affairs Kevin Cameron. He emphasized the most effective approaches to getting Congress move the needle toward new policy positions that could help increase housing supply, make credit more affordable and make compliance less cumbersome and costly.

Chapters:

0:00 Introduction and Industry Context

1:14 White House's Focus on Housing Policy

2:06 Legislative and Executive Actions on Housing

3:32 Reducing Barriers to Home Construction

4:58 Advancing Digital Closings and Electronic Mortgages

6:22 Ensuring Safe and Secure Transactions

9:38 The Role of Small Businesses in Housing Policy

10:15 Court Ruling on FinCEN Real Estate Rule

12:06 Navigating Regulatory Uncertainty

13:14 Data and Advocacy in the Current Environment

15:30 Addressing Fraud in Real Estate

25:39 The Growing Threat of Real Estate Fraud

31:02 Innovations in Fraud Prevention and Title Insurance Endorsements

For more about Kevin Cameron: ALTA - Contact ALTA - https://www.alta.org/about/contact-alta/Kevin-Cameron

For more about the Advocacy Summit: https://meetings.alta.org/advocacy2026/

For more about National Settlement Services Summit (NS3): https://ns3thesummit.com/

To access the Housing Inventory & Attainability Watch Library: https://www.thetitlereport.com/housing-inventory-attainability-watch.aspx

Get In Touch…

Guest email: Kevin Cameron - [email protected]

Host email: Mary Schuster- [email protected]

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

While everyone’s been watching the CFPB… the states have been getting busy. From joint ventures to marketing relationships, state attorneys general are stepping in – and in some cases, pushing entirely new interpretations of RESPA that the industry hasn’t seen before. So, the question is: are you operating under yesterday’s rules in today’s enforcement environment? Let’s take a closer look at where the real action is happening right now. In this episode of Keys to Real Estate Holly Bunting, a RESPA expert and partner at Mayer Brown, and October Research Chief Knowledge Officer Mary Schuster drilled down deep into what states are doing to address matters pertaining to joint ventures involving title agents and mortgage providers along with other trends Bunting is seeing on the state enforcement front.

Chapters:

0:00 - State enforcement agencies filling the federal enforcement gap

1:02 - The focus on joint ventures, affiliate relationships, and state-specific interpretations

5:35 - The legal basis and misconceptions around joint ventures and affiliation costs

7:15 - Industry impact: Are new state regulations affecting the bottom line?

9:03 - The importance of proving actual consumer injury in enforcement actions

12:01 - Interplay and coordination between federal and state regulators

15:46 - Recommendations for industry participants on compliance and risk mitigation

19:03 - Emerging RESPA issues: employment of real estate agents and unintended violations

For more about Holly Bunting and Mayer Brown: https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/people/b/bunting-holly-spencer

Get In Touch…

Host email: Mary Schuster - [email protected]

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

What if the biggest risk in RESPA right now… is thinking there isn’t one? Federal enforcement has gotten quieter – but that doesn’t mean it’s gone. And in some ways, this moment may carry more long-term risk than when regulators were actively bringing cases. In this episode of Keys to Real Estate Holly Bunting, a RESPA expert and partner at Mayer Brown, breaks down what’s really happening at the federal level, what’s changed inside the CFPB and why now is not the time to let your guard down. She addressed the recent shifts in federal and state enforcement efforts, as well as potential opportunities for long-overdue reform to account for advancements in technology, leading to questions about what constitutes a “thing of value.” Bunting also offered practical advice for navigating potential pitfalls the changing legal environment during her discussion with October Research Chief Knowledge Officer Mary Schuster.

Chapters:

0:00 - Federal RESPA enforcement shifts and what industry should anticipate

2:13 - Impact of political administration changes on enforcement priorities

4:19 - Statutes of limitations and retrospective risk assessment

6:48 - Private causes of action and recent class action trends

9:28 - Active regulation on servicing, loss mitigation and ROE emphasis

13:33 - White House executive orders and their implications for RESPA regulation

17:08 - Redefining “thing of value” in digital marketing and technological challenges

21:29 - Risks associated with online platforms and digital comparison shopping

24:19 - Potential for RESPA law reform and legislative updates

For more about Holly Bunting and To Get In Touch With Her: https://www.mayerbrown.com/en/people/b/bunting-holly-spencer

Get In Touch With Mary Schuster:

Host email: Mary Schuster - [email protected]

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

Sometimes the best way to make things happen is to start small. Real estate industry advocates have long concentrated their efforts at the federal and state levels, but AEI Senior Fellow Ed Pinto said the county and municipal governments often hold the keys to meaningful change while speaking with October Research Chief Knowledge Officer Mary Schuster on the Keys to Real Estate podcast. Among the innovative and data-based policy solutions he champions to increase housing supply, Pinto also is a proponent of local advocacy, given its potential to move the needle on policies officials often use, intentionally or unintentionally, to keep land “preserved in amber,” as he put it.

Chapters:

0:00 Revitalizing Underutilized Areas

2:34 The Role of Factories in Housing Supply

4:56 County Seat Strategy for Economic Growth

8:28 Understanding Metropolitan Growth Dynamics

10:54 State-Level Policy Impacts on Housing

13:44 Leveraging Data for Local Solutions

17:34 Innovative Housing Solutions and Strategies

21:23 Bridging Renters to Homeownership

26:33 The Importance of Localized Approaches

29:33 Advocating for Change in Housing Policies

Links to the AEI resources mentioned in this episode:

https://aeihousingcenter.org/playbook/

https://heat.aeihousingcenter.org/toolkit/

https://aeihousingcenter.org/good_neighbors_toolkit/

Link to The Title Report’s Housing Inventory & Attainability Watch Library:

https://www.thetitlereport.com/housing-inventory-attainability-watch.aspx

Get In Touch…

Host email: Mary Schuster - [email protected]

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

Most people don’t tend to associate the word “capital” with land and that could be a mistake. In fact, Ed Pinto, senior fellow and co-director at the AEI Housing Center explained why land may be the most valuable type of capital in the real estate market on the Keys to Real Estate. He shared some compelling insights with October Research Chief Knowledge Officer Mary Schuster on why this is so and wagged a finger at inflexible jurisdictions with their strict policies governing the types of housing developers are able to build. He dug into the implications of such policies in terms of home prices and what industry advocates may be able to do about it.

Chapters:

0:00 Historical Context of Housing Crashes

4:08 Current Housing Market Dynamics

8:30 Debt Management and Financial Health

13:00 Innovative Solutions for Housing Affordability

20:13 Government Land Management and Housing Development

25:30 ROI Considerations for Land Investors

30:05 Closing Thoughts

Links to the AEI resources mentioned in this episode:

https://aeihousingcenter.org/playbook/

https://heat.aeihousingcenter.org/toolkit/

https://aeihousingcenter.org/good_neighbors_toolkit/

Get In Touch…

Host email: Mary Schuster - [email protected]

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

Housing attainability keeps getting worse – even as policymakers promise solutions. Ed Pinto, senior fellow and co-director at the AEI Housing Center, explains why demand-based fixes fail and what actually works in this episode of Keys to Real Estate. October Research Chief Knowledge Officer Mary Schuster engaged Pinto on the importance of taking a data-driven approach when assessing the complexities of housing attainability and making informing policy decisions. He highlights the disconnect between demand-side solutions and the actual supply issues facing the housing market, particularly the role of local jurisdictions in constraining development. With these insights in mind, industry professionals can plan their advocacy efforts more strategically to maximize their return-on-investment at a time when every dollar counts.

Chapters:

0:00 The Data-Driven Approach to Housing Policy

2:57 Understanding the Supply and Demand Mismatch

6:05 The Misconceptions of Housing Economics

8:56 The Role of Local Jurisdictions in Housing Development

11:58 Identifying Effective Housing Policies

15:05 Proposed Solutions for Housing Affordability

17:50 The Importance of Incentives in Housing Development

20:53 Long-Term Strategies for Housing Supply

24:10 Case Studies: Successful Housing Policies

27:05 The Future of Housing Policy and Advocacy

Links to the AEI resources mentioned in this episode:

https://aeihousingcenter.org/playbook/

https://heat.aeihousingcenter.org/toolkit/

https://aeihousingcenter.org/good_neighbors_toolkit/

Get In Touch…

Host email: Mary Schuster - [email protected]

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

Lenders are keeping their chins up entering 2026 after a year HomeLight Homes President Nick Friedman described as “not great” while speaking with Keys to Real Estate host Mary Schuster. Expanding on the results of his company’s recent survey of lenders across the country, Friedman explored why lenders said they expect the year ahead to see a notable uptick in mortgage originations and what role the evolving real estate landscape may play in making that a reality. He emphasized the importance of understanding debt-to-income ratios first-time homebuyers are facing as they ponder creative solutions to get a foothold in the market. The conversation also steered into AI and its potential pros and cons, with respect to streamlining the lending workflow to make for a faster and smoother customer experience without losing sight of the significance of building strong relationships with buyers.

Chapters:

0:00 Lending Insights and Predictions for 2026

2:52 Interest Rates and Market Dynamics

5:37 Buyer Categories and Market Movement

8:33 Creative Solutions for First-Time Home Buyers

11:14 Loan Types and Market Growth

14:03 Refinancing and Home Equity Utilization

17:00 The Role of AI in Lending

19:35 Buy Before You Sell Programs

22:40 Counseling First-Time Home Buyers

25:17 The Importance of Relationships in Lending

Download the report: Lender Insights & Predictions for 2026

To learn more about HomeLight Buy Before You Sell: https://www.homelight.com/buy-before-you-sell

Get In Touch…

Host email: Mary Schuster - [email protected]

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 Closinglock – https://www.closinglock.com

Episode produced by October Research – https://www.octoberresearch.com