Keys to Real Estate

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.

Keys to Real Estate is a business podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 64 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Keys to Real Estate, a business show with 64 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #24

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

  Aug 13, 202619 minS3

  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

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  Episode #22

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

  Jul 30, 202630 minS3

  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

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  Episode #21

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

  Jul 23, 202616 minS3

  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

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  Episode #19

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

  Jul 9, 202639 minS3

  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

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  Episode #18

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

  Jul 2, 202633 minS3

  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

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