Keys to Real Estate

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 g...

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...

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 wher...

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 f...

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...

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...

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 complexit...

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 t...

MISMO’s new president, Brian Vieaux, took part in an exclusive interview with Keys to Real Estate host Mary Schuster to discuss his new role and the transformative changes occurring in the housing industry. He described how MISMO is evolving its data-driven standardization mission to account for shifts in technology and artificial intelligence (AI) as they gain more and more prevalence in the mort...

Ted Rossman had plenty of insight to share about recent changes in FICO scoring models, invoking his expertise as a longtime industry analyst at Bankrate. During this episode, he described the significance of the introduction of FICO 10T, which incorporates trended data and the impact of Buy Now Pay Later services on credit scoring. He highlighted the generational differences in attitudes towards...

Mortgage fraud is back in the headlines — but understanding how it really happens requires a closer look. In this episode, attorney and former CFPB Senior Counsel David Friend joins host Mary Schuster to unpack the difference between “fraud for money” and “fraud for housing,” why proving intent is so difficult and what real estate professionals should watch for in today’s market. He highlighted th...

When the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) announced sweeping new reporting requirements, one Texas title agent decided she couldn’t stay silent. Instead of quietly complying, she became the lead plaintiff in a national lawsuit challenging the legality of the rule. Listen as she shares her story, alongside her attorney, Luke Wake of the Pacific Legal Foundation, about what’s at stake f...

When a person acts on inspiration, amazing things can happen. Jaime Johnson, director of WFG Agent 3.0, demonstrated this concept by founding WFG’s Women at the (Closing) Table group. She credits the Women’s Leadership Summit (WLS), hosted by October Research, with providing the creative spark for her to take action. While speaking with Keys to Real Estate host Mary Schuster, Johnson described the...

Property rights can be a contentious issue. But what happens when one of the parties claiming ownership of a piece of real estate is the federal government, regardless of legal precedents indicating otherwise? This is the saga George Foote, Esq., long-time general counsel at the US Institute of Peace (USIP) is grappling following the seizure of USIP’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. in March 2025...

Join us as we delve into the latest insights from the monthly Mortgage Monitor report for August with Andy Walden, head of mortgage and housing market research at Intercontinental Exchange (ICE). In this episode, we explore key topics such as housing affordability, inventory and cautiously optimistic expectations for the rate environment. Walden also shares what key metric(s) he finds more compell...

In this compelling conversation, David Deerson, an attorney with Pacific Legal Foundation’s property rights practice group, sits down with host Mary Schuster to examine the evolving landscape of private property protections in the U.S. from eminent domain overreach to excess equity takings and inclusionary zoning policies. With deep expertise in land use, eminent domain, and regulatory takings, De...

How can real estate professionals protect buyers, sellers and agents from the growing threat of wire fraud? In this episode of the Keys to Real Estate podcast, Closinglock Founder and CEO Andy White and host Mary Schuster discussed what industry stakeholders need to know now to secure transactions and customer trust. White explained how Closinglock has helped safeguard more than a million home sal...

What will happen when the new FinCEN reporting rule takes effect Dec. 1, 2025? Industry veteran Ruth Dillingham, Esq. had no shortage of invaluable insight for attorneys, title & settlement agents, estate planners, financial planners, trust officers, Realtors and more about their role in accordance with the cascade of reporting responsibilities outlined in the rule. They also explore the impli...

In Part 2 of our interview with Bill Conerly, we dig in deep to discuss what business leadership really need to understand about the current state of the U.S. economy. Interest rates, tariffs and recession talk can all be intimidating subjects for business leaders. That is, unless they know how to stay ahead of the game with proper planning for a variety of scenarios, whether good or not so much....

Confused about the economy? It’s a topic to follow closely, especially right now. Dr. Bill Conerly keeps things straight forward and to the point in his discussion with Mary Schuster about how impact the rollercoaster economy is having on the housing market, touching on key factors, such as GDP, interest rates and, of course, tariffs. More than merely speculate about when the Federal Reserve may c...

It’s no secret professionals often are hesitant to engage directly with regulators at industry events or in other forums. In this episode, we discuss why that sort of engagement is so important with a pair of incredibly personable leaders of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), which regulates the title insurance industry. Chuck Myers and Connie Van Slyke offer insights into...

Jaime Kosofsky knows how to spot a fake ID. It’s not a skill he acquired as a club bouncer or a police officer. He is a seasoned real estate industry pro who has learned that being able to spot a fake is a vital and often overlooked tactic for avoiding costly and all-too-common real estate scams. Listen as he relays lessons he’s learned through personal experience with host Mary Schuster, which pr...

Ever wonder how this artificial intelligence stuff works? You’re not alone! Author and Futurist Brian Carter offered a taste of what NS3 attendees can expect during his keynote address next month with some of the most candid insights about the biggest tech revolutions in decades and how it is definitely more than just hype. He and host Mary Schuster discuss how the inner workings of AI models rema...

No one saw that coming! That was industry’s response when the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reversed its stance on a discrimination case it had already settled. The change of heart was directly connected to the change in leadership at the bureau under the Trump administration. Garris Horn LLP Co-Managing Partner Rich Horn was one of the lead defense attorneys in the years-long case a...

Recruiting top talent is only half the battle — keeping them is just as critical. In this episode, we dive into best practices for hiring, training, and retaining employees in today’s competitive market. From crafting compelling job offers to fostering a culture of growth, we explore what it takes to build a strong, long-lasting team. Listen and learn with host Mary Schuster and her guests Mary An...