Keys to Real Estate

Inside TIAC: The Insurance Mistakes Title Agents Don’t Realize They’re Making - Casey Withers | S3E12

What happens when an entire industry realizes the insurance marketplace may no longer understand its business? That question led title professionals to build TIAC — a title-specific E&O program built by title people, for title people. In this episode of Keys to Real Estate, TIAC Program Executive Casey Withers breaks down the fundamentals of title agency coverage, risk retention groups, claims-made policies and the insurance details many professionals don’t discover until they’re already in trouble. Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction to Casey Withers and TIAC’s history in the title industry 2:05 - The origins of TIAC and industry crises in the 1980s 4:15 - What makes TIAC different: industry focus and tailored solutions 6:30 - The importance of title-specific E&O and understanding policy nuances 8:45 - Claims-made policies, retroactive dates, and coverage gaps 11:00 - Common misconceptions: cyber coverage, exclusions, and claim processes 13:20 - Emerging risks: cyber threats, wire fraud, and bonds in the industry 15:50 - Evaluating insurance providers: longevity, claims handling, and endorsements 18:10 - The model of risk retention groups: ownership, governance, and benefits 20:25 - How agencies should assess limits, deductibles, and renewal timing 23:10 - Final advice: stay proactive, ask questions, and review coverage regularly For more about TIAC: https://tiacrrg.com/ Get In Touch… Guest email: info@tiacrrg.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 [https://www.octoberresearch.com]. Episode sponsored by First American Trust – https://www.firstamtrust.com [https://www.firstamtrust.com] Episode produced by October Research – https://www.octoberresearch.com [https://www.octoberresearch.com]

The One Habit That Could Stop Most Attacks - Matt Lee | S3E11

Examining the evolving landscape around cybercrime at the micro-level reveals many risks one cannot always see from the macro-level. In this episode of Keys to Real Estate, cybersecurity expert Matt Lee sheds light on these specific risks in the title and settlement industry, emphasizing the importance of awareness, good technological hygiene and strategic defenses. October Research Chief Knowledge Officer Mary Schuster sought his input on matters affecting the cost of cyber insurance, as well as what habits companies can change in their day-to-day operations to mitigate their exposure to hackers. Chapters: 0:00 - Micro activities creating macro risks and the importance of workflow analysis 2:21 - Data richness makes title companies attractive targets for fraud 6:21 - Trust ephemerally: trusting processes, not just people 8:37 - How business leaders can change their approach to IT and cybersecurity culture 11:35 - Society’s growing expectation for technological professionalism and systemic trust 13:18 - The evolution of cyber insurance and its role in shaping industry standards 15:13 - The role of frameworks like NIST and CIS in cybersecurity defense 16:12 - Upcoming NS3 session: How I Would Hack Your Title Agency For more about Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybermattlee/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybermattlee/] For more about National Settlement Services Summit (NS3): https://ns3thesummit.com/ Get In Touch… Guest email: matt@cybermattlee.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 [https://www.octoberresearch.com]. Episode sponsored by First American Trust – https://www.firstamtrust.com [https://www.firstamtrust.com] Episode produced by October Research – https://www.octoberresearch.com [https://www.octoberresearch.com]

The Economics of Cybercrime - and Why It’s Winning - Matt Lee | S3E10

When trying to defend your business against hackers, who better to educate you than someone who knows exactly how it’s done and why the rate of cyber risk growth is only going to accelerate in the years ahead? In this episode of Keys to Real Estate, cybersecurity expert Matt Lee discussed the evolving landscape of cyber threats, how artificial intelligence (AI) is fundamentally changing the conversation around security systems and practical advice for businesses to enhance their cybersecurity approaches. Discover how understanding offense and defense, along with frank talk about why much of the software in use today is likely vulnerable to these attacks and the emergence of a powerful and “mythologized” tool designed to root out such vulnerabilities being put into use by some of the world’s largest banks. Chapters: 0:00 The Role of AI in Cybersecurity 2:58 Vulnerabilities and the Impact of AI 5:35 The Future of Small to Mid-Sized Businesses in Cybersecurity 8:26 Navigating SaaS and Cybersecurity Challenges 20:24 The Economics of Technology in Business 25:09 The Evolution of Cyber Insurance For more about Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybermattlee/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cybermattlee/] For more about National Settlement Services Summit (NS3): https://ns3thesummit.com/ [https://ns3thesummit.com/] Get In Touch… Guest email: matt@cybermattlee.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 [https://www.octoberresearch.com]. Episode sponsored by First American Trust – https://www.firstamtrust.com [https://www.firstamtrust.com] Episode produced by October Research – https://www.octoberresearch.com [https://www.octoberresearch.com]

Building What the Industry Needs - John Freyer, Jr. | S3E9

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/ [https://settlor.com/] For more about National Settlement Services Summit (NS3): https://ns3thesummit.com/ [https://ns3thesummit.com/] To access the Housing Inventory & Attainability Watch Library: https://www.thetitlereport.com/housing-inventory-attainability-watch.aspx [https://www.thetitlereport.com/housing-inventory-attainability-watch.aspx] Get In Touch… 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 [https://www.firstamtrust.com] Episode produced by October Research – https://www.octoberresearch.com [https://www.octoberresearch.com]

When Pressure Becomes Opportunity - John Freyer, Jr. | S3E8

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/ [https://settlor.com] For more about National Settlement Services Summit (NS3): https://ns3thesummit.com/ [https://ns3thesummit.com] To access the Housing Inventory & Attainability Watch Library: https://www.thetitlereport.com/housing-inventory-attainability-watch.aspx [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 [https://www.firstamtrust.com] Episode produced by October Research – https://www.octoberresearch.com [https://www.octoberresearch.com]