Beyond the Buildings

From Capitol Hill to the mortgage industry, AI is everywhere. It’s even finding its way into the halls of government. But while AI promises innovation, it’s also raising a ton of questions—especially for policymakers.Last year, Congress introduced over 350 AI-related bills, and while many of these bills simply served to spark debate, it’s clear that lawmakers are considering everything from data privacy to mitigating bias in algorithms. Now, with a new Congress in session, the real question is: will AI regulation finally take center stage?Although no property-focused AI bills made it to the floor last session, there’s been plenty of groundwork. From Senate hearings on AI in financial services to conversations about the technology’s impact on housing, policymakers have been laying the foundation for regulation. One theme keeps emerging: the need to balance innovation with fairness.Technology often moves faster than regulation, but if regulators move too fast or ignore industry concerns, it could stall progress. And then there’s the wildcard: the Supreme Court’s 2024 repeal of the Chevron doctrine, which shifted interpretive power from agencies to the courts. This means Congress now has to be ultra-specific when drafting laws, which could further slow regulation initiatives.The future of AI regulation may be uncertain, but one thing’s clear: the stakes couldn’t be higher. In this episode of Core Conversations, host Maiclaire Bolton Smith and Russell McIntyre, an expert in public policy and industry relations at CoreLogic, discuss the need for AI regulation and how the government could approach this task.In This Episode:1:50 – Is the U.S. government currently regulating AI? What about AI in the property industry?5:19 – Whose responsibility is it to regulate AI?7:19 – How will the Chevron doctrine going to influence AI regulation in Congress?10:00 – What are the concerns and opportunities if AI regulations change in the property industry?12:28 – How will AI affect climate science?14:27 – Erika Stanley goes over the numbers in the property market with The Sip.15:26 – Is it impossible to eliminate inherent bias in AI technology?17:49 – How will the U.S. government handle AI and how can companies prepare for upcoming regulations around AI?Up Next: What Are the Ethical Implications of AI in the Property Industry?Links: What Are the Ethical Implications of AI in the Property Industry?SEC Climate Disclosure Guidance Timeline Pause: Why Companies BenefitExplore CoreLogic DataHazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD5 Copyright 2025 Cotality What Are the Ethical Implications of AI in the Property Industry?SEC Climate Disclosure Guidance Timeline...

January’s wildfires in Los Angeles will leave scares. Even those whose homes seem to be structurally sound may actually be hiding severe damage that will only be uncovered as LA begins to recover and rebuild.  Garret Gray, CoreLogic’s President of Global Insurance Solutions is one such case. Following a harrowing race against time to evacuate the threatened area with his family, Garret prioritized safety, not possessions. Miraculously, while nearby homes burned to the ground, his house remained standing.While at first glance this seems like a small miracle, on the inside, the hidden damage tells a very different story — a story that highlights a significant and often-overlooked cost of wildfires: the massive, unanticipated strain on the insurance industry from homes that appear intact but are uninhabitable. Garret’s home, while structurally sound, was inundated with soot, ash, and toxic smoke particles.His story is one of many. While the focus must remain on the families who have lost everything, it’s crucial to recognize the hidden costs for those who only experienced partial damage. Homes like Garret’s reveal a secondary, equally significant layer of loss that will also take years to recover from and may have long-term implications for insurers grappling with claims far more complex than they initially appear.In this episode of Core Conversations, host Maiclaire Bolton Smith and CoreLogic’s President of Global Insurance Solutions Garret Gray sit down to discuss the emotional and financial toll that these hidden losses can have on families, communities, and the insurance industry.In This Episode:2:27 – Listen to Garret Gray’s experience evacuating from the Palisades Fire and how he learned that his house remained standing.6:50 – Why do wildfires impact some homes and not others even if they are on the same street?11:22 – Erika Stanley goes over the numbers in the property market with The Sip.12:33 – What are the hidden costs of wildfires, even for homes that seem to be structurally sound?16:22 – How will the scale of this disaster – both for complete losses as well as partial losses  –  impact the insurance industry?21:24 – How long will it take to rebuild or restore properties in LA where the construction industry is already strained? How are we going to accommodate the demand in materials and the resulting prices?Up Next: Does Low Wildfire Risk Create a False Sense of Security?Links: Explore CoreLogic DataHazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD5 Copyright 2025 Cotality Explore CoreLogic DataHazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence

Imagine a world where every piece of property tells a story—where every plot of land, building permit, and insurance claim contributes to a dynamic narrative that evolves over time. In the first episode of Season 5 of Core Conversations, you are invited you to step beyond the ordinary view of properties as an amalgamation of square footage and floor plans to uncover the living, breathing essence of property.Join host Maiclaire Bolton Smith and CoreLogic’s Chief Data and Analytics Officer John Rogers as they take you on a journey into the $45 trillion real estate market — America’s largest and most influential asset class. Discover how every event in a property’s lifecycle, from its beginning as raw land to construction and finally its role in society  — as well as everything in between like its vulnerabilities to climate risks — shapes its unique story.But this isn’t just a story about data. It’s about the groundbreaking innovations, like AI and Climate Risk Analytics, that are empowering industries like real estate, insurance, and government to navigate an increasingly complex world. Listen to real-world examples of how technology is automating listings, helping reduce wildfire insurance premiums, and driving decisions that build resilience for the future.In This Episode:1:53 – What does it mean to have the full picture of a property, and why would someone need all that data?7:17 – How can AI help someone see the full picture through all of the data that a single property (or a portfolio of properties) holds?13:18 – What will it look like to be a housing industry professional as AI evolves into an everyday tool?16:24 – How can high-quality climate data help the insurance industry in a market where it’s becoming increasingly difficult to be profitable?20:04 – Erika Stanley does the numbers in the housing market in The Sip.21:15 – How can companies use climate resilience to ensure financial resilience?27:29 – How will data increase resilience in the property industry going forward?Up Next: What Will a Second Trump Presidency Mean for U.S. Housing?Links: Explore CoreLogic DataRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD5 Copyright 2025 Cotality Explore CoreLogic DataRead CoreLogic Intelligence

As 2024 slides into 2025, those who have been following the housing market know that there is a lot to unpack from the year. Home affordability, when adjusted for inflation, has reached its lowest point in decades. Inventory trends are diverging across the nation. Generational dynamics are influencing how people are buying homes.But even if the trends that made 2024 so noteworthy are understood, the question is, how will they influence where the housing market is headed in 2025? In the season finale of Core Conversations, CoreLogic Chief Economist Selma Hepp explores what happened in 2024 and provides a comprehensive outlook for 2025, including insights on mortgage rates, inventory, and affordability.In This Episode1:58 – How exactly did interest rates affect the housing market in 2024? Do we expect them to lower in 2025?6:26 – How affordable in the U.S. housing market, really?9:24 – Are property taxes and capital gains taxes going to continue to balloon into 2025?10:46 – Will people continue to stay in their homes or will they finally move and open up supply in 2025?14:39 – Erika Stanley does the numbers in the housing market in The Sip.15:32 – Is a refinancing wave on the horizon for 2025?17:07 – Will there be more creative housing solutions to help with affordability? Do we anticipate buying a house to become more accessible to younger generations?22:15 – How will the presidential election affect the housing market in 2025?26:54 – Erika Stanley reviews natural catastrophes and extreme weather events across the world.27:58 – What can we expect for the property market in 2025?Up Next: What Will a Second Trump Presidency Mean for U.S. Housing?Links: What Will a Second Trump Presidency Mean for U.S. Housing?Explore CoreLogic DataHazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD4 Copyright 2025 Cotality What Will a Second Trump Presidency Mean for U.S. Housing?Explore CoreLogic DataHazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence

The appraisal industry is undergoing its most significant transformation in decades, blending innovation with tradition to reshape how appraisers value real estate.As the appraisal industry enters a new era driven by technology and changing consumer expectations, advancements like AI-powered valuation tools, as well as desktop and hybrid appraisals may provide an avenue for the industry to offer transparency and lighten some of the cumbersome, paperwork-laden processes that define current standards.But what does this mean for the future of the industry — and for those who rely on it?In the latest episode of Core Conversations, host Maiclaire Bolton Smith sits down with Shawn Telford, Chief Appraiser at CoreLogic, to unpack the innovations reshaping how appraisals are conducted. From leveraging risk-based frameworks to streamline processes to modernizing appraisal reports for greater transparency, Telford provides a comprehensive look at how these changes are improving efficiency without compromising quality. For lenders, investors, and homeowners, these shifts offer exciting opportunities and a glimpse into what’s next for real estate valuation.In This Episode:1:55 – What is appraisal modernization, how did we get here, and what is the timeline for the overhaul?6:22 – Erika Stanley does the numbers in the housing market in The Sip.7:28 – What exactly is going to change in the Universal Appraisal Dataset (UAD) and how will it impact the industry?12:40 – How will appraisal waivers fit into the new, modernized appraisal standards?16:05 – Are there any other alternative appraisal methods that this industry change will help support?17:41 – How will appraisal modernization affect the underwriting process?20:22 – Does generative AI have a place in the appraisal industry? How could it be integrated into current processes?24:07 – Erika Stanley reviews natural catastrophes and extreme weather events across the world.25:13 – What are the challenges that lie ahead for the appraisal industry?Up Next: Do Appraisers Have What It Takes to Value Short-Term Rentals?Links: Explore CoreLogic DataHow Is Automation Affecting the Appraisal IndustryHazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD4 Copyright 2025 Cotality Explore CoreLogic DataHow Is Automation Affecting the Appraisal IndustryHazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence

As the U.S. looks ahead to Donald Trump once again taking office in January, the real estate and housing industry is watching closely. Given Trump’s previous term and recent rhetoric on the campaign trail, when the president-elect returns to the White House on January 20, the property market landscape could shift dramatically.A Trump administration has historically leaned toward deregulation, favoring less federal oversight. This could mean a rollback of initiatives championed by the previous Biden administration and could spell major changes for property professionals, particularly in areas like climate policy, housing affordability, and regulatory reform.From regulatory rollbacks to bipartisan debates over zoning, host Maiclaire Bolton Smith and Chay Halbert, a principal public policy and industry relations at CoreLogic, discuss the likely rollback of Biden-era climate initiatives, shifts in regulatory scrutiny, and the potential changes surrounding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac oversight. Halbert also sheds light on potential flood risk management alterations and how these moves could reshape lending and affordability across the country.Tune in to this episode of Core Conversations hear a comprehensive breakdown of the policy changes that property professionals should watch for as they prepare for what lies ahead.In This Episode2:24 – What types of housing policies do we expect Donald Trump to favor?3:50 – Are there any specific changes we can expect around climate policy?4:58 – Will there be any changes to Biden-era policies?8:34 – How will the new administration influence interest rates?10:32 – Affordability is complex, but will the rules around institutional and foreign investment change to help with this?11:52 – Will there be any international ramifications from these possible policy changes?13:43 – Erika Stanley does the numbers in the housing market in The Sip.14:57 – How could federal policy changes affect local jurisdictions?19:40 – Erika Stanley reviews natural catastrophes and extreme weather events across the world.20:58 – What should property professionals pay attention to in the months leading up to an administration change?Up Next: How to Solve the US Affordable Housing CrisisLinks: Hazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD4 Copyright 2025 Cotality Hazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence

From soaring mortgage rates to climate risks, the economic landscape of buying a home is filled with uncertainties that could terrify even the most seasoned investor.Whether it’s government policies or technological innovations, there are a wide variety of external factors that wield immense influence over the trajectory of the property market. As investors, homeowners, and property professionals alike grapple with these challenges, understanding the impact of demographic shifts, natural catastrophes, and economic fluctuations becomes paramount.The scarcity of housing supply, coupled with investor competition, reflects critical socioeconomic trends affecting communities across the U.S. Meanwhile, the existential threat of climate risks underscores the urgency of integrating sustainability into real estate strategies.In this episode of Core Conversations, host Maiclaire Bolton Smith sits down with senior principal economist Molly Boesel to discuss where the market pressures are and what these influences mean for the property market at large.In This Episode:1:45 –Mortgage Interest Rates3:55 – Rising debt-to-Income Ratio5:49 – Downpayments9:36 – Competition with Investors12:53 – Rental Rates15:03 – Erika Stanley does the numbers in the housing market in The Sip.16:16 – Lack of Inventory18:31 – Climate Change20:51 – Insurance22:17 – Taxes27:33 – Erika Stanley reviews natural catastrophes and extreme weather events across the world.Up Next: Debunked! Top Three Housing Myths DispelledLinks: Hazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD4 Copyright 2025 Cotality Hazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence

In recent years, cybercrime has surged across nearly every industry, with real estate emerging as a prime target for hackers. The shift toward digital transactions, coupled with the sensitive nature of real estate data, has made the sector a lucrative focus for cybercriminals. From wire fraud to data breaches, the threats are evolving, posing significant risks to real estate agents, brokers, title companies, and even buyers and sellers.Among the most pervasive issues is social engineering. These attacks often exploit the fast-paced, high-stress nature of real estate transactions, making them especially dangerous as buyers and sellers scramble to meet deadlines. The consequences? Anything from financial losses and operational shutdowns to irreparable reputational damage.In this episode of Core Conversations, we dive deep into the cybersecurity challenges facing the real estate industry. Interim Chief Information Security Officer Rob Tennant, and Rob Love, a principal in advisory services product management, share their expert insights on the growing risks and explain why cybersecurity has become such a hot button issue in the property industry. They explore the rise of real estate wire fraud, discuss the vulnerabilities of agents and brokers in handling sensitive data, and offer tips on preventing cyberattacks from derailing transactions.In This Episode:2:28 – Why is the property industry such an appealing target for cybercrime?3:46 – What are the impacts on the real estate industry from cybercrime? What are the impacts of losing personal data specifically?6:44 – Where are the bad actors coming from?9:19 – Are there unique differences between cybercrime in residential real estate and commercial real estate?11:04 – Why is data security important for individual real estate agents?14:21 – Are there also vulnerabilities in mortgage and insurance too?17:16 – Erika Stanley does the numbers in the housing market in The Sip.18:36 – How do cybersecurity breaches happen?                  21:52 – What are things to look out for to prevent wire fraud in real estate transactions?24:33 – How can someone plan to combat systemic cybersecurity risk?26:31 – Erika Stanley reviews natural catastrophes and extreme weather events across the world.27:27 – What does the future look like for cybersecurity risk?Up Next: How Could Gig Work and Automation Lead to More Mortgage Fraud?Links: Hazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD4 Copyright 2025 Cotality

Over the next few years, it's estimated that nearly a trillion dollars will be spent on data centers, semiconductors, and power grid upgrades. And this is all just to meet the growing computational needs of AI technologies. In fact, industry estimates suggest that global data center capacity could double by 2030, but this growth is far from straightforward.As AI technologies like generative AI continue to expand, the infrastructure needed to support them is growing at an unprecedented rate. However, data centers cannot just be built anywhere. Placement of new data centers isn’t just about finding enough land — it’s about balancing proximity to power plants, high-capacity transmission lines, and broadband infrastructure, while also considering environmental factors.Location intelligence plays a pivotal role in this expansion.In this episode of Core Conversations, host Maiclaire Bolton Smith and Joe Francica, Principal Product Manager in CoreLogic’s Location Intelligence Group discuss how geospatial tools can help mitigate some of these risks by identifying locations that are less vulnerable to natural hazards while also balancing the need for power and broadband access. As AI continues to evolve and the demand for data centers grows, having access to detailed geospatial data will give companies a strategic advantage in making informed, forward-looking decisions.In This Episode:2:11 – How much data center capacity will AI technologies (and their power consumption) require?4:49 – Why is AI consuming so much energy?8:55 – Which energy sources are data centers using and where are they generally located?9:31 – How does the availability of broadband play into the equation?10:40 – How does climate resilience come into play when looking for optimal locations of data centers?13:04 – how is proximity to an electrical grid or transmission facility part of the equation?14:29 – Erika Stanley does the numbers in the housing market in The Sip.15:40 – How are all the variables for optimum data center placement weighted. Is there a hierarchy of importance?16:42 – Where is the optimal place in the U.S. for data centers?20:05 – Erika Stanley reviews natural catastrophes and extreme weather events across the world.20:59 – Where is AI is going to take us in terms of the demand for the data centers, and what do companies that are trying to get ahead of the curve need to think about?Up Next: What Makes Geospatial Data Unique for Expanding Telco Infrastructure?Links: Hazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD4 Copyright 2025 Cotality

Affordability remains a persistent challenge in the U.S. housing market. With increasing concerns over housing costs, particularly post-pandemic, the affordability crisis has grown to affect millions of households across the country. With nearly one-third of American households now considered cost burdened, the crisis has reached national prominence, even making its way into recent presidential addresses.In this episode of Core Conversations, CoreLogic Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Industry Relations, Pete Carroll discusses key factors behind this, including income inequality, the undersupply of housing, and outdated zoning laws. Carroll also touches on potential solutions like light-touch density, alternative housing types like townhomes and tiny homes, and the role of government land and subsidies in addressing the crisis.Whether you’re a homebuyer, policymaker, or industry professional, this episode unpacks the realities behind America's housing affordability crisis and discusses what it will take to find lasting solutions.In This Episode:2:18 – What exactly is the definition of “affordability” and how big of an issue is it across the U.S.?5:06 – Do certain areas of the country or particular populations have a more pronounced affordability problem?6:26 – How did we get into this affordability crisis?10:13 – Are homebuyers even looking for single-family homes? Are starter homes at the crux of the affordability issue?11:28 – What are the opportunities to lessen the burden of homeownership?14:41 – Erika Stanley does the numbers in the housing market in The Sip.16:27 – How does zoning affect affordability?20:27 – How do building codes affect affordability?23:31 – Erika Stanley reviews natural catastrophes and extreme weather events across the world.24:08 – What are the first steps to “curing” the affordability crisis in the U.S.?Up Next: What Is the Affordable Housing Crisis?Links: Why Valuing Barndominiums, Tiny Homes Needs the Cost ApproachHazard HQ Command CentralRead CoreLogic Intelligence Find full episodes with all our guests in our podcast archive here: https://clgx.co/3HFslXD4 Copyright 2025 Cotality