The National Settlement Services Summit (NS3) marks its 17th anniversary this week in the sand and sun in Naples, Fla. More than 750 participants are scheduled to gather to hear from the best the industry has to offer over three days at Naples Grande Beach Resort.
Attendees representing about 350 companies will have the opportunity to hear from keynote speakers Gino Blefari, CEO of HomeServices of America, and Stanley Middleman, CEO of Freedom Mortgage Corp. Other notable speakers include Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) former Director Kathy Kraninger. NS3 runs Tuesday through Thursday.
Blefari will deliver the keynote address on opening day. His address will be followed by a panel discussion reviewing the challenges surrounding the buying, leasing, and obtaining credit financing for real estate for cannabis activities, which will feature Westcor Land Title Chief Underwriting Counsel Richard Bramhall and American Escrow Association Executive Director Art Davis.
Tuesday’s agenda also includes a “Referral Secrets Unveiled” session during which Title Alliance CEO Jim Campbell and Stephen-Michael Washington, vice president, CRA market manager of Trustmark, will share experiences with turning partnerships with real estate agents and lenders into referrals.
Finally, Susan Apel, senior deputy attorney general with the office of the Pennsylvania attorney general, will join Florida Department of Financial Services Director Simon Blank, Virginia Bureau of Insurance RESA Investigations Section Supervisor Chuck Myers, and North Carolina Department of Insurance Chief Deputy Commissioner Michelle Osborne to discuss regulatory trends around the country and their priorities for 2021-2022.
During the second day of the conference, Middleman will share insights on how to lead through the inevitable change coming to the real estate transaction.
Following Middleman’s keynote, Brian Montgomery, Gate House Strategies founding partner and chairman and former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, will discuss issues such as what is facing the real estate industry as forbearance programs are lifted, whether the requirements for ensuring fair housing have expanded, and what is expected from the industry to ensure fair housing.
This will end with an executive discussion on the current hot topics in underwriting. Panelists include Jeff Bluhm, executive vice president, Old Republic National Title Insurance Co.; Steven Day, president, National Agency Operations, The FNF Family of Companies; Mary O’Donnell, CEO and president, Westcor Land Title Insurance Co.; Tara Smith, group president, Agency Operations, Stewart; and Evan Zanic, executive vice president, Division President Agency Division, First American Title Insurance Co.
Kraninger, now vice president of regulatory affairs
for Solidus Labs, will speak during the third day of NS3, outlining enduring principles in consumer protection and highlighting areas for modernization, particularly as recommended in the CFPB’s Taskforce on Federal Consumer Financial Law Report. She also will share effective approaches for regulated entities managing the pivots in the regulatory landscape and consumer expectations.
For the full NS3 agenda and a list of speakers for all three days, click here.