Storytelling isn't just a marketing tool; it's a competitive advantage. In this episode of the Title Agents Podcast, Mo Choumil sits down with industry veteran and writer Michael Holden of AmTrust Title to explore how storytelling, history, and human connection shape the future of the title business. From his early days in a family-owned agency to navigating the Great Recession, building thought leadership through Ramblings of a Title Man, and witnessing seismic shifts in technology, automation, and fraud risk, Michael offers a grounded, honest look at where the industry has been and where it's heading next.

What you'll learn from this episode

• Why the role of the title professional has shifted from title examination to experience-driven closings
• What the 2008 recession taught about resilience, scalability, and agency survival
• The reasons smaller, agile underwriters are driving innovation across the industry
• How automation and AI will reshape title examination while elevating the importance of closings
• Main essential for modern title professionals you need to know

Resources mentioned in this episode

• The Ramblings of a Title man
• 1929 by Andrew Ross Sorkin | Kindle, Paperback, and Hardcover

About Michael Holden
Michael Holden is a senior leader at AmTrust Title, where he works with real estate professionals, lenders, and industry partners to deliver reliable, compliance-driven title and settlement solutions nationwide. With deep experience in title insurance operations, risk management, and relationship development, Michael is known for his practical approach to navigating complex transactions and evolving regulatory environments. His work focuses on protecting property rights, streamlining closings, and supporting real estate professionals with responsive service and national scale.

Connect with Michael

• Website: AmTrust Financial
• LinkedIn: Michael Holden, NTP, CLTP

Connect With Us
Love what you're hearing? Don't miss an episode! Follow us on our social media channels and stay connected.

• Explore more on our website: www.alltechnational.com/podcast
• Stay updated with our newsletter: www.mochoumil.com
• Follow Mo on LinkedIn: Mo Choumil

Stop waiting on underwriter emails or callbacks—TitleGPT.ai gives you instant, reliable answers to your title questions. Whether it's underwriting, compliance, or tricky closings, the information you need is just a click away. No more delays—work smarter, close faster. Try it now at www.TitleGPT.ai.

Closing more deals starts with more appointments. At Alltech National Title, our inside sales team works behind the scenes to fill your pipeline, so you can focus on building relationships and closing business. No more cold calling—just real opportunities. Get started at AlltechNationalTitle.com.

Extra hands without extra overhead—that's Safi Virtual. Our trained virtual assistants specialize in the title industry, handling admin work, client communication, and data entry so you can stay focused on closing deals. Scale smarter and work faster at SafiVirtual.com.

After two years of paralysis, 2026 marks a true reset for real estate, and title professionals are standing at the center of it. With the 30-year fixed rate stabilizing around 6%, inventory finally moving, and capital reentering the market, Crosby and Zina break down why this moment is less about celebration and more about readiness. From a residential rebound driven by life events, to aggressive M&A targeting tech-enabled firms, to office-to-residential conversions reshaping downtowns, this episode explains what's unlocking the market, and why rising fraud risk and compliance standards now define who survives the next cycle.

What you'll learn from this episode

• Factors that are breaking the lock-in effect and driving a residential rebound
• What valuation realism means for title agencies facing renewed M&A interest
• The reason commercial transactions are surging through office-to-residential conversions
• How deep–fake–enabled wire fraud is forcing a shift from resilience to true anti-fragility
• Why SOC 2 compliance and AI governance are becoming a license to operate in title

Resources mentioned in this episode

• NAR Forecast: Home Sales Expected to Jump 14% in 2026
• Antifragile by Nassim Nicholas Taleb | Kindle, Paperback, and Hardcover

Connect With Us
Love what you're hearing? Don't miss an episode! Follow us on our social media channels and stay connected.

• Explore more on our website: www.alltechnational.com/podcast
• Stay updated with our newsletter: www.mochoumil.com
• Follow Mo on LinkedIn: Mo Choumil

Stop waiting on underwriter emails or callbacks—TitleGPT.ai gives you instant, reliable answers to your title questions. Whether it's underwriting, compliance, or tricky closings, the information you need is just a click away. No more delays—work smarter, close faster. Try it now at www.TitleGPT.ai.

Closing more deals starts with more appointments. At Alltech National Title, our inside sales team works behind the scenes to fill your pipeline, so you can focus on building relationships and closing business. No more cold calling—just real opportunities. Get started at AlltechNationalTitle.com.

Extra hands without extra overhead—that's Safi Virtual. Our trained virtual assistants specialize in the title industry, handling admin work, client communication, and data entry so you can stay focused on closing deals. Scale smarter and work faster at SafiVirtual.com.