Williston Financial Group (WFG) President and CEO Steve Ozonian recently joined HousingWire President Diego Sanchez on HousingWire’s Power House podcast for a conversation about the future of housing, the growing role of artificial intelligence, and the trends shaping the mortgage, real estate, and title industries.
Drawing on decades of leadership experience across lending, brokerage, title insurance, and technology, Ozonian shared his perspective on how innovation can help create more transparent, efficient, and customer-focused experiences throughout the homeownership journey.
A central theme of the discussion was the transformative potential of AI and technology to streamline real estate transactions, reduce costs, and improve outcomes for consumers.
“AI and technology now enable a better experience for the customer while also creating opportunities to take time and cost out of the process,” Ozonian said.
The conversation also explored the industry’s pursuit of a more connected, end-to-end homeownership experience. Ozonian noted that while technology continues to advance, the real estate transaction remains highly fragmented, requiring coordination among lenders, title companies, brokerages, agents, and consumers.
As one of the nation’s leading title insurance underwriters and settlement services providers, WFG occupies a unique position at the center of the transaction. Ozonian discussed the important role title companies play in helping ensure transactions are completed accurately, securely, and efficiently while protecting consumers and supporting real estate professionals and lenders.
Other topics included current housing market conditions, the impact of interest rates on transaction activity, and the growing importance of cybersecurity, fraud prevention and identity verification as AI capabilities continue to evolve.
Throughout the interview, Ozonian reinforced WFG’s commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and customer experience while sharing his outlook on the opportunities ahead for the housing industry. Watch the full HousingWire Power House podcast interview with Steve Ozonian and Diego Sanchez here: