Underwriting Urban Legends: True Stories of CRE Deals Gone Wrong and What Saved Them
Title Tenets: CRE Webinar
Underwriting Urban Legends: True Stories of CRE Deals Gone Wrong and What Saved Them
October 27, 2026 | 11 a.m. PT/1 p.m. CT
Central Time (US and Canada)
Free Webinar for CRE Professionals
Every commercial deal has a story. A few have skeletons in the title file. Others reveal their fangs just as closing approaches. So, what does it take to keep a promising transaction from transforming into a monster of a deal?
Join Stewart Title National Commercial Services for a Halloween edition of Title Tenets filled with true stories from the underwriting table. Chief Underwriter Jeremy Poetker and his elite team of National Commercial Services senior underwriting counselors will revisit commercial transactions that took a frightening turn, unmasking the title challenges, difficult decisions and solutions behind each one.
Hear how the team worked through each twist, faced down the title issues lurking beneath the surface and kept these deals from becoming real-life horror stories.
Panelists
Jeremy Poetker
Chief Underwriter
Jeremy Poetker brings more than 25 years of experience underwriting commercial transactions nationwide to his role at Stewart. He is recognized for his deep technical expertise, practical problem-solving and commitment to mentoring the next generation of underwriters. He has underwritten transactions for lenders and purchasers in all 50 states, covering wind and solar farms, new construction, casinos, shipyards, hydroelectric dams, industrial facilities, resort hotels, office towers, shopping malls and other portfolios. Transactions range from conventional sales and refinances to mezzanine loan foreclosures, preferred equity purchases, debt restructurings and bankruptcies. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Winnipeg and a Master of Business Administration from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business.
Marion Aaron
Deputy Chief Underwriting Counsel, NCS
Marion is a real estate and business attorney known for her strategic, solution-driven approach to complex commercial matters. She advises on real estate, insurance, contracts, governance, compliance, financing, and due diligence, drawing on her litigation and negotiation strengths. She is a trusted partner in driving sound decisions and strong business outcomes.
Nancy Landmark
Deputy Chief Underwriting Counsel, NCS
Nancy is Deputy Chief Underwriting Counsel for Stewart’s National Commercial Services division, bringing extensive experience in complex commercial transactions nationwide. Known for her practical, solutions‑driven approach, she helps teams navigate sophisticated underwriting challenges. She is a trusted advisor committed to moving deals efficiently to closing.
Susan McLaughlin
Deputy Chief Underwriting Counsel, NCS
Susan McLaughlin is Deputy Chief Underwriting Counsel, Commercial Services, for Stewart Title Guaranty Company's National Commercial Services Division. She combines extensive title underwriting expertise with a distinguished background in commercial real estate, including experience as a commercial real estate attorney with an international law firm. Susan is a sought-after speaker and educator on title insurance, commercial real estate transactions, and construction lien matters. She is an active member of The Florida Bar's Real Property, Probate and Trust Law (RPPTL) Section, where she participates in the Commercial Real Estate and Title Insurance Committees. Her service to the RPPTL Section has included membership on the Executive Council and serving as an At Large Member for the 13th Judicial Circuit. In recognition of her contributions, she was honored as RPPTL's At Large Member of the Year for 2018-2019.
Don Wade
Senior Underwriting Counsel
Speaker Bio: Don has been with Stewart for over 30 years. Throughout his career has held numerous positions within the industry. He has been a state manager for various states, State counsel, Regional Counsel, Regional Claims Counsel and, in the home office, legal department of a major underwriter where he drafted a basic underwriting manual. In 1997 while at Stewart he was one of the original creators of the National Title Services, the predecessor to National Commercial Services. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law and a member of the Alabama Bar.