Stewart Information Services Corp. (SISCO) is shaking up its corporate leadership, with the recent announcement that Matthew W. Morris will take over as the company's CEO. Replacing his father, Malcolm S. Morris, and his cousin, Stewart Morris, Jr., as co-CEOs for the entity, Matt is being promoted from an executive role within SISCO.

A new survey from Zillow: reveals that prospective homebuyers may have an overly optimistic view when it comes to their expectations related to property appreciation and housing value. In the website├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ós recent poll, more than 42 percent of those that plan on purchasing a home in the near future said they anticipated a 7 percent annual increase in their property value during their ownership period.

Collateral valuation services provider First Valuation has found a new national sales executive in Brandon O'Briant. While remaining based in Dallas, Texas, O'Briant will apply his 15 years of experience in the mortgage industry to managing First Vaulation's current clients and establishing partnerships on behalf of the company.

Chrysalis Holdings, LLC, has added a new member to its board of directors, with the announcement that Maylene Tan Khieu will join the company's leadership. Khieu is the chief credit officer and senior vice president of compliance for NewDay Financial, LLC, which is a key holding for Chrysalis.

Real estate website Zillow and housing heavyweight PulteGroup, Inc. are teaming up to give away a luxury home worth $350,000. The "I Want a New Home Sweepstakes" will change the life of one aspiring homeowner.

American Home Mortgage Servicing Inc. (AHSMI) is taking advantage of a new way to ensure compliant, efficient collaboration with its partners. The company recently announced that it would begin using Oracle's WebCenter solutions to manage business processes for all mortgage-related activities with participating third-party loan investors.

Weichert Financial Services is investing in technology, with the recent announcement that the company would begin utilizing a platform from InHouse Inc. to enhance its appraisal processing. Choosing InHouse to facilitate data delivery, Weichert is set to take advantage of fully integrated processing for management of its appraisal-related activities.

Despite its complicated moniker, Morgan Stanley's newly formed Financial Institutions Group Global Capital Markets team has a simple mission - to help banks around the globe navigate financial and capital challenges. The advisory division will target organizations worldwide, offering strategies, underwriting, and decision-point support for clients. Morgan Stanley's Shyam Parekh will head up the FIG division out of London, and New York-based Kevin Ryan and Taylor Wright will round out the leadership.

National Bank of Kansas City is adding to its arsenal of technology tools. Recently announcing that it will now utilize DocuSign├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ós eSignature platform to enhance all aspects of mortgage processing, the financial institution will be able to boost borrower├â┬ó├óÔÇÜ┬¼├óÔÇ×┬ós integration into loan procedures.

In the Northeast, data from the third-quarter shows that Massachusetts' housing market may be experiencing a slight uptick. The state recorded its third consecutive monthly increase in single-family home sales during September, based on year-over-year numbers.