(Pleasanton, CA, January 18, 2006) - Metrocities Mortgage, LLC, a leader in the residential mortgage lending market, and Keller Williams^® Tri-Valley, have announced the formation of Metro East Bay Mortgage, a joint venture mortgage company that will serve the home purchaser finance needs of Contra Costa and Alameda counties.

The Affiliated Business Arrangement (ABA) will provide home buyers with the convenience of in-house "one-stop" real estate services and financing with access to more than 7,000 loan programs. Clients will be afforded full-service lending capabilities, including both traditional and innovative loan programs tailored to meet the needs of every borrower. Examples include Interest-Only, Stated Income/Stated Asset and Vacation/ Investment home financing.

Additionally, Metro East Bay Mortgage utilizes MetroSearch^SM, a proprietary search engine to access the most competitive loan programs and financing terms, as well as automated loan underwriting software to further streamline the application and funding process.

"We're delighted to partner with Metrocities Mortgage, a company that shares in our extremely high standards of customer service," said Keller Williams^® Realty Tri-Valley General Manager/Team Leader Bob Shapiro. "We have unlimited potential as a result of our partnership and look forward to a promising future for Metro East Bay Mortgage."

"As a leading national direct lender ranked in the top 1 percent of all mortgage companies nationwide in the volume of loans closed, Metrocities Mortgage is excited to (more) Metro East Bay Mortgage 2-2 partner with Keller Williams^® Realty Tri-Valley, one of the fastest growing real estate firms in the East Bay with over 165 real estate agents, said Metrocities' Senior Vice President of the Northern California Region, Anna Ruotolo. "We look forward to providing Metro East Bay Mortgage clients with a multitude of loan offerings that will cater to their unique needs."

Metro East Bay Mortgage services are available at:
5994 W. Las Positas Boulevard, Suite 101, Pleasanton, CA 94588.

For additional information about Metro East Bay Mortgage, please contact Senior Loan Consultant Happy Chang at (925) 997-0949.

Metrocities Mortgage

Established in 1989, Metrocities Mortgage is ranked in the top 1 percent of residential mortgage lenders nationwide for closed loan volume, closing over $10 billion* in 2005. Headquartered in Sherman Oaks, California, Metrocities Mortgage has become a leading nationwide lender based on unique loan programs and successful joint ventures (affiliated business arrangements) with key real estate companies, credit unions, financial advisor/business management companies, builders and other affinity groups. Loan Officers have access to over 7,000 loan programs and proprietary search engine technology enabling them to find the best loan products for their clients. As America's Best Relationship Lender^SM, Metrocities Mortgage is renowned for its in-house lending expertise, wide selection of loan programs and Heroic Customer Service^SM. *Includes Metrocities' family of companies.

About Keller Williams^® Realty

Founded in 1983, Keller Williams^® Realty International (KWRI) is an international real estate company with more than 484 offices located across the U.S. and Canada. Currently the fifth largest U.S. residential real estate firm in North America, Keller Williams^® began franchising its offices in 1990. The company has succeeded by treating its more than 56,000 associates as partners, and shares its knowledge, policy control, and company profits on a system-wide basis. KWRI's agents are distinguished by their level of professional education, their full-time commitment to real estate sales, and their level of business success. For more information, please call Keller Williams^® General Manager/Team Leader Bob Shapiro at (925) 397-4200.