Press Release

CHICAGO, IL HomeFinder.com,one of the most trusted sources for consumers to find a home online and connect with real estate professionals, and RealtyTrac, the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, today announced a new agreement and strategic partnership. Effective immediately, real-time foreclosure data from RealtyTrac’s nationwide database of default, auction and bank-owned homes are searchable on HomeFinder.com and its national media network of 130+ newspaper sites.

“The HomeFinder.com network includes some of the most trusted and powerful media brands in the country’s largest markets where foreclosures are at an all time high, and we’re committed to helping the industry aggressively market and sell these properties.” said Rick Sharga, senior vice president at RealtyTrac. “HomeFinder.com offers RealtyTrac an inclusive partnership with both a powerful media reach and a broad and relevant news audience that’s a natural fit for our foreclosure listings as well as our robust statistical data.”

RealtyTrac listings on HomeFinder.com display a Microsoft Virtual Earth aerial photograph of the property’s neighborhood, and users can take advantage of HomeFinder.com’s Street View feature to see Google street view images of the neighborhood where available. Consumers who want access to complete property details can register with RealtyTrac for a seven-day free trial.

“We are delighted to announce this new partnership with one of the most trusted foreclosure authorities in the industry,” said Tim Fagan, president and CEO of HomeFinder.com. “This alliance with RealtyTrac will help us promote a full view of home transactions, and is an extension of our continued pledge to effectively meet the growing needs of our home buying and selling audience in this challenging market.”

In the first half of 2009, foreclosure filings — default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions — were reported on more than 1.5 million properties nationwide, a 9 percent increase from the previous six months and a nearly 15 percent increase from the first half of 2008. In June alone, foreclosure filings were reported on 336,173 U.S. properties, the fourth straight monthly total exceeding 300,000.