RealHome.coms 'Virtual Back Fence Community Takes

Participate.coms Community Management Service" Allow Consumers
to Build Relationships Online

STAMFORD, Conn. -- May 23, 2000 -- Whether you are buying a home for the first time or just mulling over springtime renovations, RealHome.com provides the platform for sharing your experiences with others in the same boat. In collaboration with Participate.com, a Chicago-based manager of online communities, RealHome has launched a vibrant e-community known as RealPeople," where consumers are sharing invaluable experiences about dilemmas such as hidden closing fees in buying a home or how to insulate an old house.

According to the latest survey by the National Association of Realtors, the Internet is used by 37 percent of people searching for homes, up from the 18 percent of homebuyers that turned to the World Wide Web in 1997 and well above the 2 percent in 1995. Additionally, as consumers increasingly turn to the Internet for home-related issues, real people are connecting with each other in search of trustworthy, unbiased information.

With homeownership clearly ranking among lifes most stressful challenges, any mistakes can cost dearly," said Richard J. Roll, CEO and Founder of RealHome.com. Our goal is to empower consumers by emphasizing that they are best served by helping each other. Participate.coms online community management services help us build relationships on the Web between consumers. Our community supports first-time homebuyers and homeowners and enables them to make informed decisions about the successful purchase, management, maintenance, improvement or selling of their homes."

RealHome.coms community functions as a sounding board or virtual back fence," where community members can exchange information and advice, and also receive valuable knowledge from industry experts concerning the challenges and issues surrounding the home buying and home owning experience. In addition, RealHome.com provides personalized e-mail updates referencing answers and responses to questions and comments posted in the community. RealPeople" categories include: Buying a Home," Homeowner Hints," Selling a Home" and Getting the Most Out of RealHome." A sample of the sub-categories include: Home Improvement," Finding a Broker or Lawyer," Financing ," Refinancing," Bidding, Negotiating and Contractors," Moving" and Tips/Suggestions."

In one instance, virtual neighbors share recipes for homemade pesticides. In the Lawn and Garden" sub-category, readers learn from one user known as AppleAnnie" that an excellent deterrent can be produced from using 1-1/2 cups of ammonia and 1-1/2 cups of water. In another instance on the Selling a Home" category, a RealHome.com member named MysticMom" finds out that aromas of fresh-baked breads and cookies can do wonders when marketing your home.

About Participate.com
Participate.com (www.participate.com) is a Chicago-based management service provider, or MSP, that enables successful e-business strategies by offering an integrated management solution for online communities. Through its Community Management Center, Participate.com offers Global 1000 and leading dot.com companies the expertise and focus needed to manage the complex issues involved with harnessing the power of online community. Participate.coms approach delivers the experience and resources that clients like AT&T WorldNet® Service, Ace Hardware and NBC Internet, Inc. rely on to create and grow vibrant online communities.

About RealHome.com Inc.
RealHome.com Inc., based in Stamford, Conn., connects prospective and current homeowners with a comprehensive range of home service providers through its flagship website, www.realhome.com. The privately held company is affiliated with the American Homeowners Association (AHA), the nations leading homeowner organization, which also operates the www.ahahome.com membership website.

RealHome.com® is one of the fastest growing sites on the World Wide Web as ranked by PC Data Online and among the top five home buying sites according to Gomez Advisors. The free membership service pre-qualifies consumers for our business partners and empowers them in their decision-making process through education with unbiased, trustworthy information as well as a vibrant, e-community - or virtual back fence" - through which consumers across the country can exchange invaluable life experiences and leverage their aggregate buying power. RealHome.com also provides comparative pricing services, competitive marketplaces and loyalty incentive programs.

More information on the company can be found at www.realhome.com.

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Contacts:   Tracey Mark   Robert Liu
   BSMG Worldwide   RealHome.com
   (212) 445-8173   (203) 323-7715 x340
   tmark@bsmg.com   bob@realhome.com