Countrywide and Top RE/MAX Franchise Launch Joint Venture

Countrywide and Top RE/MAX Franchise Launch Joint Venture
- Companies Team Up to Create California Gold Financial - 


CALABASAS, Calif., April 25  /PRNewswire/ -- Countrywide, a national leader in
residential finance, and RE/MAX Gold, the fourth largest RE/MAX franchise
worldwide, today announced the formation of California Gold Financial, an
operating series of Countrywide Mortgage Ventures, LLC.  Through the newly
formed California Gold Financial joint venture, Countrywide and RE/MAX Gold, a
major realty firm serving eight counties in northern California and boasting
more than $3 billion in sales in 2004, will enable homebuyers and sellers to
access a wide array of home financing programs, while simplifying the entire
process of buying or selling a home.

California Gold Financial will offer some of the most competitive loan
products, interest rates and services in the industry.  With access to one of
the most powerful arrays of loan programs in the industry, qualified homebuyers
will have options that include zero downpayment loans and a variety of fixed
and adjustable rate options with optimum flexibility on rate and terms.

Other benefits for customers of RE/MAX Gold who choose home financing through
California Gold Financial include:

   *  A California Gold Financial mortgage consultant who works closely with
      a RE/MAX Gold Realtor to develop financing options to fit the buyer's
      particular property type and financial situation.
   *  A choice of home loan products and services for qualified borrowers.
   *  Special programs such as the Fast & Easy(SM) loan that enables
      qualified borrowers with excellent credit access to a streamlined loan
      application process.
   *  Streamlined "UpFront Approval" process for qualified applicants.

  About Countrywide Financial Corporation


Countrywide Financial Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides mortgage
banking and diversified financial services in domestic and international
markets.  Founded in 1969 and a member of the S&P 500 and Fortune 500,
Countrywide Financial Corporation is headquartered in Calabasas, California and
its family of companies has a workforce of more than 40,000 in over 600 offices
across the country.

About Countrywide Mortgage Ventures, LLC.

Recognizing the consumers' desire for "one-stop shopping," Countrywide Mortgage
Ventures, LLC was founded in 2001 to facilitate joint ventures between
Countrywide and various homebuilders, real estate companies and financial
services companies.  The company is headquartered in Calabasas, California and
works closely with Countrywide's Consumer Markets Division, based in Plano, TX.

About RE/MAX Gold

RE/MAX Gold was established in 1994 with two offices and forty agents. RE/MAX
Gold has grown to 20 offices serving an eight county area with over 1,000 top
caliber agents and 2004 sales of over $3,400,000,000.  RE/MAX Gold has become
the fastest growing real estate company in the area and one of the highest
volume real estate firms in the nation.  The Company was recently recognized as
the Fastest Growing RE/MAX in the world for the fifth year in a row.  In fact,
the prestigious 2004 Real Trends industry survey ranked RE/MAX Gold as number
37 among the 500 largest residential real estate brokerages in the United
States.  RE/MAX Gold is the fourth largest RE/MAX franchise of all RE/MAX
franchises worldwide and is the largest in California.  RE/MAX International
recognized RE/MAX Gold as its Broker of the Year at its February 2002
convention. 

DATASOURCE: Countrywide Financial Corporation



CONTACT:  Janet Quan of Countrywide, [phone]; or James O'Bryon of

RE/MAX Gold, [phone]



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