Two Tree.com Executives Named Among 100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders by Inman News

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Oct 01, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX News Network/ -- Inman News this week named Doug Lebda, Tree.com (Nasdaq: TREE) chairman and CEO, and Bret Violette, president of RealEstate.com, to the '100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders' list.

Inman News compiles the industry leading list annually and includes the 100 most influential people in real estate. This list reflects the industry's best and brightest and also includes those individuals from outside of the real estate industry whose actions influence the business of buying and selling homes. The people on this list embody leadership, innovation, ingenuity, power and persistence.

The list is broken into seven categories, including a "notables" section. Mr. Lebda was showcased in the 'Technology and Online Real Estate' section, while Mr. Violette was included in this year's 'Brokerage' section. Other areas included 'Trade Association and Government Agencies', 'Media Heavyweights', 'Economists, Academics and Advocates', and 'Mortgage and Ancillary Services'.

Mr. Lebda and Mr. Violette have joined the ranks of Inman's most influential people list in the past. Mr. Lebda, an online innovator and entrepreneur, founded LendingTree in 1996 and led the start-up company through a successful IPO, five acquisitions, and expansion into the consumer real estate category, while growing the business to more than $300 million in revenue. From 2005 - 2007, Mr. Lebda served as the president and chief operating officer of IAC overseeing more than 60 brands and 20,000 employees, before returning home to the company he founded. Once back at LendingTree, Mr. Lebda led the company through a spin-off from IAC forming Tree.com, Inc.

Mr. Violette is the president of Tree.com's real estate business including RealEstate.com, iNest, Domania and RealEstate.com, REALTORS(R), the company's Internet-enabled real estate brokerage. Mr. Violette joined the company in 2005 when he quickly developed the brokerage strategy forming RealEstate.com, REALTORS(R), which is now in 14 markets nationwide and has more than 1,000 agents. Before joining LendingTree, Mr. Violette served as president of Weichert Lead Network, Inc. and Weichert Rental Network, Inc. from 2002 to June 2005. Prior to that time, Mr. Violette served as chief financial officer and vice president of business development of YHD Foxtons, vice president of business development at CMP Media Inc. and as a group business director of Ziff-Davis.

About Tree.com, Inc.

Tree.com, Inc. is the parent of several well-known brands and businesses in the financial services and real estate industries including LendingTree.com, LendingTree Loans(sm), GetSmart.com, HomeLoanCenter.com, RealEstate.com, iNest.com, RealEstate.com, REALTORS(R), and Domania.com. Together, they serve as an ally for consumers who are looking to comparison shop loans, real estate and other financial products from multiple businesses and professionals who compete for their business.

LendingTree was founded in 1996 and launched nationwide in 1998. In 2003, the company was acquired by IAC/InterActiveCorp and later spun-off in 2008 to form Tree.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: TREE). Tree.com, Inc. is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. For more information, please visit www.tree.com .

    Contact:
    Allison Vail
    704-943-8339
    allison.vail@lendingtree.com

SOURCE Tree.com, Inc.

http://www.tree.com

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