'Erin Brockovich' Oscar Win Raises Consumer Awareness About Environmental Hazards

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'Erin Brockovich' Oscar Win Raises Consumer Awareness

About Environmental Hazards

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TO BUSINESS, REAL ESTATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDITORS:

'Erin Brockovich' Oscar Win Raises Consumer Awareness

About Environmental Hazards

VISTAinfo Offers Free Data, Tips to Homeowners

About Dangers in Their Own Backyards

CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO, Mar. 26 -/E-Wire/-- VISTAinfo (Nasdaq: VINF), the most comprehensive source of real estate information products and services, offers congratulations to Julia Roberts for her Oscar(R) win for "Erin Brockovich" and applauds the film for making movie-goers think about protecting their families from environmental hazards.

Through its NearMyHome Web site (http://www.nearmyhome.com), the company offers free, personalized reports that provide homeowners interactive hazard maps and detailed information about other environmental and natural hazard risks near their address, including air pollution, historical storms and floods, toxic spills and landfills, and groundwater contamination, which fuels the drama in the film.

"People take it for granted that their homes are safe," said Jerry Marani, senior vice president and general manager, VISTAinfo Property Disclosure. "If homeowners actually investigated, they would be shocked at what they'd find. One of every five Americans lives within four miles of a hazardous waste site serious enough to make Superfund's National Priorities List (NPL), not including contamination by tens of thousands of leaking underground storage tanks that aren't included in the list."

The movie "Erin Brockovich" tells the true story of a single working-class mom who led the charge to sue a power company for contaminating the water supply of a small town in California, poisoning the inhabitants and leading to serious medical conditions and even death.

Although most people don't have to fear this level of contamination, it is important for consumers to know what lies beneath their neighborhoods and backyards. In the movie, Brockovich spent years digging up this information. Now, data providers such as VISTAinfo are using technology to streamline environmental research.

At NearMyHome.com, for example, consumers can type in their ZIP code or a street address to receive a free, preliminary report alerting them to environmental or natural hazard risks in their neighborhoods. More detailed reports can be ordered from the site for a fee.

Some states, including California, Texas and Florida, currently require or are considering requiring environmental risk disclosure every time a residential property is sold. VISTAinfo is a major supplier of these disclosure reports, and the company has several tips for making sure you get the most out of a disclosure report.

If you're buying a house, make sure your disclosure reports: 1. Include more detailed state and local data, not just information from federal sources 2. Present data visually on an accurate map of your neighborhood 3. Disclose proximity of neighboring hazard zones -- more than 55 percent of all homes in California are within or close (1,000 feet) to a mapped natural hazard zone 4. Are provided by a data vendor with adequate Errors & Omissions (E&O;) insurance coverage, for your protection 5. Has an 800 number to call for free consulting to explain data on hazard maps

If you're selling a house, additional considerations include making sure your disclosure reports:

1. Provide direct indemnification against claims, to protect you in the event of legal action

2. Are billed through escrow with no charge to you if escrow cancels

3. Are competitively priced -- industry average cost is $50-$80

4. Include State and local data -- more than 90 percent of all real estate related claims are due to either negligent or incomplete disclosure

"Property sellers, buyers and real estate agents need to protect themselves from dangers and liabilities by making sure all environmental and natural hazard risks are understood," said Marani. "VISTAinfo is the best source for disclosure information available to real estate agents, escrow agents and title companies."

About VISTAinfo VISTAinfo (www.vistainfo.com), headquartered in San Diego, Calif., is a business-to-business e-commerce and information services company for the North American real estate industry. The company's Internet properties, information services and software products are used by real estate professionals, multiple listings services, insurance companies and related businesses. VISTAinfo also is a leading provider of automated, underwriting and environmental risk management information to the property and casualty insurance industry. VISTAinfo's common stock is listed on the Nasdaq (VINF). Visit http://www.vistainfo.com for more information. VISTAinfo recently announced it had signed a letter of intent to form a new company with Fidelity National Financial, Inc., (NYSE: FNF), the nation's largest provider of title insurance and real estate related products and services. The parties expect to finalize a definitive agreement shortly.

The statements contained in this release, which are not historical facts, contain forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that will affect these forward-looking statements are demand for the Company's products, competitive product and service offerings, and the company's ability to integrate recent and any future acquisitions. These factors and other risks and uncertainties are discussed in more detail in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Because of these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

Jon Schmid of The Gable Group, [REDACTED-PHONE] ext. 231,

[REDACTED-EMAIL], for VISTAinfo; or Lauri Bokuniewicz of VISTAinfo,

[REDACTED-PHONE] ext. 136, [REDACTED-EMAIL]

http://www.nearmyhome.com

http://www.vistainfo.com

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