Two Real Estate Educational Powerhouses Partner for Growth

CHICAGO, IL, January 13, 2003 - Dearborn Real Estate Education, the largest provider of real estate education content, has entered into an agreement to be the sole U.S. distributor for Carson Dunlop, the home inspection industry's premier provider of educational materials. Branded under Dearborn Education, the content will be distributed through classrooms and distance learning programs nationwide.

According to industry experts, the home inspection profession has seen a large growth in recent years. A study conducted by the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) and the National Association of Realtors (NAR) in 2000 found that 77 percent of U.S. homes had a home inspectioni. ASHI, which represents approximately one-quarter of all inspectors, has seen its association grow to 6,000 members in recent yearsii.

Currently, 25 states are regulatediii and this number is expected to increase, making it more crucial than ever for inspection professionals to keep their education and credentials up-to-date and in order.

Dearborn Real Estate Education's Senior Vice President and General Manager Roy Lipner noted that this provides an opportunity for growth. "Dearborn's mission as the longtime industry leader in real estate educational products is to provide quality content. So when we decided to expand our offerings to include a full line of home inspection products, we looked for a partner equally committed to quality education and integrity. Carson Dunlop, the pre-eminent firm in the home inspection market, was the obvious choice," he said.

"This agreement enables us to combine expertise and provide an unparalleled educational catalog for schools to offer everything from pre-licensing to exam prep, and from continuing education to professional development for real estate professionals and home inspectors," added Lipner. "It also dramatically expands our market share and enables us to take a leadership position in the home inspection market."

"We are pleased to be working with Dearborn, the leading content provider in the real estate education market," said Alan Carson, Vice President and co-founder of Carson Dunlop, added. "This alliance will broaden our reach to access new markets for the home inspection industry with a company that shares the same principle of quality education on which we have built our reputation."

About Dearborn Real Estate Education
Dearborn Real Estate Education, a division of Dearborn Financial Publishing, Inc., a Kaplan professional company, is the leading real estate content provider for real estate schools and associations, offering practical pre-licensing and continuing education training materials on appraisal, home inspection, property management, brokerage, ethics, law, sales approaches, and contracts. Prepared by leading experts in the field, Dearborn's diverse lines of products are available in print, online, in software and for the PDA.

Headquartered in Chicago, Dearborn has published the works of some of the best-known authorities in the industry, including nationally known consultant and economist John Tuccillo, sales trainer Terri Murphy and consumer advocate Julie Garton-Good. For more information, please visit www.dearbornre.com.

About Carson Dunlop Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd. is a consulting engineering firm which has been devoted exclusively to building inspections since 1978. The firm specializes in the inspection of buildings and the preparation of condition surveys detailing the physical condition of the building structure and major components. Carson Dunlop has been training home inspectors since the 1980s and has developed comprehensive education materials for the inspection profession, including texts, illustrations, videotapes and CD-ROMs.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
iPress release on ASHI website ("4.9 Million Home Inspections Performed in 2000; ASHI/NAR Study Suggests Dramatic Growth in Home Inspection Industry")

iiPress release on ASHI website ("Credentials Are Key To Choosing A Home Inspector Where State Regulation is Lacking or Inconclusive")

iiiAmerican Society of Home Inspectors Position Statement on Regulation of Home Inspectors, July 2002

Press Contacts:

Karen Blass
212-974-6233
karen_blass@kaplan.com

Printable Version