Oklahoma City, OK –  a la mode, inc., a leading provider of real estate-related software, announced today that it is providing Mercury back office tools for fbc Valuation Services. fbc is Canada's largest national appraisal management company and is owned by Brascan Financial Corporation (Toronto: BNN.A). With this technology deployment, fbc has now enhanced its connection with its real estate appraisal providers who use a la mode's WinTOTAL appraisal production software.

"This latest technology initiative between fbc and a la mode is consistent with fbc's goals to leverage intelligent technology to streamline the workflow process for the mortgage brokerage market," said Kenneth So, IT manager, fbc. "WinTOTAL is a very popular solution among our network of appraisers, and working with a la mode's technology makes our integration with those appraisers as efficient as possible."

"WinTOTAL is used by more than 50 per cent of the United States real estate appraisers, and it is gaining rapid adoption in Canada through the work we are doing with fbc, as well as other leaders in the Canadian mortgage and real estate industries," explained Eric Thompson, vice president of corporate sales, a la mode. "As our desktop products grow in popularity, consumers of appraisal reports, such as fbc, are working to build a more seamless connection to these desktop products. Our Mercury back office tools enable lenders and service companies to achieve that goal."

About a la mode, inc.
a la mode, inc. is the leader in the design, development and support of real estate related software, Internet solutions and electronic document technologies. The company's flagship product, WinTOTAL, is used by more than 50 per cent of the nation's appraisers, nearly three times the share of its closest competitor. a la mode's Mercury Network (http://www.alamode.com/mercury) servers delivered more than 13.6 million electronic appraisals in the past 12 months, making it the undisputed leader in paperless real estate transactions.

About fbc Valuation Services
fbc Valuation Services is a Canadian company developed to manage the appraisal process on a national basis for the financial sector. fbc is owned by Brascan Financial Corporation, which provides a broad range of financial and management services. With a reputable client list and web technology, fbc provides a cost effective, one stop appraisal solution -- enabling timely information at the fingertips of frontline mortgage decision makers.