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Halo Asset Management, LLC Acquires Equitas Asset Management, LLC to Establish Stronger Position in the Distressed Residential

^{Published on 2011-01-27 08:05:45 - Market Wire}
 

ALLEN, TX--(Marketwire - January 27, 2011) - [ Halo Companies, Inc. ] (OTCQB: [ HALN ]) (PINKSHEETS: [ HALN ]) recently announced the acquisition of Equitas Asset Management, LLC and Equitas Housing Fund, LLC (the "Fund"), a fund designed to benefit homeowners and communities across the nation through the purchase and monetization of distressed or undervalued real estate assets, primarily single-family residential properties.

The $20,000,000 Fund was formed as a real estate investment fund that invests primarily in single-family residential real estate across the United States. The Fund's primary goal is to acquire properties in metropolitan areas, with an emphasis on undervalued or distressed properties at or below replacement cost, through bank owned real estate and non-performing mortgages.

"This program offers significant benefit to the existing homeowner or new home buyer and the community in which the property is located," states Reif Chron, Vice President & General Counsel of Halo Companies, Inc. "Once this Fund's resources have been fully deployed, the Company contemplates establishing additional Funds to continue these efforts."

The Fund allows families to purchase or retain their homes on an affordable monthly payment plan, averaging $350 per month. This funding program helps stabilize neighborhoods, keeps children in schools, and provides homeowners the opportunity to build substantial equity.

Communities also benefit from the general increase in home ownership, which drives property values up and results in increased property tax revenue. Establishing a benchmark for home prices in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods will entice traditional lenders to re-enter the market.

Halo Asset Management, parent company of the Fund, identifies potential portfolios or pools of non-occupied, foreclosed single family homes and non-performing residential mortgage notes. These assets can be purchased at a deep discount.

The Fund will typically monetize the seasoned residential mortgage notes after they have been held for some period of time. To balance the current reality of the market, the Fund often has the ability to rehabilitate the borrower to a creditworthy status, providing access to traditional mortgage lending and achieving a much higher par value exit price.

"The real-estate market has experienced a tremendous shift the last several years creating great opportunities for Halo. This transaction is the culmination of two years of re-tooling the entire Halo product mix for integrated applications in this new space," states Cade Thompson, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Halo Companies, Inc.

About Halo Asset Management, LLC
Halo Asset Management, LLC was recently founded in connection with the formation of the Fund. Halo Asset Management is led by a seasoned group of consumer financial and real estate experts, specializing in consumer credit and lending. Halo Asset Management created a unique business plan that takes advantage of two of the biggest anomalies that exist in today's residential real estate market: (1) the collapse of available capital for lending, and (2) the over-correction of home prices particularly in low- to moderate-income markets.

About Halo Companies, Inc.
[ Halo Companies, Inc. ] (OTCQB: [ HALN ]) is a publicly-traded nationwide consumer financial services company that provides solutions to financially distressed consumers which can be applied individually or utilized as a comprehensive workout strategy. Halo is able to develop comprehensive, tailored solutions for consumers through debt settlement, credit repair, mortgage lending, real estate services and insurance protection. Halo also offers portfolio advisory and consulting services for investors and institutions holding portfolios of non-performing assets. Halo has been recently recognized by Inc. Magazine, Comerica Bank's Collin 60, the Capital One Bank Celebration of Enterprise, and the SMU Cox School of Business Dallas 100. For more information about Halo Companies, Inc., visit [ www.haloco.com ].

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements:

Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in Halo Companies' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Halo Companies, Inc. disclaims any obligation to update and revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.