Exhibit 99.1

         Availent to Acquire First Texas Residential Mortgage

    DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 15, 2004--Availent Financial, Inc.,
("Availent" or the "Company") a rapidly growing mortgage banking
operation, has announced the acquisition of substantially all of the
assets of First Texas Residential ("First Texas), a Houston based
mortgage brokerage operation.
    The purchase price was substantially paid with a promissory note
that matures on February 1, 2004 with one thirty day extension at the
sole option of Availent. The Company anticipates that it will be
successful in obtaining the required financing to timely pay the
promissory note in full.
    "We are excited to have First Texas as part of the Availent team,"
said Patrick A. McGeeney, Availent's president and CEO. "First Texas
provides us with a significant presence in the Houston market along
with strategic relationships with real estate brokerage firms and
developers." McGeeney further stated that in 2003, First Texas had
approximately $300 million in mortgage loan closings and expects the
acquisition to achieve approximately $400 million in mortgage loan
closings in 2004.

    About Availent

    Availent is a rapidly growing public mortgage banking operation
that underwrites, closes, and funds residential mortgage loans. For
more information about Availent visit the company's web site at:
www.availentfinancial.com.

    THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE OUR SECURITIES. ANY OFFER OF
SECURITIES MADE BY US OR ANY OTHER PERSON ON OUR BEHALF MAY BE MADE
ONLY PURSUANT TO MATERIALS AND OTHER OFFERING DOCUMENTS PREPARED BY US
AND DELIVERED TO QUALIFIED PURCHASERS EXPRESSLY FOR USE IN CONNECTION
WITH SUCH PLACEMENTS, AND ANY SUCH OFFER SHALL BE MADE IN COMPLIANCE
WITH, OR PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933. THE SECURITIES OFFERED BY THE COMPANY WILL NOT BE
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND MAY NOT
BE OFFERED OR SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES ABSENT REGISTRATION OR AN
EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS.

    Certain statements contained herein may be considered
"forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon the
belief of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made beyond
information currently available to the Company's management, and may
be, but not necessarily are, identified by such words as expect, plan,
anticipate, target, and goal. Because such "forward-looking
statements" are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may
differ materially from those expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from the Company's expectations include financial
performance; conditions in the mortgage banking industry; the
Company's ability to obtain financing for working capital and
anticipated acquisitions; failure to successfully or timely execute or
conclude contracts and agreements; market acceptance of the Company's
products; changes in local, national or global economic conditions,
and similar variables. Also refer to the cautionary statements
contained in the most recent Forms 10-KSB and 10-QSB, which may be
obtained by writing or calling the Company at 2720 Stemmons, Suite
600, Dallas, TX 75007. 214/637-2972.

    CONTACT: Availent Financial, Inc.
             Bruce A. Hall, 214-637-2972
             bhall@availentfinancial.com