Aames Investment Corporation Declares Fourth Quarter Dividend of $0.34 Per Share; Introduces Dividend Reinvestment Plan and Direct Stock Purchase Plan.

LOS ANGELES -- Aames Investment Corporation (NYSE:AIC), a mortgage real estate investment trust, today announced that its Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.34 per common share for the fourth quarter of 2005. The dividend is payable on January 9, 2006, to shareholders of record as of December 30, 2005. The ex-dividend date is December 28, 2005.

The Company also announced the introduction of its Dividend Reinvestment Plan and Direct Stock Purchase Plan, offering both current stockholders and new investors the option of automatically reinvesting the Company's quarterly dividend or receiving it in cash as well as giving participants in the program the ability to purchase and sell shares. The shares issued through the program will be purchased in the open market or issued directly by the Company, at its discretion. This program is sponsored and administered by Mellon Bank N.A. More information about the program and enrollment forms are available by calling Mellon Investor Services at 800-874-9963(toll-free), or visiting Mellon's website at www.melloninvestor.com.

About Aames Investment Corporation

Aames is a mortgage REIT and, through its subsidiary Aames Financial Corporation, originates mortgage loans in 47 states. Aames Financial is a fifty-year-old national mortgage banking company focused primarily on originating subprime residential mortgage loans through wholesale and retail channels under the name "Aames Home Loan." To find out more about Aames, please visit www.aames.com.

Information Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements under federal securities laws. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties that may cause the company's performance and results to vary include: (i) limited cash flow to fund operations and dependence on short-term financing facilities; (ii) changes in overall economic conditions and interest rates; (iii) increased delinquency rates in the portfolio; (iv) intense competition in the mortgage lending industry; (v) adverse changes in the securitization and whole loan market for mortgage loans; (vi) declines in real estate values; (vii) an inability to originate subprime hybrid/adjustable mortgage loans; (viii) obligations to repurchase mortgage loans and indemnify investors; (ix) concentration of operations in California, Florida, New York and Texas; the occurrence of natural disasters (including the adverse impact of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma); (x) extensive government regulation; and (xi) an inability to comply with the federal tax requirements applicable to REITs and effectively operate within limitations imposed on REITs by federal tax rules. For a more complete discussion of these risks and uncertainties and information relating to the company, see the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004 and other filings with the SEC made by the company. Aames Investment expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this press release.

Further Information

For more information, contact Steven C. Canup, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations, in Aames Investment's Investor Relations Department at [phone] or at [e-mail] via email.