RISMEDIA, May 29, 2009-The government has announced a new plan to streamline the short sale process and in response, RE/MAX International Inc., has launched a national training tour that will bring the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) program to professional real estate agents in more than a dozen cities in the next three months.
According to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), more than 45% of existing home sales in the fourth quarter of 2008 were foreclosures and short sales. In a short sale transaction, lenders allow homeowners to sell their property for less than the mortgage amount, but avoid the foreclosure process, which can be costly for the lender and traumatic for the homeowner.
“Short sale and distressed property transactions can be complicated. The average homebuyer will need a knowledgeable real estate agent to help guide them through the process. This program has been introduced at the perfect time. In today’s market there are more opportunities for short sale and distressed property transactions and this training program will allow RE/MAX agents to provide comprehensive services in this area,” said Henry F. Weber, president and regional director of RE/MAX of New York, Inc.
The RE/MAX CDPE educational courses will address the recent government initiatives for foreclosures and short sales, including those announced in the Foreclosure Alternatives Program (FAP).
To date, more than 4,500 RE/MAX Associates have received the CDPE designation and thousands more are already slated to take the course at one of the stops on the national tour, via a DVD from RE/MAX University or through a training program on the RE/MAX Satellite Network (RSN), the company’s exclusive satellite TV channel. These agents are already reporting significant success closing increased numbers of short sale transactions.
RE/MAX Chairman and Co-founder Dave Liniger made a commitment in March to have 7,500 agents CDPE certified, noting it is one of the most critical things real estate agents can do to help homeowners, the economy and the country.
The RE/MAX CDPE national education tour began in Atlanta, GA, and will conclude in Jacksonville, FL, hitting more than a dozen cities along the way including: Seattle, WA, Houston, TX, Phoenix, AZ, Sacramento, CA, Orlando, FL and Jacksonville, FL
For more information, visit www.remax.com.
