RE/MAX International Seeks to have 7,500 Agents earn the Certified Distressed Property Designation This Year
RE/MAX International Seeks to have 7,500 Agents earn the Certified Distressed Property Designation This Year
RE/MAX International continues its commitment to the marketplace and to agent education by announcing the goal of having 7,500 RE/MAX Agents earn the Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation this year.
RE/MAX Chairman and Cofounder Dave Liniger announced the corporation's plans at the RE/MAX International convention in Las Vegas on March 3.
"The CDPE designation is one of the most important and timely educational products I have seen in over 40 years in the real estate business," said Liniger. "I will do whatever it takes to get as many agents as possible through this course so they can help homeowners, the economy and our country."
Liniger and his wife Gail recently went as far as to personally subsidize a portion of the cost of the course for RE/MAX agents willing to make the commitment to attend.
The Distressed Property Institute, based in Boca Raton, FL and launched in January 2008, offers the Certified Distressed Property Experts (CDPE) designation after comprehensive on-site or online training on how to handle short sales. The institute was founded by dynamic real estate veteran Alex Charfen.
"The fact that a global real estate powerhouse like RE/MAX has committed to training its agents on short sales demonstrates that this is a market all Realtors® must understand," Charfen said. "Realtors® are in a position to help people avoid foreclosure. They can be a great catalyst for the recovery of this housing crisis."
Nationally, only 12 percent of short sales are approved. Among CDPE designated Realtors®, more than 45 percent of existing home sales in the fourth quarter of 2008 were foreclosures and short sales. In a short sale transaction, homeowners sell their property for less than the mortgage amount, but avoid the foreclosure process.
The CDPE designation has been endorsed by many major U.S. brokerages. Numerous industry icons have also endorsed the CDPE, including Howard Brinton, founder of STAR POWER System; Bob Corcoran, founder of Corcoran Coaching and Consulting, Brian Buffini of Buffini and Company and David Knox, founder of Knox Properties.
Author: RE/MAX International, CO
