Boca Raton, Fla. (November 10, 2009) — Foreclosure.com today announced that the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC), which administers and enforces real estate license law in the “Sunshine State,” has endorsed its Certified Foreclosure Agent training program, validating the exceptional educational opportunities offered through Agent University.

Real estate professionals who complete the coursework and earn “Specialist” designations will now also receive seven continuing education credit hours from the state agency authorized to monitor the industry.

The Certified Foreclosure Agent live online curriculum, which includes a three-course certification bundle, as well as a certification at the culmination of the training, ensures agents will:

• Close more deals and earn higher commissions
• Garner national marketing exposure
• Learn lifetime skills and tools to thrive in any market
• Attract more leads to grow their businesses
• Become preferred listing agents among lenders and other financial institutions

“Distressed real estate is where the money is right now for agents everywhere,” said Foreclosure.com Director of Education, Linda Yates. “Agents who recognize the opportunities in the foreclosure space are enjoying tremendous success. There has never before been a time when buyers and sellers understand the distressed real estate alternatives than they do today.”

Distressed real estate sales, which include foreclosures and short sales, are big business in today’s market, accounting for more than 40 percent of transactions in the first quarter of 2009, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR).

The Certified Foreclosure Agent program — with its intensive training and testing process — is leading the charge to educate agents to take greater advantage of this current market trend, connecting them with multiple buyers in their areas.

It’s important to note that all licensed real estate agents nationwide are eligible to receive Certified Foreclosure Agent training — it is not limited to Florida professionals only. Approval in Florida, however, signals the start of nationwide acceptance for the industry-leading continuing education curriculum for real estate professionals.

Implicit in this requirement, however, is that the Certified Foreclosure Agent maintain at least a minimum number of hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) each year and conduct him or herself within the ethical mandates established by the profession.

“Florida agents are required to receive 14 hours of continuing education every two years,” said Yates. “This curriculum is timely and critical in today’s environment. Survive or die is the realty that agents are faced with today.”

For more information regarding the Foreclosure.com Certified Foreclosure Agent program please visit agentuniversity.foreclosure.com/cfa/index.html or call us at (866) 382-2439.

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About Certified Foreclosure Agent program from Foreclosure.com:
The Certified Foreclosure Agent program offered through Agent University is the latest in a long line of truly innovative continuing education opportunities that Foreclosure.com offers to expand the practice and knowledge of real estate professionals nationwide. The training curriculum is delivered in a candidate-friendly format that comprises live and pre-recorded online sessions that agents participate in from the convenience of their homes and offices. This career-building certification program goes hand-in-hand with the Foreclosure.com Broker Network — the most authoritative directory in the industry used by lenders, asset managers and homebuyers alike to handpick the most qualified agents for the job.

On the Web:
Certified Foreclosure Agent Program: agentuniversity.foreclosure.com/cfa/index.html
Community Expert Program: www.foreclosure.com/realestateleads.html
Broker Network: www.foreclosure.com/brokernetwork.html

For more on the Certified Foreclosure Agent Program at Foreclosure.com Agent University click here.

Several of Century 21’s top real estate agents from throughout the nation recently descended on the Westin Diplomat in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to participate in a training retreat.

Century 21 — the world’s largest residential real estate sales organization — recently selected Foreclosure.com Agent University to put a select group of industry professionals through its Certified Foreclosure Agent training program.

This is a career-building certification course designed specifically for individuals who are interested in foreclosures and expanding their business to include sales of Real Estate Owed (REO) properties, short sales and other distressed real estate.

All of the Century 21 agents who participated in the comprehensive learning experience were required to complete and pass an exam for each of the three topics presented receive their Certified Foreclosure Agent “Specialist” designation. For more background on the “Specialist” designation click here.

We had such a great group — many of agents flew in a day early and left a day late because of opportunity to travel to South Florida and, in the process, take home skills that will grow their businesses.

To learn more about the Certified Foreclosure Agent program click here. Broker owners and managers should contact us direct (866.382.4445) for more details on bulk pricing savings.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. (April 08, 2009) — ERA Franchise Systems LLC announced a comprehensive distressed property training and certification program for all of their brokers and sales associates nationwide. This program will provide ERA® affiliates with the training necessary to help educate and serve current homebuyers with regard to distressed properties.

The goal of the training and certification program is to provide ERA sales associates with the knowledge and skills to handle all types of distressed real estate transactions through the Foreclosure.com Certified Foreclosure Agent program. The program offers training and recognition to real estate professionals on numerous topics, including short sales, pre/post foreclosures, REO auctions and other related investment options that fall under the distressed real estate umbrella.

“Sales associates today need to know how to handle and closevarious real estate transactions more than ever before,” said, Melody Bohrer, vice president of education, ERA Franchise Systems LLC. “Certified Foreclosure Agent training ensures that our sales associates are properly prepared, up to speed on the latest trends and have the skills necessary to be successful in this market.”

The education track entails a progression of online courses that sales associates can conveniently attend from their homes and offices through the internal ERA training platform on eCampus. ERA sales associates can access the Certified Foreclosure Agent program offerings and select the curriculum that is right for them.

Additional information on the Certified Foreclosure Agent program offered through Foreclosure.com can be found right here.

It’s an industry niche that is thriving as traditional sales continue to lag across the board. In fact, reports indicate that more than 45 percent of real estate transactions today involve some sort of distressed or foreclosure property.

“Foreclosures are red hot right now,” said Foreclosure.com General Sales Manager, Anthony Segrich. “Smart buyers are aware of what’s going on — inventory is increasing around them, home prices are falling and government incentives are now temporarily available for first-time homebuyers. It’s the perfect time to achieve the American Dream and more than likely save big while doing it.”

Foreclosure.com, which maintains the most comprehensive and reliable database of more than 1.8 million distressed real estate listings nationwide, facilitates the sale of homes in several ways, working hand-in-hand with the three main groups that are involved in the process: Lenders, agents and buyers.

According to Segrich, Foreclosure.com has forged powerful partnerships with several of the top lending institutions in the United States to help them market their listings on Foreclosure.com, which attracts millions of curious buyers from around the world each month.

Foreclosure.com features these lender-owned listings on its Web site, as well as the contact information of the appropriate agents/brokers. And if the lender does not have an agent or broker, Foreclosure.com will provide a qualified professional from its Broker Network — the number one directory of its kind in the foreclosure industry.

Most of the real estate professionals in the Foreclosure.com Broker Network have received top-notch training on all aspects of the foreclosure process through the Certified Foreclosure Agent program. Offered through Foreclosure.com Agent University, Certified Foreclosure Agent courses are delivered in a candidate-friendly format that comprises live and pre-recorded online sessions that agents/brokers participate in from the convenience of their homes and offices.

“Our Broker Network and Certified Foreclosure Agent program are invaluable resources in today’s market,” said Segrich. “Knowledgeable foreclosure agents are in high demand right now. Agents and brokers everywhere have noticed this trend and are making the wise choice to swim with the tide. We simply facilitate the entire process and make it easier for them to participate in it.”

The opportunities for agents and brokers at Foreclosure.com don’t stop there.

Foreclosure.com has also enhanced a groundbreaking marketing program that helps real estate professionals close more buyer transactions through greater exposure and increased market awareness. Its Community Expert Program markets individual agent services to 1,000’s of potential buyers as their local real estate expert for less than the cost of one open house ad.

Foreclosure.com community experts appear directly on the property details pages for all records the company has on its Web site in their designated communities.

“I realized that in today’s real estate market I had to do something different to increase my client pool,” said Jordon Wheeler, a Realtor® in Stone Mountain, Ga., who is also a Community Expert. “As soon as I became a community expert I started to receive three to four referrals per week from Foreclosure.com. The advice I offer to other agents is to think differently … it works!”

Foreclosure.com is confident that opportunities for agents and brokers will continue to increase with the surge in Web site traffic and increased interest from buyers to capitalize on foreclosure deals. And that’s just fine by Segrich and the dynamic network of real estate professionals who are working alongside Foreclosure.com to keep the market moving as fast as possible.

“Foreclosure.com is putting all the pieces of this puzzle in place to ensure the success of our current and future partners,” he said. “Our network of real estate professionals is enjoying success thanks to the unique programs we currently offer. We look forward to continued growth in 2009, 2010 and beyond.”

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On the Web
Community Expert Program:
https://www.foreclosure.com/realestateleads.html
Certified Foreclosure Agent program:
http://www.foreclosure.com/education/cfa/index.html
Broker Network:
https://www.foreclosure.com/secureflowlauncher.html?_flowId=sbn_agent&forceLanding