Fenton, MO

St Louis County Realtor Receives CDPE Designation

FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE

DATE: December, 2009 For more information, please contact:

William Dean, RE/MAX Gold 314-575-6924 or wwww.stlouisreal.com

William Dean of RE/MAX Gold has earned the prestigious Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, having completed extensive training in foreclosure avoidance and short sales. This is invaluable expertise to offer at a time when the area is ravaged by "distressed" homes in the foreclosure process.

Short sales allow the cash-strapped seller to repay the mortgage at the price that the home sells for, even though it is lower than what is owed on the property. With plummeting property values, this can save many people from foreclosure and even bankruptcy. More and more lenders are willing to consider short sales because they are much less costly than foreclosures.

In St. Louis and surrounding counties, hundreds of homes are in danger of foreclosing. It is happening in all price ranges. Local experts say that even high-priced homes are not immune.

"This CDPE designation has been invaluable as I work with sellers and lenders on complicated short sales," said Dean. "It is so rewarding to be able to help sellers save their homes from foreclosure."

Alex Charfen, founder of the Distressed Property Institute in Boca Raton, Fla., said that Realtors® such as William with the CDPE designation have valuable training in short sales that can offer the homeowner much better alternatives to foreclosure, which virtually destroys the credit rating. These experts also may better understand market conditions and can help sellers through the emotional experience, he said.

The Distressed Property Institute opened in January 2008 and provides training on-site and online. The CDPE is the premier designation for Realtors helping homeowners in distress and handling short sales.

"Our goal is to educate as many people as possible so we can help as many homeowners as possible," Charfen said.

William Dean Broker/Salesperson, CDPE 314-575-6924 or www.stlouisreal.com

RE/MAX Gold Fenton, Mo.

LOCAL REALTOR EARNS PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION TO HELP

HOMEOWNERS IN DANGER OF FORECLOSURE

We're proud to announce the opening of our newest office in the Valley Park / Fenton area that will serve everyone in the South County area of St. Louis. It's been our goal to put have this office since our founding almost 5 years ago and we've now achieved that goal.

If you are considering buying or selling a home , a new option is available to you to help you save money call us today to find out how: 636-946-7273

If you are an agent, consider joining our team and get access to the best technology in the industry as well as a starting 75% commission split regardless of your sales volume. The only thing you need to qualify is have a license in the State of MO for at least 1 year. There are no desk or transaction fees. Find out more at www.WhyRiverCity.com

Map to the new location

There are many reasons granite has become the top choice for kitchen countertop material

St. Louis, MO - Granite is quickly becoming the most sought after material for kitchen countertops. Charlie Thiede, President of Rock Tops Granite recently visited the new store that opened in Maryland Heights, Missouri. During a tour of the showroom, Charlie pointed out the benefits of selecting granite. Charlie said, "You can't question the beauty of these naturally made slabs of granite. With all the detail that Mother Nature has created, combined with a skilled granite stonemason to cut and finish the stone to perfection, exposing beautiful grains, we create nothing short of a masterpiece that can be displayed in your kitchen for decades."

The tour continued with Charlie marveling at the natural beauty of granite. "There are no two slabs that are exactly alike," said Charlie. "Granite is formed by nature; patterns and movement seen in one slab will not be repeated in another. If you choose granite for your kitchen countertops, it is a guarantee that your countertop will be unique; no one else will have one exactly like yours."

Charlie showed that granite is available in different colors, some available from different regions. "For those who want something extra special, they can choose Indian Stone, Italian Stone or Brazilian Stone, to name a few," said Charlie.

Near the conclusion of the tour, Charlie explained how granite is the strongest and most durable of materials to be used for a kitchen countertop. "A granite kitchen countertop could outlast the entire house; it's very durable," said Charlie. "That is not to say it can be abused, but is can resist more abuse than other countertop materials. It also requires some maintenance, which is what we will talk about now."

At the very end of the tour, Charlie explained how to care and maintain a new granite kitchen countertop. He thanked everyone for their interest and for taking the time to visit their new showroom. He handed out some information for them to take with them and headed for the front counter where a couple was ready to have measurements taken for their kitchen countertop.

Rock Tops Granite specializes in fabricating and installing granite and marble countertops. They have installed over 10,000 countertops in 2008 alone, and are expanding their business and plan to open several new locations in the US during the next year. This fast growing company, offering hundreds of new jobs, is what our economy needs right now. Rock Tops of Maryland Heights, Mo services St Louis, Creve Coeur, Chesterfield and neighboring cities. Visit Rock Tops Granite to learn more or to contact them about possible employment.

Contact:

Jack Feasel, Field Measurer

11550 Page Service Dr; Ste 300

Maryland Heights, MO 63146

Phone: 314-993-8300

Email: jackf@rocktopsgranite.com

If you have fallen in love with the idea of marble countertops in your next kitchen remodeling job, you may be wondering just how you are going to be able to afford the marble you want on a tight budget. Here are a few tips:

Watch for Sales

There are always sales getting underway no matter what type of shopping you are doing. This also holds true in the case of marble countertops. In this case you should visit local stores to find out which pieces are being sold at a discount at this time. There is always something that has been overstocked or is no longer being used that you may be able to get for much less than you expected.

Tile vs. Slab

The next thing to think about when it comes to marble countertops is if you have to have one solid marble slab or if you are willing to go with marble tiles. Marble tile is less expensive than slabs of marble and can be beautiful; however, the grout lines tend to be less hygienic as they accumulate debris.

Be flexible on Your Design

When it comes to marble countertops, the more flexible you are, the more likely you are to get something you can afford. In this case, if you are willing to flex your design or marble preferences, you may be able to knock a lot of money off of the final costs of your project. Just a simple change like a different edge can make a major price difference.

Avoid Rip Offs

The final thing to keep in mind is to keep your eyes open for deals that seem to be too good to be true. They usually are. Unfortunately there are shady people out there that would offer you a great deal on the natural stone countertops you have been dreaming of. They may then take your money and disappear; never delivering the goods you have been promised.

Do plenty of research and make sure you choose a reputable and well established company for your countertops. There are still affordable deals to be had and this way you know you will be getting the marble countertops you wanted instead of a rip off.

This article was written by Charlie Thiede, owner of Rock Tops Granite, the leading experts in granite and marble countertops fabrication and installation. Rock Tops Ganite has been recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in the US, with a new store in Maryland Hgts, MO, servicing the Greater St. Louis area.. Visit http://www.rocktopsgranite.com to locate a showroom where you can learn more.