Larry Yerkes -Associate Broker, Southeastern PA Real Estate Services

LARRY YERKES EARNS PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION TO HELP HOMEOWNERS IN DANGER OF FORECLOSURE

Larry Yerkes, of Harper Real Estate in Southeast Pennsylvania, 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 the Delaware Valley area, many more 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 Yerkes. "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 Lawrence Yerkes 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.

For more details about Larry Yerkes and his distressed property services, visit: Certified Distressed Property Expert.

LARRY YERKES EARNS PRESTIGIOUS DESIGNATION TO HELP HOMEOWNERS IN DANGER OF FORECLOSURE

Larry Yerkes, of Harper Real Estate in Southeast Pennsylvania, 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 the Delaware Valley area, many more 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 Yerkes. "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 Lawrence Yerkes 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.

For more details about Larry Yerkes and his distressed property services, visit: Certified Distressed Property Expert

When looking at the year-to-month actual statistics (using the most recently completed month of May vs. March and January) for Delaware County, the results for residential homes on the market, sold, average price and days for sale before close is charted as follows:

See previous article for prior year 01/200X year-to-date comparison.

This shows that while the trend is still downward, it is slowing and hopefully will soon start to level and even reverse direction.

The current inventory is 3345, with an average monthly Sold of 515, yielding a backlog of 6 months to sell off the inventory at current rates of sale.

Copyright 2008 by Lawrence Yerkes. All Rights Reserved.

When looking at the year-to-month actual statistics (using the most recently completed month of May vs. March and January) for Chester County, the results for residential homes on the market, sold, average price and days for sale before close is charted as follows:

See previous article for prior year 01/200X year-to-date comparison.

This shows that while the trend is still downward, it is slowing and hopefully will soon start to level and even reverse direction.

The current inventory is 4073, with an average monthly Sold of 414, yielding a backlog of 9 months to sell off the inventory at current rates of sale.

Copyright 2008 by Lawrence Yerkes. All Rights Reserved.

When looking at the year-to-month actual statistics (using the most recently completed month of May vs. March and January) for Philadelphia County, the results for residential homes on the market, sold, average price and days for sale before close is charted as follows:

See previous article for prior year 01/200X year-to-date comparison.

This shows that the overall trend is still slightly mixed and and appears to be bottoming -- in some categories showing some improvement so that eventually it will be tending back upward.

The current Philadelphia County inventory is 9493, with an average monthly Sold of 1094, yielding a backlog of 8 months to sell off the inventory at current rates of sale.

Copyright 2008 by Lawrence Yerkes. All Rights Reserved.