LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — Alexandra Musser, broker/salesperson with Chase International in Reno, Nev., has earned the Certified Distressed Property Expert designation, having completed training in foreclosure avoidance, with a particular emphasis on short sales.

Short sales allow the distressed homeowner to repay the mortgage at the price that the home sells for, even if it is lower than what is owed on the property. More than 13 percent of homeowners are delinquent on their mortgage or in the foreclosure process.

“The CDPE designation has been invaluable as I work with homeowners and lenders on complicated short sales,” Musser said. “It is rewarding to be able to help families save their homes from foreclosure.”

Agents such as Musser with the CDPE Designation have valuable perspective on the market that can offer homeowners real alternatives to foreclosure, which can be devastating to credit ratings, said Alex Charfen, co-founder and CEO of the Distressed Property Institute in Austin, Texas.

“These experts better understand market conditions than the average agent, and can help sellers through the complications of foreclosure avoidance,” he said.

The Distressed Property Institute provides live and online courses to train real estate professionals how to help homeowners in distress, with a strong focus on handling short sales.

For more information about how someone having difficulty making mortgage payments can stop foreclosure, please call Alexandra Musser, Short Sale Foreclosure Resource, at 775-233-2707. For more info on the CDPE designation, visit www.cdpe.com.