A Week In Business

National Certification Earned

OCEAN CITY - Joy Snyder with Prudential Carruthers, Ocean City, has earned the nationally recognized Short Sales and Foreclosure certification.

The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) offers the certification to Realtors who want to help both buyers and sellers navigate these complicated transactions, as demand for professional expertise with distressed sales grows.

According to a recent NAR survey, nearly one-third of all existing homes sold recently were either short sales or foreclosures. For many real estate professionals, short sales and foreclosures are the new 'traditional' transaction. The SFR certification gives agents the knowledge of how to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure opportunities.

'As leading advocates for homeownership, Reatlors believe that any family that loses its home to foreclosure is one family too many, but unfortunately, there are situations in which people just cannot afford to keep their homes, and a foreclosure or a short sale results,' said 2009 NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. 'Foreclosures and short sales can offer opportunities for home buyers and benefit the larger community, as well, but it's extremely important to have the help of as real estate professional like a Realtor® who has earned the SFR certification for these kinds of purchases.'

The certification program includes training on how to qualify sellers for short sales, negotiate with lenders, protect buyers and limit risk, and provides resources to help Realtors® stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves.  To earn the certification, one core course and three webinars must be completed.

Tourism Director Honored 

SNOW HILL - Worcester County Tourism Director Lisa Challenger was recently honored with the Heritage Award by the Lower Eastern Shore Heritage Council (LESHC) for her tireless promotion of heritage tourism on the Eastern Shore.

Challenger received this recognition for her work in the three lower counties on many regional projects, including Host Our Coast, Beach to Bay Indian Trail, and Blue Crab Scenic Byway, as well as projects specific to Worcester County, including the African-American Trail, Delmarva Discovery Center and Day At the Docks, among many others.

 'Although one could argue that these accomplishments are part of her daily job, those that know Lisa realize that she goes well beyond the normal duties of her position as Director of Tourism,' said Glenn Irwin of the LESHC. 'She is well respected at the state, county and local levels by those in the public and private sectors.'