FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Allison Peterson Communications Director, Keller Williams Realty Northeast Ohio Email: allisonpeterson@kw.

com Phone: 440-376-5171 RICK TANNENBAUM EARNS REAL ESTATE, SHORT SALE DESIGNATION Keller Williams Agent Helps Homeowners in Danger of Foreclosure CLEVELAND, OH Rick Tannenbaum of Keller Williams Greater Cleveland in Pepper Pike has earned the prestigious Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation, having completed extensive training in foreclosure avoidance, with a particular emphasis on short sales. At a time when millions of homeowners are struggling with the possibility of foreclosure, the skills and education amassed by Tannenbaum will help benefit Cleveland-area residents and communities. 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. 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. Today, more than 13 percent of homeowners are delinquent on their mortgage or in the foreclosure process. This is occurring across all price ranges, and the fastest-growing category of homes in foreclosure is the luxury home market. Tannenbaum, a native Clevelander, has a lifetime of real estate experience in the Cleveland area that started in property management. In 2007, he obtained his real estate license and started selling real estate with Keller Williams Realty. Tannenbaum quickly realized the need to better understand short sales and has been handling them for the past three years with a 92% success rate. This experience prompted him to earn the CDPE designation. While I am still doing a lot of traditional sales, this [CDPE designation] is something that is really going to benefit many of my clients as I am trained to get short sales done with more success and in a shorter time frame than the average agent, Tannenbaum explained. While his focus is on the east side suburbs, he maintains a lot of business in downtown condominiums. Now living on the east side with his wife, Ali, and their two children, Tannenbaum maintains additional contact with current and potential clients through his Facebook and Twitter pages, as well as his blog at blog.ClevelandHomesToday.com. The CDPE designation has been invaluable as I work with homeowners and lenders on complicated short sales, said Tannenbaum. It is so rewarding to be able to help families save their homes from foreclosure. -moreKELLER WILLIAMS REALTY GREATER CLEVELAND 29225 Chagrin Blvd. Suite 105 Cleveland, Ohio 44122 Office 216 - 839 5500 Office Fax 216 - 839 -1705
Each Keller Williams Office is Independently Owned and Operated

Alex Charfen, co-founder and CEO of the Distressed Property Institute in Austin, Texas, said that agents such as Rick Tannenbaum with the CDPE Designation have valuable perspective on the market, and training in short sales that can offer homeowners real alternatives to foreclosure, which can be devastating to credit ratings. 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. Our goal is to help as many homeowners as possible, by educating as many real estate professionals as possible, Charfen said. Rick Tannenbaum has demonstrated a commitment to struggling homeowners, a commitment that can provide much-needed stabilization to the community. For more information about CDPE Designation, visit www.cdpe.com. About Keller Williams Realty As part of the fastest-growing real estate franchise in the country, Keller Williams Realty opened its first market center (office) in northeast Ohio in 2002 with 23 agents and has since grown to 8 market centers and close to 900 agents in the area. In 2012, Keller Williams Realty was voted the #1 large workplace in the Northeast Ohio area for the second straight year by The Plain Dealer. Founded in 1983, Keller Williams Realty, Inc. is the second-largest real estate franchise operation in the United States, with 675 offices and almost 77,000 associates across the country. The company, which began franchising in 1990, has an agent-centric culture that emphasizes access to leading-edge education and promotes an economic model that rewards associates as stakeholders and partners. The company also provides specialized agents in luxury homes and commercial real estate properties. For more information, or to search for homes for sale, visit Keller Williams Realty online at www.kw.com. Information about Keller Williams Realtys international expansion can be found at www.kwworldwide.com. ###

KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY GREATER CLEVELAND 29225 Chagrin Blvd. Suite 105 Cleveland, Ohio 44122 Office 216 - 839 5500 Office Fax 216 - 839 -1705
Each Keller Williams Office is Independently Owned and Operated