Holders of the CDPE (Certified Distressed Property Expert) designation have held a national convention to talk about assisting more homeowners facing a short sale or foreclosure. It was the first such event since the designation’s inception in 2008 and is the largest in the country so far.

Speakers from Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Prospect Mortgage, Fidelity National Title, RealtyTrac, and other industry players were on hand to provide updates and relevant information during the event held in Tempe, Arizona. Distressed Property Institute, LLC, hosted the convention, which was called “CDPE Momentum 2010.”

Institute CEO Alex Charfen described the event a “proof that agents with the CDPE designation are fostering a positive change in the real estate industry and our economy as a whole.” “The movement of CDPEs to provide solutions to homeowners in distress has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of homeowners across the country,” he said. “These efforts have transformed into a true movement to help homeowners, and the industry is paying attention.”

The CDPE is known as the fastest growing designation in the real estate industry, having registered 22,500 members since 2008. Some experts credit the continued rise of homeowners who are defaulting on mortgage payments for the continued growth of CDPE. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s National Delinquency Survey for the first quarter of the year showed that 14% of mortgages are delinquent. With the figure, the chances of homeowners opting for a short sale or facing foreclosure remain high.

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