RE/MAX of the Islands announced on Monday that island resident and Realtor Chuck Bergstrom has earned his Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) designation.

“Chuck recently took the required CDPE course instruction and passed the examination with flying colors,” said Art Corace, broker/owner of RE/MAX of the Islands. “He did it so he and his team can offer his clients and other Realtors their assistance if they are involved in a short sale or foreclosure transaction. Thankfully we do not have much of that activity on the islands but Chuck believes that ‘knowledge is power.’ He wanted his team to have the knowledge because there are only a handful of Realtors on the islands with this type of expertise.”

Originally from Chicago, Bergstrom started visiting the islands in the late 1970s. His prior professional career included a background in accounting and finance, where he was self employed in Chicago’s financial district. Chuck moved to the islands permanently and began his career here as a Realtor in 2000.

RE/MAX of the Islands also announced that Dustyn Corace recently earned his license as a real estate broker.

In 2000, Corace obtained his sales associate license and began his career at RE/MAX of the Islands by developing their vacation rental program. He now oversees the RE/MAX residential annual lease program while specializing in selling upscale properties on Sanibel and Captiva Islands, and the Fort Myers River District.

When asked about current market conditions, Corace commented, “Opportunities like those available today come only once in a lifetime. I am very involved in assisting buyers purchase short sale and foreclosure properties. Investment opportunities here are perhaps better than they will ever be again.”

Dustyn Corace has recently taken the required education courses and obtained three professional designations as a Realtor. The first is as a Sanibel and Captiva Island Specialist (SCIS). His other professional designations are as Short Sale and Foreclosure Resource (SFR) and Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) as certified by the National Association of Realtors.