Ed Sarfo - Things to Consider Before Buying a New Home

Ed Sarfo is a real estate broker and agent living and working in Lexington, Kentucky. He is the principal broker at Commonwealth Real Estate Professionals and has five real estate agents working under him. Ed Sarfo is experienced in both buying and selling and advises his clients on what is best for them. Here are a couple of things you need to consider before you sign the deal on your new house.

What Suits Your Needs
When looking for a new home, you will have several options to choose from. You can choose from a family home, multi-family house, townhouse, condo, etc., but whatever you choose, you will need to make sure it is something that suits your needs. Buying a home that does not suit your needs will leave you either paying more than you can afford, or trying to make renovations which will cost you more money.

Specific Features
Your new home is probably one of the biggest purchases you will be making, so you want to make sure you know exactly what features you want your home to have. Make a list of specific features you like to have in your home, including kitchen and bathroom layout, neighborhood, etc., and let your real estate know about what you expect.

How Much Mortgage You Qualify for?
Before you start looking for a house to buy, you will need to have a clear idea of how much mortgage you qualify for. While you might think you can afford to purchase a $350,000 home, your lender might think you are good only for $250,000. Your monthly income, debt, time worked at your current job, and other factors will determine how much your lender is willing to give you for your new home.

Ed Sarfo grew up in Ghana and studied in Germany before moving to the United States.
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Ed Sarfo - House-Hunting Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make

Ed Sarfo has been in the real estate industry since 2004 and knows that buying a house can be an emotional process for some people. Allowing your emotions to get the best of you may cause you to fall prey to several mistakes homebuyers make. Ed Sarfo is an experienced professional who takes the time to advice his clients on what is best for them. Here are some common house-hunting mistakes you don’t want to make.

Choosing a House You Can’t Afford

One you find a house you like; it is very hard to go back. You then start imagining the things you want to do in the new house, and how to add things to your lawn, or to the kitchen. However, if you cannot afford the house, you will have to find something else you can afford. Avoid the temptation to go over your budget as it can cause serious problems with the payments later on. It is best to look at homes in your price range.

Assuming There is Nothing Better

Unless you are looking for custom homes, chances are that there are other homes available for sale. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that there is nothing better and jump at the first house you see. Take the time to browse through the listings your real estate agent shows you and look at a couple of houses before you settle on the one you like, and which fits your budget.

Being Desperate

If you have been looking for a suitable house for some time and have not found anything you like, don’t let your emotions get the better of you and become desperate. If you move into a house without being fully satisfied with it, you will have a hard time trying to sell it later. If you do, you will end up paying agent’s commission and closing costs on your mortgage for the new home. Do not make a decision just because you are desperate to get a new house.

Ed Sarfo is knowledgeable in both buying and selling homes and advises his clients on what’s best for them.

Source: ​http://www.investopedia.com/articles/mortgage-real-estate/09/buy-house-emotion-free.asp
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Ed Sarfo - Tips for Real Estate Agents

Ed Sarfo has been in the real estate industry since 2004. He grew up and studied at the American Baptist Missionary School in Ghana, West Africa, and pursued his higher education in Germany before moving to the United States to become a real estate agent. Ed Sarfo is a licensed real estate agent and broker living and working in Lexington, Kentucky. Here are some tips real estate agents can use.

Sphere of Influence

One of the ways real estate agents can build contacts and generate leads is through a Sphere of Influence (SOI) business model. This method of building contacts and generating leads works through the contacts you know, including friends, family, co-workers, business associates, classmates, and other vendors. The ideal way to keep track of the names and contact information is to use a spreadsheet program or commercial software. With an SOI database, it is easy to add new contacts as you meet them, through mutual acquaintances, or community events. The more people you have on your list; the more chances you have for a referral. You can send out “new agent” announcements to the contacts on your list through email, text, phone, or mail to build your client base.

Marketing

As a real estate agent, you will need to market yourself. You can use marketing software to keep track of your marketing efforts. Marketing strategies could include business cards, postcards, door hanger, property flyers, email campaigns, and brochures. Be innovative with your marketing strategy and you will start getting new clients.

Ed Sarfo has excellent communication skills and knows how to deal with different clients.

Source:http://www.investopedia.com/articles/professionals/043013/tips-working-real-estate-agent.asp

Ed Sarfo - What to Look For When Choosing a Real Estate Agent

Ed Sarfo is an experienced realtor, living and working in Lexington, Kentucky. Finding the right real estate agent to buy or sell your property is an important step that you will have to carefully take. Many real estate agents are independent contractors who get paid a commission based on the number of deals (house sales) they close. The commission they receive (from the sales proceeds) is normally split two ways, between the selling agent and the listing agent. Ed Sarfo shares a couple of tips on what to look out for when choosing a real estate agent.

Agent Suggest the Highest Price for Your Property

If you are selling your house, you might want to get listing presentations from more than one real estate agent. This will give you an idea of what comparable homes have been sold and how long it could take to see your house. The data the agents use is the same, so the price they suggest should be along the same lines. If your house is priced too high, it will take longer to sell, and will eventually sell for less. If your property sits for a long time on the market, it will give potential buyers the impression that something is wrong with it.

Part-Time or Full-Time Agent

Whether you are seeking to sell or buy property, you want to choose an agent who is actively following the real estate market every day. If you are selling your property, you will need to have an agent who is always available to show your property to prospective clients. On the other hand, if you are looking to buy property, your agent should be able to show you the latest listings immediately.

Local Agent

When looking for a property to buy or sell, it is important that you choose an agent who knows the real estate landscape in your neighborhood. Sometimes, the difference in moving a block up or down can result in raising or lowering the value of a house by $100,000. An agent who specializes in a particular neighborhood might be able to get what you are looking for, even if the property is not yet listed on the market.

Low Commission

Most real estate agents charge anywhere between five and seven percent, which is then split between the selling agent and the listing agent. If the commission on your property is lower than the normal rate, you might get very few agents who will want to show it to potential clients. However, that does not mean you cannot find an agent and negotiate a lower commission for the house.

Ed Sarfo has been a licensed real estate agent in Lexington, Kentucky since 2004.

Source: http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2014/11/07/9-red-flags-to-watch-for-when-picking-a-real-estate-agent

Ed Sarfo -Business Values Matter – Finding Success with Integrity

For many professions that require licenses or certifications, there are required courses or material that focus on business ethics. For business owner Ed Sarfo, founding his company based on principles that he adheres to in everyday life is an important aspect of conducting transactions that leave clients happy and Sarfo feeling good each day.

Creating a company that values integrity in business practices is essential for success and growth. Although there are businesses that focus more on the bottom line that still see success, they are often left with disgruntled customers and employees who would rather take their time, money, or talent elsewhere. For small businesses such as Sarfo's, making a good impression on his community is paramount to growth and repeat customers in the real estate market. He believes in providing the best experience for all parties involved in his transactions and has hand-picked agents for his company with the same beliefs and values. This aspect of a company, finding the right employees, is one of the most important as they are the face of the company. If their actions do not reflect the values you wish to portray to your customers and clients, you could be facing problems in the future with a poor image.

Business owners such as Ed Sarfo take the time to be involved in his company's transactions and provide hands-on experience to help ensure the work is done smoothly. He is able to delegate to trusted agents in his company because he selected them based on their performance, skills, and values. Staying abreast of the inner workings of your business and employee interactions will keep you a step ahead as you climb to the top of your industry.
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Ed Sarfo - Knowing the Real Estate Market

The real estate market can be a tricky animal to tame. For successful brokers like Ed Sarfo, learning the trade comes from years of experience and passion for the field along with education and a genuine desire to help clients and the community.

For agents and brokers alike, learning to anticipate fluctuations in the market takes time and skill. There are several things you can do to help put yourself ahead of the curve and keep from feeling overwhelmed or blindsided when an influx or properties present themselves or you find opportunities at a lull.

Those who find success in real estate know the area. They have studied local pricing and have an idea of which properties are increasing in value at a higher rate as well as how long these properties generally take to sell. Finding similar properties in a particular area and seeing trends in the sales is an excellent way to have an idea of what to expect and how to best prioritize your time and effort.

Look for up and coming opportunities. Are there locations that may not seem the most desirable at first glance but have potential? Are there areas that are growing due to location or seeing a rise in construction and infrastructure? Being ahead of the curve in these areas can set you apart from other realtors and give you an edge with your clients in finding the ideal properties. Real estate professionals like Ed Sarfo know the business. They have a great passion for making their clients happy and find joy in locating the perfect match for buyers and sellers alike.

Sources: http://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/07/five-real-estate-tricks.asp
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Ed Sarfo - Becoming a Real Estate Broker

For real estate brokers like Ed Sarfo, building a team of agents that reflect the core mentality of you and your company is important. Sarfo is the owner of Commonwealth Real Estate Professionals in Lexington, Kentucky and has spent much of his life dedicated to his studies and self-betterment. Born in Ghana and educated both in West Africa and Germany, he puts a great deal of emphases on his passion for his business and for those he works with both clients and colleagues.

Real estate brokers like Sarfo have gone through years of real estate experience as an agent as well as education and testing. Depending upon the state in which an agent resides, you may be required to have anywhere between one and three years working for a licensed broker helping him or her buy and sell properties under that license.

Although becoming a broker requires additional education and experience, many find the opportunity to be your own boss exciting. The prospect of making the decisions for your schedule and employing agents to help with the load is one that finds many agents putting in the extra effort to become licenses. However, Brokers are paid on commission, so your earnings would be a direct reflection of the quantity and quality of properties you choose to complete for clients.

Ed Sarfo is one of many successful brokers who realizes that the market will fluctuate from month to month based on a variety of factors, some of which are out of your control. Finding your niche in the market and building a successful company can help you navigate through the slower months and reap the benefits of hard work during months of higher volume transactions.
Sources: http://www.howtobecome.com/how-to-become-a-real-estate-broker

Ed Sarfo - Help End Homelessness

Helping the homeless is an important endeavor for improving the community and lives of everyone involved. For business owner, Ed Sarfo, helping the homeless in his home state of Kentucky is well worth the time, effort, and financial gifts one can give. Although the immediate, most obvious form of assistance would be providing food and shelter, for many volunteers like Sarfo helping the homeless in the short term is not enough.

According to a two-year study that was conducted by the University of Louisville's Kent School of Social Work, the cost of sheltering and caring for just over 7,000 homeless adults was close to $89 million over this two-year period. In comparison, providing permanent housing solutions for these same individuals would have saved over $6.4 million. Studies such as these help to highlight the importance of assistance with the goal of meeting needs on a long-term basis and providing opportunities for more permanent solutions. This is one instance where the adage, ‘Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime', takes a very real meaning.

One organization in the Lexington, Kentucky area, Hope Center, works with the mission of caring for those who are homeless and at-risk by offering life-sustaining and rebuilding services. These services are intended to be all encompassing and address the underlying cause of homelessness for each individual. Finding the root of the problem is a great way to begin the journey of recovering one's life and finding future success. Some of the services offered by the organization include emergency shelter, recovery programs for men and women, detention center recovery programs, a mental health program, employment programs, socials services, a health clinic, transitional housing program, permanent housing, a health clinic, veterans program and a Hispanic program. All of these programs enable workers to better understand the cause of homelessness for each individual and to help prevent homelessness for those who are at risk. 

Helping your own local shelter is a great way to join in the fight against homelessness. There are many ways to get involved. Whether you are able to donate your time or finances, spread awareness, start fundraisers, or attend fundraising events, even the smallest efforts are valued and appreciated. If you would like to participate in Hope Center initiatives or find your place in one of their many programs, please follow the link below:

http://www.hopectr.org/volunteer/ 

Volunteers such as Ed Sarfo are the hands and feet of the organization in which they represent. Without hard working individuals who give the gift of their time and talent to benefit the community and strangers in need, organizations such as Hope Center would be lost.

Ed Sarfo - Real Estate Investment Strategy, the Exit

One of the thing that has made Ed Sarfo such an accomplished and successful real estate broker is a sound investment strategy. While experience and hard work are an important part of a success recipe, ultimately doing well in the real estate industry boils down to investment strategy. At least that is what Casey Quinlan, a journalist for U.S. News reports in an article published on their official website. An important part of real estate investment is knowing all of the rules involved. By doing due diligence and the proper research, a savvy realtor can learn which investments pay off, and which ones do not.

Brokers like Ed Sarfo are ultimately investors. When they buy a property it is simply an investment, one they need to pay off in order to profit. Real estate is a unique investment though, which is why Casey Quinlan says you cannot apply the same rules to real estate investment as you would to stocks or bonds. One important real estate investment rule is to always have an exit strategy. That means that before you invest in a property, you should have a plan of action. That means knowing when to sell the property, and who to sell it to.

Real estate investors like Ed Sarfo always make sure that they have a good exit strategy when buying a property. Having a good exit strategy is recommended because you do not want to get trapped with a property that is no longer profitable or that you have no interest in. Flexibility and a clean exit is recommended for property investors.
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Ed Sarfo - Helping the Homeless

As a dedicated philanthropist, Ed Sarfo has made it his personal mission to help with a number of different causes. One endeavor he has taken up is helping the homeless of Lexington, Kentucky. He has been helping them by working closely with the Lexington, Kentucky Hope Center. This center is on a mission to help provide life-sustaining, and rebuilding services for the homeless. Ed has been working closely with the center, helping through volunteer work as well as monetary donations. The center is designed to help anyone that needs it. With dedicated staff members and a large pool of volunteers, they help the homeless become self-sufficient.

Ed Sarfo works closely with his church and the Lexington Hope Center in order to give back to those who need it. The center has a number of success stories that has encouraged many to use their facility. The Hope Center understands that sometimes people fall on hard times. That is why it is the mission of the center to help get those individuals back on track. The center’s website has a number of testimonials given by clients that have experienced success using their recovery and rehabilitation programs. The center has been a positive impact on a number of people’s lives.

Ed Sarfo enjoys spending time at the Hope Center, helping those who need it. He has invested a substantial amount of time and money into the center’s programs because he has seen their methods work. Between the church, the center, and contributors like Ed, problems like homelessness can be a thing of the past.

Learn more about the Hope Center by visiting: http://www.hopectr.org/
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Ed Sarfo - Requirements to Become a Realtor

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Realtors like Ed Sarfo know that it is a long road to make the transition from aspiring businessman, to licensed realtor. Ed began his career humbly, being born and raised in Ghana, West Africa. There he received a high school education from an American ministry school. At that school, his interest for business was peaked. Before he got into real estate however, he first studied chemistry in Germany. Eventually though, his true passion would lead him to America, and he would become a licensed realtor.

Becoming a realtor is something that requires a significant amount of dedication and determination. There are many different steps that need to be completed in the proper order. These requirements must be met before one is even allowed to take a licensing exam. That is why those interested in becoming a licensed realtor should expect to put in a significant time and financial investment.
Ed Sarfo and other realtors become licensed by going through rigorous education courses. In America, where Ed operates, every state requires a realtor to take pre-licensing courses. Though these requirements vary greatly depending on the state, none are simple. California requires three college-level courses.

Other states have an hourly requirement. Idaho for instance, requires two courses that add up to a total of 90 hours before one can become licensed. It is also important to note that different real estate agencies may have specific education requirements. So an aspiring broker should expect some additional educational courses even after he has been hired by an agency.

Successful realtors like Ed Sarfo did well in part because they had a strong start. An important aspect of becoming a real estate broker is to find the right firm. There are many agencies or offices available for a licensed realtor, but some are a better fit than others. Working with a broker is required in order to be a real estate agent, which is why a prospective agent should contact brokers before graduating from his training courses. Many brokers also include additional years of real estate training. That is why an aspiring real estate agent should contact many brokers before graduating to see which one he believes will give him the best chance to be successful. Some agents may be eager to get in the field, so they would choose a broker with less rigid training requirements. Other agents may value the training and benefit greatly from it, so they would choose a broker with a long and well-established training program.

Becoming a successful realtor like Ed Sarfo is something that takes a considerable amount of time and effort. Each decision an aspiring real estate agent makes will determine their success. That is why an agent should choose carefully the broker he works for, and the education he receives.

To learn more about requirements to become a realtor, visit:
http://www.investopedia.com/articles/professionaleducation/10/6-steps-becoming-a-real-estate-agent.asp?performancelayout=true

http://www.realtor.org/realtororg.nsf/pages/AboutREALTORS

Ed Sarfo - The Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors

One of the things that makes Ed Sarfo stand out from other real estate brokers is his association with professional organizations. He is a member of many organizations, but the Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors has proven to be one of his most valuable associations. That is because this community offers a wide range of services for the buyer, as well as the seller of properties.

The LBAR is really a network of qualified professionals that help use their combined experience and connections in order to get buyers and sellers negotiating with each other. The LBAR does not just help link buyers and sellers however, the organization also has their own unique and well-established community. Many realtors in the Lexington area turn to LBAR for help, as it is a reliable and comprehensive resource.

Part of the reason that Ed Sarfo joined the Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors is because of their unique community. LBAR connects a number of different professionals and affiliates that could be a useful service for a realtor.

These connected professionals include: builders and developers, attorneys, advertisers, floor covering & installation, gutter contractors, inspectors, lenders, locksmiths, moving & storage, pressure washing, roof & window cleaning, security companies, staging & decorating, thermal imaging, and much more. LBAR has an established community of connected and reliable professionals that realtors often use when building or renovating on a property. LBAR is a valuable resource that a good number of professional realtors turn to in order to find useful services at competitive prices.

Another reason that Ed Sarfo finds the Lexington-Bluegrass Association of Realtors to be such a useful resource, is that they help to educate real estate agents. LBAR offers unique classes for realtors that are updated monthly. While the classes the association hosts are available to non-members, a special registration form must be filled out for those who are not active participants and members of the association.

New members of the LBAR are also required to take a class before they are graduated to a full membership status. Once someone becomes a member however, they have unlimited access to a wide wealth of classes and programs aimed at educating realtors and improving their professional abilities. These classes are hosted by a number of experienced and successful real estate agents and brokers that want to share their story and strategies. The education offered is why many realtors operating in the area find the LBAR an indispensable resource.

Ed Sarfo has experienced much success in the real estate industry over the course of his career. His success was achieved through a combination of diligence, passion, a good education, and a strong work ethic. He has also done well by utilizing valuable resources such as LBAR in order to further his understanding of the real estate industry.