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.

Ed Sarfo - Tips for First Time Home Buyers

Buying your first home can be one of the most exciting times in your life and is a big step. Ed Sarfo, a real estate broker and agent, offers his timers some tips of the trade to make the home buying process as easy as possible. Ed Sarfo has been in the business for over ten years. There are some important things to have decided before you can buy your first house.

1. Get finances in order. Talking with a bank and securing a mortgage rate is an important first step so you can know what price range to look in. It is essential not just to have the mortgage lined up but a budget too. Be realistic about your monthly payments and create a budget to factor in additional expenses like insurance, upgrades and a rainy day fund in case something big breaks or needs to be fixed.

2. Have a needs and wants list. There are so many homes out there for sale, finding the right one for you is a daunting tasks, even with the help of a real estate agent or broker. Providing them with a list of things you need to have and things you would like to have will help them narrow down the search. Be very honest with your list and keep budget in mind. For most people, their first house isn’t their dream house, so keep it realistic to what you can afford.

Ed Sarfo is always excited to meet a couple or family purchasing their first home. Although it can be scary because of the increased responsibility, it can provide you greater financial freedom and a solid investment that may increase in value.

Ed Sarfo - Ways to Stage Your Home for Cheap

Selling your home is a big decision and you want to get the most for it that you can. Ed Sarfo is a ten-year veteran real estate broker who offers clients tips on how they can get the biggest value for their home with some inexpensive tips. You can look into hiring a professional home stager but with an hourly cost of $50 to $150, you may want to roll up your sleeves and do the work yourself.

1. Depersonalize your house. This is the easiest and cheapest tip, and can have a big impact on how many buyers put in offers. By putting away all of the personal touches in your home like family photos, memorabilia, children’s drawings, etc. the buyer is able to picture their things in your house. Pictures are often a source of distraction and buyers will often stop and look at the people in them instead of focusing on the house’s features.
2. Neutralize rooms. Giving the rooms in your house a fresh coat of a neutral paint will help attract buyers. Although you may love your daughter’s pink bedroom, many buyers don’t want a room fit for Barbie. This is a fairly low cost option, with the paint and necessary supplies only costing around $100 and could help to up your chances of an offer.
3. Give it a purpose. Giving each room in your home a distinct purpose will help buyers understand all the possibilities the home has. If they don’t know what the space is “supposed” to be, they will see it as wasted space. Visit some model homes in your area to get ideas on how to rearrange furniture and make easy changes to do this.

Ed Sarfo has seen great results for clients that make easy and inexpensive changes in order to stage their homes. It often leads to more offers and can even result in a bidding war, driving the price of the house up.
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Ed Sarfo: Tips on Choosing the Right Real Estate Broker/Realtor

Ed Sarfo is a real estate broker/realtor with over 10 years of experience helping clients in the Lexington area. He believes in honesty and integrity and will often counsel people on how to choose the right broker for their needs. It is important to find the right person to help you sell or buy your next home or property. Following a few pieces of advice will help you make the right decision. 

1. Talk to previous clients. You can ask a perspective agent what properties they have worked with in the past year and contact information for the clients. Ask their clients what they liked or disliked about the broker and if they would recommend hiring them. Don’t forget to consider things like the time it takes for the agent to contact the client back and how many options they offered them.
2. Check their license records. State have regulatory boards that look after all the certified real estate agents. They will issue disciplinary actions and deal with complaints from clients. This information can be found by contacting your state’s board and may be listed online.
3.  Look at how they work. With technology taking charge of the real estate seek, most people looking to buy a home turn to the internet to start their search. Make sure your perspective agent is actively utilizing all the resources possible in order to attract the most interest possible. Make note of any unique advertising or marketing techniques they may use and the variety of ways they drum up interest. You can do this by looking at their other listings and researching the methods they used to promote them.  

Ed Sarfo is a successful real estate broker and loves what he does. He understands the importance of building trust with perspective clients.