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.

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.