Egypt Sherrod - Keep Calm . . . Its Just Real Estate: Your No-Stress Guide to Buying a Home

Praise for Egypt Sherrod and Keep Calm... Its Just Real Estate

Egypt Sherrod is my Realtor BFF in my head and Keep Calm... Its Just Real Estate should be a MUST HAVE for all buyers. I wish I read this book when I was buying my first property.

Stacy London, television host and author

This book is just what the doctor ordered! Its just like Egypt to want to make everyones life easier and simplify the stressful buying and selling process. Keep Calm... Its Just Real Estate gives you all the tools needed to come out smiling and on TOP.

Keke Wyatt, recording artist and star of TV Ones R&B Divas

Egypt has a knack for helping buyers figure out what really matters to them, and then coming up with a plan to make it happen. When the hunt gets overwhelming, Egypt puts things into perspective. Having her on your side is like having a BFF whos a real estate pro. Now shes captured all of that wisdom in a book, so every reader can go house-shopping with confidence.

Betsy Riley, executive editor, Atlanta Magazines Home edition

Flawless but simple execution should always be the objective of every real estate transaction. Egypt is a professional who is laser-focused on getting the transaction right the first time. This drive is what sets her apart, and its well-reflected in her book.

Lisa Brereton-Hinds, Vice President of Starkey Mortgage

2015 by Egypt Sherrod Cover photography 2015 by Allen Cooley Published by Running Press,

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2014959820

E-book ISBN 978-0-7624-5756-4

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Digit on the right indicates the number of this printing Cover design by Frances Soo Ping Chow Interior design by Amanda Richmond

Edited by Jennifer Kasius

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CONTENTS

B UYING OR SELLING A HOUSE CAN BE JUST AS PERPLEXING as deciding which hand to keep or discard at a casino. But it doesnt have to be. If you make the right decisions early on, put a great team in place, and follow the instructions I give you in this book, you will feel like a pro playing among the card sharks in no time!

To win at anything, you have to fully understand the game, or at the very least, have a team that does. In real estate, the game is not just about choosing the right home. It comes down to strategy, assessment, planning, organization, and skill. If that sounds like a heavy load, dont worry, you dont have to go it alone. The weight can be carried by finding the right professionals to help you through the homebuying process. Having experts guide you will garner better results than trying to do it all yourself. For starters, utilizing experienced real estate professionals will save you time and money, and will help you avoid unnecessary hassles.

For those of you who yearn to understand the perceived mysteries behind successful real estate deals, youve come to the right place. I happen to be just the person who will be able to demystify the real estate buying and selling process, ultimately making it much simpler for you to understand. I will teach you how to pick the winners instead of the losers. Well, maybe not in a game of spades, bridge, or UNO, but certainly in regard to real estate.

Heres a little about me before you begin reading: I am a realtor licensed in two statesand have been an agent since 2003. My business partner and I have sold over $50 million in properties. I personally enjoy working with first-time homebuyers, and you can watch me doing just that on my highly rated HGTV show Property Virgins. It brings me personal joy to help families achieve the American Dream of homeownership.

When I was twenty-four years old, I purchased my first property. It was overwhelming, confusing, and exciting all at the same time. Ask any millionaire, and he or she will tell you that the foundation of wealth is real estate. I knew that I was making the right decision by purchasing versus renting, but the nuances and paperwork made my head spin. My uncle had been a real estate broker for over thirty years, so I had more knowledge than the average Property Virgin. Still, I was intimidated just by the thought of what I imagined the process entailed.

Dont laugh, but the moment I got the keys to my first property, I cried like a baby. In that minute, I realized I owned a piece of the earth. Land is one thing we can never make more of. It is what it is on this earth, and I actually owned my own little piece of it. It was such an exhilarating feeling, and I was hooked. By the time I was thirty, I had flipped more than a dozen investment properties, earning a hefty profit. As time went on and market conditions changed, I decided that buying and holding made more long-term sense for me. There is no doubt in my mind that owning real estate can help you build substantial wealthif its done correctly.

Like starting a new relationship, many people go about their real estate ventures the wrong way. They fall in love with the exterior, but underneath the cosmetic enhancements and curb appeal can lie structural defects that may alter the buildings integrity. Often there might be material defects connected to the home that you dont learn about until after youve signed on the dotted line and are stuck with a thirty-year mortgage. Sound familiar? I pray not! My hope is that I have caught your interest in time, before you embark upon the joys of homeownership and so you dont make costly mistakes. Knowledge not only gives you power, but it also gives you the extra edge to make smarter decisions regarding the purchase of a new home. After all, youre going to live in it for a while, so youd better like it!