 鲜花( 1)  鸡蛋( 0)
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I’m often asked by people who like to prey on others how to buy real estate in a
. d) c- _$ G! Y; Afalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the + s4 j. A1 Y0 t# {3 r6 K3 F+ G$ P
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all ( m, y- r2 F5 n x
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
+ G/ t+ p9 }7 y3 }3 I$ w0 b0 wbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.. f o3 a' A. u0 B
4 e4 L/ P0 p0 f; W6 A+ ^So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if " L% Q+ c0 J7 u8 A) Q
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this , F7 b! _' }: @3 x5 v2 s7 ?
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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' v1 J0 O8 C$ ` \( l* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many * }9 N+ m3 k+ d$ y( c0 {6 m
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
" J' c% w; K5 I+ X3 Tseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you - Q. L8 S" W1 H( x8 N
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
! I3 n2 [9 C' \the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ; D; w% ~ C9 Y9 Z. U+ a& w e
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
" t5 ~& G! l h4 h' ~# x- x# y" zhaving a powerful psychological impact., t# v( j! X# J) |' w
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is * |# e" S5 G* n: c; c- o
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
( Q: j* ]9 z& o7 Uorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ]# W8 w f+ T X6 p
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
$ K' Q4 A/ i" t0 Znever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get : V% D. d# a4 N- A; K% W# p
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.- N* e6 f6 l3 E
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 2 m& W: A% W" Z) `
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 6 y6 `% R* }" i; E) K
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that & }& x6 I( }3 u# P. j" v2 D6 k8 P
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five ' b8 o" J+ ^) J" g% }' U9 Z* D+ g
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s `; L, @* T, L
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
' K- q" O2 d/ v: ?7 ]$ |& n1 Mwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ' R( g8 X6 T" T, T. \1 F
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
2 b( z. O4 |% cthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 3 F8 l# _+ b- }! J- u& T
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
1 g8 F W6 x, _! d" ]$ I1 Udie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
, [) j, L* ?. J! kyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the : w0 O1 {6 G4 X \1 D9 D0 _
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 9 B" V/ ]# L" Q) h& t, V% C5 g
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
( x' C1 U x; X( Umore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 1 m9 |0 t4 h& v1 b) z8 _
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
; N9 n( t) z' @: bproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That : b" Q- t( k" V9 ^9 o% [$ P
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ; R* b, J0 ^) x, L4 D$ F0 n
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just " a' W1 G' j6 z* T' h1 [8 A# O/ ^
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 7 ]* |+ l% k. t' ]) [3 v' O) z
buyers in during the bubble years.
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- D" w, L1 d2 `$ @4 T+ R7 d* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ; B* K; \% p9 h; s; y8 k- l: |
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you # }' K8 a d9 `, \1 U
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
3 A6 t; b. b+ w: u1 dhe’ll close. |
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