 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 # C5 E4 u' E4 {% y0 {" i, w2 H
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 2 t4 K/ J) G2 E( c* I% u
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
. } m8 z5 t" ythe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 5 j. O4 y- H6 b" U3 D+ S( k1 q
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.# ^9 h* X6 {9 H5 m3 V8 k5 m: a
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So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if . }2 @3 E* [% Z1 c ?
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 2 i C# A; z s0 i h
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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4 y9 o' @4 b( Q( d s$ G- i* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
) D5 O. R& @. a3 d/ Uproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken " r& d+ S/ }7 j0 ?
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 4 h2 M% V. C# O, V& x- }
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
+ H# ?8 _. {' J; Kthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
9 ~0 y; v- J7 i" rcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ' {- T7 \0 Z3 z8 p$ X
having a powerful psychological impact.7 B" C0 k# u: O( u4 S" m$ o
3 N' w- D; ~# L% ~9 J: \0 m* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ; H3 H( e' z& p* X. z2 `
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
# m: n* L2 H! Q$ F! Y# L; Norder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 6 |6 @/ i9 B/ U# t
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 0 w& \# @# a8 K! P7 i7 A
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
$ S3 a) B w3 Q/ twhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.4 Y: ^( C5 [, e
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
7 P6 }( N/ f( Nproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
. U" H2 J' Y x# M! ?that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
! x6 J' j8 r' W! V. r( cprice.
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% X) _- b& B* ^( @1 k! q* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 4 \# c) T$ t% b
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
3 G! V1 m4 G* J8 T- a) S* qexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
2 ]5 A0 j: O; p1 |8 n5 }work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
: R% i, d4 W2 d4 R, c1 Rhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
- C( ^8 b: Y N# |: R1 W, Cthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. & G& L0 i6 z2 q5 v! f! m r+ V
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
- a/ H2 @# a# [die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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! u, V6 k7 y" f) S' T1 x* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
3 O; V% l2 z2 Q' k" w) _3 _4 M4 lyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the : ?6 i( b1 i, q3 A
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ! n" ~* s" T# @/ n6 e8 v+ |
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 9 r& f h0 ]+ { s7 D% o3 o/ Z6 p
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
- r3 ]# {7 J8 g# @! A! vbetter 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 $ E! u3 a9 l8 B
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
/ f2 O, {+ Z Kwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 6 H8 E, S1 v4 N7 [3 ]: U
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
4 m/ N0 g) Z1 Oconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed , U- U6 C' q* p& b
buyers in during the bubble years.8 z, Z8 V7 v2 X6 R! P/ h
2 U1 k( B7 g% c. Z3 A' Y* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
7 j0 z& ]7 x% P: y/ Udie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 8 F% C! m* t, {4 s2 S. V$ t- A
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ' W) {5 K `4 M& m8 @) F
he’ll close. |
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