 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/ a; J5 Y) f, M8 O" x- Tfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the % u/ O" {( J6 F0 D% Q8 \9 r
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
- b# J1 F' |' B1 pthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
* n) K1 \ c% T; i2 p# ybegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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: K, k7 `9 h- X) v9 W; y/ U( RSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 1 n) \$ `! j3 r5 O5 B; b: o
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
& ]1 G5 Q' q% h) J3 m: mand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)! G2 Q/ ~! U1 ~8 g0 _$ |
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
* u: N6 s/ m; B* _5 E5 K6 }% ^properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 7 L- m) K1 q. E/ p1 o7 k; y7 \
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
; z6 }1 q4 A) t9 D& q. N. Qget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.! H( g# f; J. V: s- n0 U! q0 Q
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
& |" k4 A8 n+ J) w$ Ethe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
2 x0 g# S# |% N( C$ Dcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while * A$ A" b( U, w2 s; C. Q! g
having a powerful psychological impact.! w8 ?9 O+ [+ c8 L
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
' F( t! w) B- b% R8 E, |8 w$ pcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in & \+ h8 T/ {5 v2 t/ X! o
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
2 l6 H% W- H+ b9 s; @) m8 ?& d4 R5 Bthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
7 U+ O9 L5 J7 D# a8 d5 anever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
# f/ d' o( S! H% Lwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
3 c- F1 [3 a+ r5 Zproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 2 C \6 Y4 R. o! y: b8 _
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
" L& q; `. w0 i" u4 n: Rprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
* n# ]. A7 H$ M+ q6 M+ A8 c" fbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s " b* q' u. ^1 \& i+ D& u( I
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
: {. n6 F0 K( S! @8 K! R/ H3 vwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ! J0 Q U0 b4 [+ `6 y4 N' F
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
7 r( Y# {7 m4 b5 b& ethe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
5 \+ t& q% J$ d% e0 f' u/ xSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
5 R( D A2 N7 G Sdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.2 f* d* d0 a9 {
3 t' H; N- j5 l7 |' ] ?) k* m* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
& z$ a) n" _1 j3 b! D# N$ \your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
) l7 a$ f$ P2 K+ l3 v( V; K& v/ E# Gprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
& T! _# B+ o9 K* W; ayour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The & W% `# k- [# U1 O
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
0 o& I( i p) t9 f) Bbetter 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 " @$ ^9 y0 z. p* t7 h6 ?! e {
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
4 J: T; p' ^& |6 m( T* fwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do / ]# \: x' P9 t/ b3 ]
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
* S+ n$ j' L* P1 T+ sconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed . T. ` }( K. a- q# p
buyers in during the bubble years.
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4 ~' p1 h& ^: ~8 F4 A+ G1 d* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
% U% ~% G! Q& H, mdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
% y/ ]/ _' x* T. k0 _will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
0 N. ?. v1 `8 Hhe’ll close. |
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