 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
, W Z; H, q; L5 S9 c* ~5 `falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
/ L, a4 b8 Q" x; t1 l. hbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
- z. Z* Y4 z8 j, F# e; gthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ; S E; k: ^1 J& K" a. @1 q( D/ g
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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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
5 R' ]: R! u) N& r: S" P ]you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
- m5 a( `9 ?! |4 g8 qand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many + b4 \& }/ K6 J/ S
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
% F8 ]) m2 r( ] [/ Q K9 h& {seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
; i5 [8 o! C0 E) M" A/ d. R, ?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
4 Q/ I% R2 P: b% |4 f9 Qthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ( l! W. b9 u/ l: @! x: J! B2 O: T
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ) C# S' T, q9 R2 t
having a powerful psychological impact.
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- |% }, v: d. }5 f* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
: [( L8 i" V0 j2 H8 \' v" o. M( Pcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 8 z# |$ y+ q6 F* A( d- }& I) @- l6 i, h
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
- s# v2 i, u; y/ N9 n- }' kthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ! j' Q+ n$ r6 M3 {4 w3 f- F
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
2 S9 J" r; I4 fwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.0 d c8 i {' }% P
& h! _! E& F/ z$ D! B* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ! H4 o8 _" h% D @$ m
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
! h7 |/ ]: B0 G9 z* B. y4 J/ T& R5 i* Dthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five . Q; p+ j0 ?+ e# B+ j/ i
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
- L' R- R/ h9 ^1 M6 j& ?0 dexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 1 `6 N( M( P* s! V! m k! s+ a
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you : B6 j* a; h/ |/ R/ j. I
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
3 p& _; |# G4 m4 o& ]+ K- ythe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 0 D) y# H) m4 |2 j( t
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
& S! d( n, Z6 {# mdie 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 ' ?& o) A4 B) P- p' q) L" c
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ; h1 t! H0 {) N! ~
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ( e5 r7 N4 x0 P- S' H8 H+ ]
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 1 ~: r8 C' h2 _5 T0 m
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
9 E! k. X" I8 |' v- Sbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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$ |1 ]' z9 E- q8 ^; F" P6 \2 r, `! T6 G* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ! r! f4 g& b) j5 f' d
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
, y7 ] x+ W6 q# f* A" N3 `. g6 Fwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do . ^/ j% I; C( \* u9 c* _
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
6 u$ U; u& ~9 E8 d; g# uconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
0 Y2 |0 y: d: g5 l3 Gbuyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
; }7 W" L. h8 h" ^: odie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
- \. \4 a+ g; ^' L9 H6 Ywill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but * R4 ?! w' o4 |* U0 u0 d- a) U( Y" O
he’ll close. |
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