 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 9 d/ S0 }8 _. r- h) _+ u6 z
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
1 ]6 k, Z* R0 R5 m B& M+ Y6 kbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
# p t3 _. m: T4 T/ `" Dthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
) T! f4 \: k% f! q: m. {2 Zbegging 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 ) a3 v- N, e$ m7 j) v
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
; a ?: {' p9 l* {4 kand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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# ?' ~4 Q$ P7 @$ i6 Z* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ) k/ D* }: w3 }$ Y1 `4 a
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
& J& A& i- A# V: J' F) Wseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you " K2 K# k. R n8 u
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
/ z' d, n& T; y+ Z! rthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
2 |8 i% @; P6 G( r1 X- v3 c9 S/ Lcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while $ |. M" y* j5 f$ g+ J+ `
having a powerful psychological impact.4 `- a+ _; X6 R/ d- A
8 d5 |& f1 ?3 ~2 n* V O' K& M* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
8 Y& ?0 \( L( W$ u5 M* t5 zcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
( Z! @/ m' }+ Dorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
F& B J5 D% _the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
2 `+ F) {' R) R! p3 B. jnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get - u/ F8 Q5 n" S
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.) @: i* h+ t: [1 \/ @9 K
" @% ]5 o1 c' C* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 9 B! R& T8 L& J. P6 L7 y
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know : i' T4 y" ~ X: T0 X- `
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 9 S. B m0 v$ U6 t0 O6 F. G8 W
price.
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E2 M$ A6 [8 X* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
4 D9 u. z+ X+ d+ zbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s + m( `6 Q% U5 b5 H/ P
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
; ~+ X- [1 M! l/ n7 i! q) Xwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you I8 ^' p! L5 p% G
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
+ k: y% P: Q# i; a3 v# m! \# E( {the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
8 N4 J9 z; s" \: f3 t; mSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 1 w1 z. t6 I8 P/ d$ `$ m
die 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 ) x8 a9 @! _: G8 a# { L' L/ l) M; w
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ' ~5 g8 Y+ j# n* M/ z. J
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
/ R$ }8 u" ~' S' Qyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The . |6 M. B Q7 l1 S# E& [8 j
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
0 p3 J, l* }* u. h' L3 Nbetter 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 0 K. l/ @6 ?) |
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That . j: f- o* u9 @1 a6 L
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
! G0 L' n, e7 i% r+ d$ D7 d( ato save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
+ @( G) e* P+ F6 V# I# H: q% ]consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 2 A9 C% X% w5 I2 d8 J
buyers 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 4 H& ~5 W; P( }! J! p6 `0 D7 q
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
, w, V# Q: `) G- R- \# \will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
) ~( M: E2 w8 _' _he’ll close. |
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