 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 1 @, g/ U. Y( M: `: L1 [; C% V$ M
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ' {# j) M) ?- g
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
1 J; Q3 @( k7 M& ?( \the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and D) d& m0 a2 i8 e# |: P
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 1 y- Y& S& ]% ]
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
- ]+ ~) I+ j1 Iand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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3 `0 b" I% K+ U! M( I0 b( o/ I* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
, v W3 m* C* c- q# Bproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
3 J! _! ` B' h. }1 b5 ?seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ( C3 g4 I/ a$ |) f) \ C
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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4 W0 F( ~1 Y$ H3 h2 F* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on & E# y2 R& N& ?- |% X* ]
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ; o: }* _3 w" u
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ( A' @6 j- w1 l, W3 T5 q3 H7 {1 J
having a powerful psychological impact.( |7 i( g' Q% M8 b
- }% A: P: n" o" d$ Z; U* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is / J$ [* d4 s1 t+ L. X
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 5 g' I' r. e8 E4 l+ b1 X. \ s
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
0 G# a: _- }6 z6 Athe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
8 e' N# z( r R% g- W4 Snever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
) @7 \& R; W* b- A8 _9 [- W& nwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.4 R. Q: |/ B+ b5 N; U4 R% ]0 k [
3 H! H. e: Q" N3 n: b" x* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another / y y$ c. m Y5 V& i8 u" v6 \7 r
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
- \3 Z9 S% D3 d3 Z, H( @& mthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
) p q# d6 O! n( }2 Mprice.
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5 ~* n! b; w, e1 e+ k* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 0 t; K5 s' K6 I
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s + \4 g7 _2 a% O/ e
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
: V4 P- V7 F3 C: iwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
- B0 h/ z9 Y- p; L/ X& A1 B; `have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
" n- \! v( p/ w- B; S* I1 hthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
# V" n T6 D; y6 j( qSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
( i% ~) ~. O, o8 Y. Q8 Pdie 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 T7 C" d4 n) k9 Y: Y" S
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
) } L6 u6 D7 @8 a& l$ k& Aprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into # e, ~1 o( @8 J# F* p% `
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The $ A* k8 E$ W& y9 i, s X2 s
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 8 Z Z8 o$ n" B: |
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
$ B1 c, b' i. ^/ @, b* x. F6 qproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That & c6 ]* ]4 b" H8 X/ d3 ~
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
( y7 F- ]' |& H; S4 Y1 u9 C/ @5 e uto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
. o7 K9 h/ H8 i/ x# I K# fconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
s6 {3 V! i( gbuyers in during the bubble years.8 b7 m8 b+ ]/ I3 t" T; Z9 [
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ' u5 h+ n/ N) T1 _5 L
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 4 N+ F$ i' I1 K' x. {
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
! v. J: ^' ?/ _) F, N# C, Ahe’ll close. |
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