 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 j# v0 F. P: q' {+ O$ M# b# Gfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
. j. @, _; K1 S' j: R, q: [bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
- Y8 q7 s; ]0 V I) {+ ethe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 8 D, X$ _1 z) P: l) A. Z5 p/ e/ @
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.$ f0 B. Z2 I8 g" a
$ R! |$ q7 b! i' {3 F. \So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 2 u- Q) X' [) r; w
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
" i. R0 c: l% x# u% iand 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
- G" K! [4 P. [, D Yproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 9 w& e/ e3 M' |, d
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
0 W- D" a7 _( ?0 Vget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.3 Y: H' r x. t0 X. h
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on : a, {. |9 T R' N: U' `: j+ r
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not $ E. b8 E/ q- R6 ~( Z+ T
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
1 d; }; o' m& {! s8 p+ `2 uhaving a powerful psychological impact. u; L. Q9 | V! ~7 i
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
# J" M; q( x k$ S* J+ n5 [completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
1 T) W B8 ]- u3 v' P+ _* uorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on v: k) D/ b' a. C; o: U8 a
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you & K4 [& D( ]; E4 F- L6 T
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 8 j2 c) |/ P4 d
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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" e; z/ D( b2 \* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 9 q: \- ]# ]8 m3 y2 t
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know # V5 H, Q W. j& v
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
0 k$ A# P2 A$ x+ a/ k8 Zprice." j& d- {8 B# n4 q. {: x
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
4 ~% l4 @ ~3 |0 [$ Z- k+ rbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
6 {& ` J$ v, k2 [% u! L L9 w6 jexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
, z( H* n6 V/ [work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
# M" p1 ^0 h; D2 Ahave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
( R1 l- J4 Q0 h9 fthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 5 R$ U( |& K) y% I9 R5 j( H9 r
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
4 j" @ b6 _( \2 [% adie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.- S! ?/ \5 L* H
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
( [3 \' e& j# c: ? d; p) F1 W, oyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
- j3 t! F, U" e& @8 Z! e! Kprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
7 r& w- z+ z8 t+ R2 a: s( x6 Ryour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
: k: i1 E# O7 O7 G8 V9 Emore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
) w4 a0 u$ t( |better chance you have of securing the best deal.8 N# D7 L% K4 h* c, r o+ ^
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 3 K8 ^+ }4 ~+ e. Y* a
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That % s) i" `- k! N
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
( V, e* S5 @* r7 n2 ~: [9 U1 yto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 1 p/ c/ T" l1 h( b1 B" U. ~4 ~# C
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
+ J' A3 l# G8 j$ p- ]) ^9 w' ybuyers in during the bubble years.3 |; G) Q, Y0 H; ]9 P) b
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 2 B' r% R1 Q' ] h1 y
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you . \6 T2 l4 n: V6 j
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ; |" h! l" @) s5 x
he’ll close. |
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