 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 ! }/ L+ x) i, O {6 Q+ f2 _' v
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
q. c, _* P. m4 i8 Dbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all # ]) h* H3 ~) R/ }: ^ V9 u& k
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 1 I& X8 t8 T. L% M* v) 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
+ \% a2 G% ^* nyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
' I( S: d6 e( a- ?0 D, k3 `$ m) J* qand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* r/ v- T1 s% g* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ; H) a5 r4 c ^3 _, L; a+ `2 @
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken $ j# o+ L2 x9 M6 V! f
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
# O$ H ?$ B4 U; bget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.) x- K; Q: l8 z J, ]6 }% v
. W- o7 }6 w! J Z5 L- D) u* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on |; c6 x" E/ P9 i m3 t: p
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
8 b( N& ~+ h/ o+ v' xcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while / h" X3 T5 E# }9 u
having a powerful psychological impact.& D4 p8 S3 K [: q; J0 m
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is " u9 F" [7 k0 l1 j4 n4 G0 x) ~
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
$ M/ S, \& P" k0 N! korder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on / R; _3 [( Y! s* p4 F3 l
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you % O* Q. p- J. ~1 _
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
& M6 Y% B* s4 V0 {" Q0 g7 x$ a1 x- f6 @/ `what 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
1 b& q* v! a* I3 j9 i4 X; s* g4 v! C& Z% Xproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 6 Q! t# D) Y4 @2 |7 S, P( I
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
. N% N9 ]8 K! _. t5 ~" X5 n8 gprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
: O; S, \# T- E# |business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
# j9 d/ q1 ]+ p% K; P/ }9 @expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of / p; `7 Y2 i4 V# K6 V* q/ G& r
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you - Z$ }% e: n: r+ u0 E
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 6 S2 Q# }0 W- k* A* ^8 @
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
. i1 `+ R3 U3 rSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
1 x7 |' k& q) b- i( {9 T! Gdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.! ^- l6 H6 j, ^3 h' ~
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
9 Q/ q. z6 Y. s8 P8 Cyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
" t: v! f# P4 k4 sprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
! S6 W5 N/ J- E. _your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
, T+ r( l" `$ x' J; ~more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
" p+ \: p2 m" p& ~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
; I# D$ J$ }4 s. ^properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 3 S- x% G$ b- `- e; r9 Y
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do + k; F% g3 v" o% Q( }
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
% l) U! t' H! _consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
% _* M) }0 r9 f1 Lbuyers in during the bubble years.3 b* o$ X( K( J
" b, y( ]& N) d2 r4 D1 v* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it % C7 F n* U/ m. h& H$ K
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you + j4 A" o0 B. C B% T
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
! ]; s; V* W3 n/ Che’ll close. |
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