 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 & e- i; K, H+ O4 c8 u( E! K1 f
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
- r. ~$ c* d2 x! tbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
; S% |# ]& i/ f" T4 vthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and ) t0 b8 a8 P+ L
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.5 U2 I) v/ h( W; A
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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 9 D' \' m* d, Q, B# Y ]
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this " d, ~3 i7 f5 C1 [
and 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 3 N# a) Y3 g& B# {* _. ]
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
* V& P& ~7 N5 ]seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
/ \# V* e& `; W% uget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.0 b$ u6 V# D; V! ^
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
" f3 |4 q+ D& I( {) I3 j$ f) \the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not / C* M4 a7 A# A; G, R8 }# W0 n
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
2 ^; A9 t4 S* w( T7 whaving a powerful psychological impact.! t7 |: J% w ]! ^8 J3 k; Z5 B, _
! R, ~! b8 ^3 q5 g/ f* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
" E# P1 g4 M, V0 q( W; U& A$ Ucompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
: k) P G9 e; A7 f! z2 x& worder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on + E, C2 D$ z M
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you : \# I6 R: L# k, U) h
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ! f) w. B% W: u! \0 k
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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6 i) {. ^$ y/ t0 t* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ! |7 A9 ] | t
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know ; @1 H1 ?, g$ }. f0 o
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 6 V) t; G! O+ `, ^" Q2 B! n
price.; ?! N- t$ R$ w( J. O
, [+ [+ E9 E( x( r/ z* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 0 k" W" J" X5 R
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
9 p5 V; x9 t' b3 Jexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 4 M4 r3 ^3 h9 D; `
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
. T5 g. S! u I8 C0 U' T" I( |4 \have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
! n0 L0 ^6 u& t1 n8 J5 ?3 V- Wthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. P3 P( W# M* b) z$ M
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
: d1 z L( E$ v {6 l% j: h! D: adie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.3 x! p9 |7 D N4 H0 {3 a5 o
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 5 w; G6 q6 m( l4 }0 R+ K. c: i
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
. ?% g, A( l9 Dprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
8 W* }4 V, p1 `) B1 Z) `" G( {your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
( u* [0 }+ c1 w8 U! ?1 n" Wmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
8 E: T' H9 p: B6 L0 }3 fbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.0 I9 }4 ^1 I5 U- D: y
1 L5 P$ I1 l: p1 M" O5 z* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 9 y5 s E A) y. }' S7 ]9 p F: d( [
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
2 ~, ]% p& h( |( pwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ! W" C2 G5 D+ x- z2 Y, f
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just / W4 C8 u' o( X* Z/ S9 q1 Z
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed # b' e" X2 i' f9 V5 l
buyers in during the bubble years.3 f# |1 d: E4 n
% @4 o2 W. h) H+ V' {8 t* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
& \& M A! o7 B S6 X6 |, r3 vdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 0 P; E# s( v* ~0 ], j
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 8 o- N) D9 Q- ]/ k( P
he’ll close. |
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