 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 3 X/ o; _6 {) N2 m
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
% }2 x3 N0 g$ y) `+ jbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
8 e/ q4 }: }3 k' o8 uthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
, Q |3 _$ {% y5 Tbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.: r5 u( P$ w* Z, e1 h1 J
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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 * V' F+ A" y# B6 W* n
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this % V' z# }6 L8 F+ U0 l/ p
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)% x, I) U8 d( {
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many + u8 F! X o, ^
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken : X, G' }6 Q9 L$ s+ T
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
) B) ^ w1 U' fget 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
* ^( h- [# ]4 H$ p/ f; v9 i Mthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
; T, B V) E8 _* G5 z! z3 q, v( ?cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
. z6 b' |5 s, s* uhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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! |& a$ K3 I# `8 J* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is - n6 V2 f. i; {5 N2 t% m
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ! o5 R$ z7 d" e
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on ) \2 b4 H# J; U; N# M4 ^, l
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
; ?% O6 k: k- o2 ^' g" nnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
5 u3 {0 V3 ^% ywhat 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
6 Z4 d, X8 ~* l( cproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know % \% j+ u2 t+ R2 W1 O3 J u
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
' u" t$ [* Q6 f1 e+ [) f jprice.9 w3 M K* O% _0 E
$ N% e) a# _5 l* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
1 P# W9 X8 k; N( [" r5 a, S% a5 r3 Zbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s " u, S4 x5 U+ i
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
- A2 ^! N$ @3 W; F9 ^work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
( e6 x3 J2 y5 L {3 L e' R. f1 c* ehave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 8 S) V! ~" o! ~
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. " M0 @7 F/ A: U' c& O0 n. P: ^% f) C
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 2 C0 ^: u+ R* c6 ?% \: o& w
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.- N2 e6 ^, N; U! A T- ?2 d2 G
! Z7 h/ k7 n; G* P. X* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have ( b# S! p' F0 K: R/ Q3 e/ q9 \
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the - q6 Y" t& U$ A7 R y9 g7 d
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
: y5 Y4 ^( D) V/ Eyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 5 Q8 ]$ V6 G) W; s+ u# N- `% P
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 5 d3 \$ \ g9 O( Z. U
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 ; \+ N% P3 u. @/ f, [
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
2 F' x/ T" L' a0 Owill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ' C: P2 H5 I9 K! c4 s* u/ w
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just : g' k7 i. N/ ?- Q
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
* G7 |. C) ^/ c5 C. [6 B m/ Zbuyers in during the bubble years.% v3 k# t8 y" z: |+ d' W
9 Z* D; a/ z' S* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it - [" v% C4 m# m; b, H' J7 b! `2 U
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 0 C- N5 {" s. i6 N& ^) v+ [# w
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 9 q# W& T6 w9 z' G! v5 L$ S
he’ll close. |
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