 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
. n/ ]) g& t" U0 v, G5 Bfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
2 v+ w8 b$ M! Ubottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
6 e# }! H4 o9 ^+ k0 k) Othe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 8 \% I$ W1 d5 A" s9 u, D
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 0 P r/ j' u! O$ Q7 }
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this t' \9 I' i, k. }3 C
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
" A' }0 j" I6 W/ @5 [1 Jproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
/ U Y- }8 _7 s2 R& zseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 8 w8 T6 Q9 l4 b6 R6 ^. Q* ?3 F
get 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 ! B1 L+ O: Q. e
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
0 ]5 h) Z* J. Gcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
6 P7 e4 Y8 p; Bhaving a powerful psychological impact.0 S( u" G& |( o; [; {) T( z" F
3 A/ x( ?9 {& Y2 A% o+ x$ d5 O* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 0 M1 @- \+ ]$ A9 o
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in / H! |4 r, }: ?9 p* r; \
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 5 R2 i$ b( a! ^9 W
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
. j5 v: w9 H6 mnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
; Y% z* @% c0 z' b' ~; G* V& awhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.6 E; ]. ?" F/ F! |9 F. D: F4 M; d
; K4 {5 w: n. S% p- J7 k* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 9 _1 \, u# H7 l- n' e
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 3 @, D6 a$ Q7 H' w4 `; r
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 4 b+ `; n- U( J% X' k7 q+ v
price.
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3 N# D2 p$ u& d* ?7 Y" H7 Y4 ], p+ t* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 0 _6 a8 L L" [: W+ b+ P0 U
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s , a0 ?- I# L2 w/ I) a# o
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
6 G, O; m( H5 c# d6 l% Mwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you + |0 W, ^! \( A$ o
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of & @8 l, w6 j! m4 `$ C% a. q: J
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
3 H5 [; \9 ~$ NSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
/ k u7 ?* e+ ]; U6 D, C) l; M! Bdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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7 v. q) V* {8 ^* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have F9 {8 p2 x6 j/ P$ C" ~% D$ N
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
) t7 h3 e: k4 G3 L. y x: r9 sprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into " |& s( K! j( U& U8 f0 o: Z k
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
" e5 L. Q, G* fmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the / E# D$ }4 G: p; ?* J
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* L6 s) W9 r! M G+ }( A- i9 B* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing , L% Z& A# P2 o' e: A5 s
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That + A7 Y2 K/ S& T7 z
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
- s( M$ ]* ?- z/ I) p0 L0 c/ w3 dto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
2 @3 u* |7 I- Yconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed $ H) |& B. [3 \$ Z$ w
buyers in during the bubble years.- D/ S, t5 m7 t0 ^: W
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
* }) ~8 S- ? u- j7 C% G8 i& Qdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
5 c# t' Z* c4 c' v; dwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
+ j& c4 `1 P' I3 j& B) ^: f' `+ R3 She’ll close. |
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