 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 ?* p A; c8 K$ n$ D- [- b8 i3 Tfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
, t# w3 N& k! P- qbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
7 w! w: w! O6 R8 m- m* K' y9 }the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
1 r T g5 k! E& E" b$ Cbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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. n t' I2 @: ]) XSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
0 O2 r" z7 W! y% a7 }6 w, Eyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
, f# e8 V" s2 z& A3 J/ cand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)" v4 M7 U" H+ {; o% h
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many ( l! x9 Q ?+ y* L0 ?/ `
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken $ m. S' f, E/ x- y) _
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ! s: h% t% i8 G5 m, c
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.4 @8 `& ~3 S( |. M0 \" r0 R* N+ _
. S: U8 v8 ]% h$ b1 z* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
- v' Q( v, I3 ethe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
+ Z: P/ E9 O7 P" R! `cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
{2 e2 ^4 J2 r: v4 khaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
) K+ b. ], y4 g7 D* Ccompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
- D) @8 W6 A1 q& rorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
6 U/ V1 c+ M' ]9 `" O' O% }the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ' K% V0 \* j: ?2 q
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
; T! F8 a! ]/ x4 x$ i+ Dwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.3 ~ I: L2 d6 l* H& R$ z8 u
* w2 h3 @3 ^) f* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
. T+ P2 C7 u- h: C$ ^. h! t5 Nproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
8 Z8 H) P5 _' d( @/ e/ X/ k; Vthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ( e" f$ f, l4 J
price.
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, i N( K) z) o* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
, _/ S1 h6 [' V/ ?/ [& Obusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 5 `! n7 C$ V1 s
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
" e+ R4 T2 s2 g9 y; f0 Uwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ' g( ~2 O. B. A. d9 q+ |) G
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
b$ m% w: p5 A5 o; V, Tthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
) I' ?. v# ^+ E( R% U2 D; aSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 1 Y/ V2 z, u L p4 q! S
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.8 C& d4 t* O# q; N: @: E- U( D
2 ~0 F3 [& @3 ?8 B! e0 R2 y2 _* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 4 C2 `* R0 X1 Z4 a9 h
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the & o& K% x& G7 {. r6 ] K; G5 u
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
. T3 S8 f; E' @. oyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
* X- v3 K2 [2 a( t" R( Rmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
2 Q6 q+ R2 o: B% b0 U, Ubetter chance you have of securing the best deal.! l# ^( H I: g0 r2 N+ Q' k
Z& ] D4 K, h* Q8 S, b' s$ c+ q" J* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
) z/ M1 G7 O& z9 }' pproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
0 t- k, c. Y; ewill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
# ^0 B9 Z2 W2 f# n6 t( Z! {to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
; H( N" c; {) Y- i2 h/ }consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
: o' k0 p! H7 Wbuyers in during the bubble years.) z& w" n1 z1 o. T l( V! l
7 K2 w2 x! E' C/ s: n7 s* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ! m7 @' y5 f8 t. V F& z
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
3 n! o1 s. c2 O3 Y* P9 A: u3 J5 c# wwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but / T: r# }- w. F
he’ll close. |
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