 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 # j5 e; d6 C' |; w0 z% s
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
& G2 }6 ]7 W/ E3 H1 gbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
6 d: k0 G6 P: g' Lthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
+ m) p8 I! h1 J" C6 ebegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.4 }+ i- K7 Z, r$ g( ]$ }
# `- K5 G1 b/ F2 L5 X8 MSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if , b+ r2 l! o" O k4 B
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this , N% X; M: {5 k! ` M
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
8 J$ f) t- L: o1 pproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken # R0 f0 @) ~9 s4 Y! {$ u- [
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
2 `, z3 P; L, wget 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
9 m% {! K( b2 l3 P* _' `- dthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ( N+ j# F+ w+ D' e4 D ]# O
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
; W, ^% R3 g4 M) F- y: E z1 xhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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! ^/ ^+ _3 Y' t6 I8 r, M$ ?# M- ]* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 8 D' h5 \. e1 K
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in * v) L, s& q6 H7 n, W. Z# r- D
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 5 F k" U( @3 L8 N, ~7 {' D2 O7 E
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ' p0 {7 C7 e+ I/ `6 h
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 0 O2 P1 m: K5 v, A$ v/ M# H7 P
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.; O# T; p/ o4 t
( ^7 b/ s) z1 M& ^ d* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 3 l. B( J& @: Q5 z
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 2 d) G/ b, {/ O* p2 S9 ~
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that : y4 i3 [- P# L# Y9 ~ j) J" G
price.& u) H* U6 X# i
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
4 M* E: J! Q1 bbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
2 F7 Z# |8 l( a* I3 eexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
. ~. X0 c( }/ {, iwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you . u: a( G3 o& w9 H$ x$ A' [7 f5 ^
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
0 ]* e3 x3 x) \3 v, D) {% fthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 3 w9 c, C7 z1 I) t0 C
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 9 U* e: ^2 T: x; N/ S1 I
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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( [/ N a$ U: b) p+ z* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 0 b3 L0 ?+ e9 ~) v
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ( U, z4 \7 P p' N
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
5 [: Q' S0 e iyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ) b0 W" @, x- o
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the * K9 I3 u8 Q+ y t0 F: y+ i
better chance you have of securing the best deal.0 V( ]5 F a! o2 i6 Q1 B' P
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing % W' F4 S9 B, C: j% u2 ^" ?2 |- ~2 H
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That - n! C6 W ]( b
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
8 p, W) h1 _, `4 ato save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
8 }! Z" r5 X- R* @& xconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 7 ^" j; w! Q R1 u% b g8 w
buyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
. J# j- }$ ]( K4 p) s' Ldie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you , ]6 q9 _' ^2 `, V3 C
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but % g& \) O# y6 ]: Q+ ? X1 ^
he’ll close. |
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