 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
5 i. u9 m1 Z a. r( Gfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
0 B' D* x) L& ^) [1 U7 Cbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
, T' |; p% w" U3 l u5 R- ~the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
# y1 W3 }2 c' V% v# y- P! wbegging 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 5 f4 J" g: L8 T ]
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this ; D# N% B0 n; B) I( w' C+ u4 P! I
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
# m$ O9 I" R$ @properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
( k% ?$ }3 W4 V7 z# y: N" Sseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
; |7 J! S+ K& P" Sget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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, \9 F! {9 y0 z) v. r* w" I* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 1 u B# c( r% T) h' i
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
. U9 Y1 w. k; C0 xcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
( a1 w( q' h" o- S7 W1 c) Jhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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! }5 C, q6 x! s9 g5 I& V( v* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
2 A) r# q# P0 I9 W& O& jcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in " O. @/ K( I9 t% `* [8 U
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
8 @) ?6 x( G6 D% E- xthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you - p* ?$ k0 Y* b" L8 a* U' R& c
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
, H5 T" G3 u3 x- wwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.9 ^ T0 |1 |) }7 U" H* D5 X
; }7 D( f. G8 E; V0 h7 s* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
' g2 D1 t3 }: Z% g+ a8 Rproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
8 K/ b6 I$ Z! ]that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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7 o1 z1 d7 l3 r* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
7 _/ ~# E+ m; T* u6 zbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
, Q; v7 k5 d& {# gexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 0 U6 D! O/ t8 \$ r2 J4 ~) e2 N0 M3 P
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you * e0 _ O% c% i! e" ^& o" ~
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 9 U1 H3 o2 F: M* w! [
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
0 U2 p9 Y$ c2 q/ ^& a' LSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 8 ^. C% u" a0 T% F7 }. [/ X
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* X2 I2 D( o7 l- s E" J* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 0 \7 O2 c0 B0 f O9 H" q
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
/ O% G) o) O* e( ~# zprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 6 o2 w0 c8 R9 X' L
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The P7 H, w1 H$ B- v/ t, }, @# R
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
2 k" x+ Q% Z0 ]) `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 7 h( K Z9 E# ^% F" R& I0 b& `
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
" _4 C* R0 G3 C6 [% b; S, x7 b$ ?will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do & \" V5 D: L) Q; g6 H: I+ O
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ) _. Q: }8 g& i, K" J0 w
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 2 w% T. B' \! `
buyers in during the bubble years.' J, r0 c7 \, `+ z
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
0 l6 e7 j, |7 udie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ; ~5 w! k' f$ l
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
- c2 x( u* ?+ [% Dhe’ll close. |
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