 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 1 `2 V0 K( e1 I/ I+ ~+ ^
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the + \- {, s- Q% g: n
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all , R/ W( P; d' k' r9 m; s: t1 T" z, J
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and - O/ E+ i5 h3 c9 d" m, m6 q! \6 Z
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.- ~9 w3 Q n( Y; b0 ?
4 C7 ], ]9 e$ \So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if 0 q6 o! i) w; r
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
' _1 w9 N* a3 z8 p2 m+ Y. xand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)8 V" w4 \3 q; I( V! D
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
M8 D6 z% B+ J% q' R" w# ?+ oproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
- P0 v" m" G: e* D- l9 T+ [seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 0 {0 G6 j; c% C2 i
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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, o! D. {2 |8 v7 m2 y! t8 K$ I* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
- [1 g" W3 D0 }4 L# vthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
5 \- d+ W3 v( @6 t) Z' K: Pcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
* W U" s6 D5 L6 s' Chaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
9 v5 k3 G! O5 J+ y. Gcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 1 a" l1 E3 H. g; v! d" U Q
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
/ L# R/ j8 L+ ~- V, [' I' Cthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 5 r2 `' W/ K/ C I7 {
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
2 Z7 h( }- N; f+ H: x, Z, T. Cwhat 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 : |0 o3 _- l z+ T' B: z' x6 N4 p
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
: {1 t9 s; V( H* Z/ kthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ( R4 u9 F) C& Q
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five $ s+ `& W, k1 j3 `" T& T
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 8 i: M3 w/ f/ ?) o& r7 j& ~
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
. N8 m1 m2 u: zwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 2 b7 K) a# w) Y! D' a8 n
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
% b5 S0 x w& J# I; T* E% `1 uthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 5 S- v) X8 m7 r
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will C6 \, ]2 X0 J6 c& F, ]
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.! b4 }: Z9 p; E1 e: R. n
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
7 m w1 ~7 S% X5 o0 {5 tyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the " \- X0 E2 d/ g4 h* C
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into " t$ K& e0 l8 Y0 J& ` I; _3 a
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
" n. ]8 s* T3 l ]! jmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
7 L4 }& K9 j% ~1 F7 Ybetter chance you have of securing the best deal.$ q- l" j* Y% _1 q- T3 }4 S7 r
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
: b1 f' W6 p S" ^6 l; J6 hproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
- B- [3 P$ e0 k6 k, ~/ k9 {will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do , k0 j# N5 w1 Z: y! c2 q
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just : I! L2 p+ N. ~; q
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 7 x/ k8 b# n1 z" G2 t7 t
buyers in during the bubble years.
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) L9 d9 p% h9 w% t9 K* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
( Q9 L% c" K& @6 @, t n) n7 vdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 7 P+ W# ?3 s& g! @
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 7 U I3 I T2 g/ s& |/ Z, [8 k
he’ll close. |
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