 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
. M2 [9 g! d, n! ?. ^+ {, Rfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
. N' l/ t7 h N8 f% Z6 l+ {bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
% F2 ^# K& x/ y E' C* J( |the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
" l& k+ Y7 c7 Y# t. X, P+ lbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.0 w# P9 t. q# v. W
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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 & n7 h) w/ p. Z7 @) U
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this " _1 y: K5 u# M+ }/ q* ^
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
+ W2 {4 Y: {* P( U. S/ }properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken / Z7 |! ^5 l5 w$ n! ?
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you # t9 U8 v. M9 [
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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3 A- O' A3 m6 @* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
" ?6 m) S! J$ x, o' K/ l3 Sthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
: ]1 l% E$ O* U9 L7 tcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
( \- o1 [ J4 shaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
& }2 l! @8 s) C% S7 G: ocompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 5 Z; K4 S. P" `; {
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 2 V" V! @0 R+ k; \' c- ?3 G o
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you - N: V, j: Y |4 l0 K' Y E- _) w6 Q
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
. r9 Y0 v$ B! Q0 J- Swhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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+ E5 s# T/ }, @$ `- |* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
0 j7 t( u) D, f) O* k' Uproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
$ P2 v4 g! d g+ c. sthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
- M* E( M8 ^) x- Q" s/ o# L. Rprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
7 I/ z& z" e5 d( M5 \ |) Kbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
4 P/ S1 L0 A3 i9 jexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
0 P4 d6 ?# F0 y4 jwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ! a! A; Y# u: K/ M0 n- X. v
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
3 h. e- u1 }# l5 o4 z5 v" Xthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. t c) ]( y, d- s+ @
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 9 o9 O" L* f5 X( S6 a, X5 k1 f! w. ?
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.& E% m. x* C$ O- c; M; D. Y
7 b$ I8 D4 c, d6 t, Y; ]8 t* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
" `& p& z4 ~9 R7 r3 O9 N+ n y; kyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the % D5 w: k5 {9 {0 Q. H
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
9 ^ i6 w' Z$ q }' |2 u# X7 Vyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The $ x' O4 N, {/ b4 B; u
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
6 u5 |& \7 m* K& x" T1 ^) l- gbetter 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
0 b; `8 R3 Q$ \4 b$ @properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 3 l0 r1 z' _! i
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
4 ^& \% K* c. s$ o, X( V% Wto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just % Z7 A* t4 b0 g& v3 N! Q* C
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
. T [/ P0 i6 {0 T1 Bbuyers 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 - L0 v" ]1 Y9 `8 g. P5 [8 s" P
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you " f2 s: h9 T: I* J7 G
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but * i4 u4 \# [& F4 s# K
he’ll close. |
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