 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 u t1 C/ t$ }$ B* ]
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
0 X3 G$ \: L2 v# Z- M& @8 i. d2 Qbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
7 o7 Z* t# k* }9 S9 m3 ?* }" Sthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and # n* H; ~! q+ Z5 @4 P9 U1 l0 h
begging 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
! o% w$ _, r, b, `you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
; f2 Z: q3 C( A7 K% Y/ nand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)8 p8 y; b. [, o) W1 f+ G/ b j
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
# h" j, K. `1 V4 V% f" ^( kproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 8 n+ \9 k9 N5 \- e& B2 K& X
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ' l* `: S+ o, l5 M* R
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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0 x) R- ^2 [3 K+ X* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 4 G: m2 z/ ?! \: G8 m) Q" k
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
6 R( j. W$ |" Z& C- I$ Gcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while & V, s* p1 Z# _- M
having a powerful psychological impact.
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/ a, U5 ]# i1 @* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
' f- M+ \# P% Q0 l* j, V2 icompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
$ X( J$ W3 q. z. g$ Horder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
9 y q0 b: V5 ^the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 4 K( `1 J, I% _, n* K- T. ?
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
. _% H; `: C, J; Qwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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9 s! u& u2 C# q$ [4 x* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
. b. r' f0 `. D) H P$ pproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know , h ~3 t, t- u' G( R9 y
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 2 w4 |0 ?. h! i" {
price.
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" g* R i. [* o J8 b; }* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 0 r: Q( b( A! x7 h8 n2 z
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ) n5 n" q& v! O2 e. f
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of + }0 G) j, n9 ~2 R% M( E. |* S
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 3 j+ ]# V: s2 S3 F/ v
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ! B! N/ { t ]+ e# `, m6 |
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
3 L, y8 U- t+ R/ y' gSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
0 S' `, V1 H/ k- I- D! e3 K9 Ddie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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+ I& m: f8 c5 ?7 g o: ?. A* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
$ A$ H0 H! w# w$ g+ `" Vyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
0 Q* k/ H# r+ S* }; Qprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
) `" i E( T& O& U3 W* A, g9 yyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The * h t, e. O# H9 |7 Q" |# Q0 T
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
1 @8 W( \- n9 h+ Q( L% _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
9 L: W/ N" a3 i* d7 |properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That , q: x* k# X4 v5 R4 ?! u2 k
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do N2 N- l- U. o
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just # w* U. ]- |: R% i: ]# V* m& e" u) ~
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 1 ~* l, p! z" h9 W/ X# Z ]5 c
buyers in during the bubble years.! M" M4 R4 u% r
/ ^3 P- @* K9 n6 A3 L; K* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
2 V( B6 b* r, b- Z" Cdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
4 u4 I5 X8 p( k. Pwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
5 w, |% I& F8 Vhe’ll close. |
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