 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
0 l& p. ]* B8 x$ ?2 p. ~' Tfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
+ M$ R- J% \7 |4 X9 Cbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 1 D# Y2 [* `$ \; n/ t
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 0 s/ S% |0 P- w# c/ r+ P/ R. @) 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
& Y: ^) d. i& l5 C+ F5 N2 U( g& b* H( iyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
9 [) t' ~/ [+ `% H* wand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)+ [2 i; X& @0 F* b
, V: h7 X4 A! }- h$ |3 L/ H" T* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
4 U; q; `# T5 V; R+ d/ Vproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
0 e9 o6 x1 [* {! G6 F3 I( @seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ! n$ I9 b' W" z0 e: c
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Z. @4 ^( y5 a% _3 k/ N* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
; \& K4 i. |1 k0 J- X! zthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
% Q, w* X/ w5 Icashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
: O0 |6 b* L& a6 T, J1 p5 ~having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 6 G" F$ k' a7 k ^1 s5 X; y" E
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
2 I# u+ L* L% F/ qorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 7 S: P3 a8 h3 I3 g5 }! H
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you - e' J# z& I0 Z# {
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
, q+ ?) W0 C3 H5 swhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.% K( g# i) `( D! Y
2 @2 F& m* X, S- `* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 1 P- D0 n1 w! y
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know , `: ^: O' w8 P
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
5 { ^5 i( C0 l; M. J! g& Gprice./ Z) l6 a2 o; |9 N* V2 g1 Y
% I3 G, O L% e2 Q7 A* _* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
# I0 Z" Z9 \" ]. Obusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s . d# m& S3 c; U7 W
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
X% r4 c/ Y# h( F9 p& Z. V" u N& Kwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you 4 t/ P) N* k3 h% ^5 v( \
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of - i+ S }) w. Y! k( J
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. D. }5 q9 u3 G# z$ S7 M# u
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
/ X, n: Y5 ~' V @- F. J( ]die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
) o& z0 y, ^* I3 xyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the * E% L! C7 e& O0 e; V6 I! ^
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into & C: C6 ` n4 o g9 [
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The - d) m' `! n- E! C$ i
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
& m/ E0 j$ X$ g1 _/ i$ } i0 ^1 cbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.! @7 V" ~& O; B( y
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ; J/ D2 D! `& T
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
9 J% G' Q9 u/ \+ _1 q& E7 U* o2 `will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
t9 W' O, h. I; \to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just # A- M" @" J H; g" J
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed " N0 X" q& K7 }/ d" } u# ?) m
buyers in during the bubble years." _5 R: q K4 V( e0 v1 M8 Z
6 i$ J( L! g9 s6 [" S$ g2 \5 }* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
9 h1 q. n# @. Kdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
. y! f* [" X7 W/ x5 R( C' Zwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but * _) p3 u; i9 N* v" w1 }0 y z
he’ll close. |
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