 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 - w( i1 f, H, z) J/ @0 q
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the : r- a" |5 X h# l7 e0 ^! ~2 z
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
5 n4 x, X7 V& M0 y8 lthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
" ?0 F) X5 l9 Y! e/ Qbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.! Y+ c- S/ b+ V0 B) V* ^
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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 2 n4 L: \; I0 N8 O: h4 [6 `/ u
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
, @+ ~- N( H5 P( `$ W4 D. X& tand 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 ; j' x4 D& `8 ^5 h% q
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken - s+ J/ x; e( B( C# v( d
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 6 Z; c0 W* ~7 M O; h5 ^+ y* ~! t
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.* J; D& \0 b% L& O; N7 f/ _1 o f8 _' `
% H% G9 J$ v* P2 Q" u8 X* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
' V% C8 H+ I+ h/ G# ithe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 5 h& X8 B T$ V; d/ ]3 @ x
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
" H( T, b z4 D! ^4 Y# F) ehaving a powerful psychological impact.3 Q$ g9 r% E+ }# p! O* ?
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is % l8 e% g% m: \4 y6 o, t
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ; R" x, r) ^, x, u2 A4 r
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on % `. }: S3 t# [
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you ( B. D$ n, B: |8 L
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
4 O& k; f" T: O: zwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.6 {# l, u8 \- E5 E7 b0 J% I
% `# a. E# e1 G; J+ t7 k8 v4 d* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 6 U4 y- |% U5 w% `, }
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know / L* S6 J) }, M5 ~& N- [
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
4 y* s6 _! {$ I1 U5 {1 Ibusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
* w. o. D1 B; [2 p' y6 ~0 yexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 1 }) C( U S0 T* |
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
5 }2 i) _; Q) R0 g) M6 Mhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
7 y8 ?& g% M0 u9 _# P2 ethe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
& x; f6 l% Z/ x& I( oSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 8 m! z$ G/ n5 Z4 C3 _1 }7 ^9 a5 D
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
/ W' k* Q$ M+ k/ P2 ^" D7 Byour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the $ n( i4 i m# b& u* R, D8 y8 Q9 C
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 0 O6 Q6 M5 a2 z6 s7 p. Y, i p" Q) T
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ! R, c8 h: c: E( P w# t
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the : ~0 P! [) y8 r! ?
better chance you have of securing the best deal.8 C, x" W3 I% g5 d6 F! Q6 Q* u8 l
6 ]1 V% P! a+ O$ g9 F3 o6 X1 S* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ) H2 [9 I. W, F3 Y3 i! ~
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
. ], p1 L8 I3 T: Dwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 1 T" Y% T" H7 ~$ `5 g% t. n
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ! {- y, ]% ?4 R( j% F
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed L0 S* W4 s. [2 V
buyers in during the bubble years.8 l4 Z# d1 E* |% C9 G% ^
% M( A t, j. I* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it : n% b3 v9 M, V3 M. @
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ' m+ F- @! b. i9 f
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but $ N. }* v3 K+ _0 B) C' N. b
he’ll close. |
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