 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
/ `+ ^8 K+ }0 X8 Gfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the , p0 o% M2 l2 T {
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 4 o7 R0 P9 a- G, T1 f* Y" `& |! ]" u
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
* P. S$ u0 Q% J5 x0 T2 q1 zbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.+ u2 u+ Q1 r8 u( m" w: E
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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
1 b" k# m7 d9 ]2 g$ Ayou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
0 h3 Z- s" a1 ]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 / c: _( W" y _! _3 b
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
8 m# `4 S. d+ L9 i0 E6 ]1 eseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
! q& R. \2 p, o1 @; u; iget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
% N" G( g, X+ ]) | @3 ]1 Nthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not # `" ^) p: L' n* E8 x# T; x1 M
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 8 |# P( H4 d* H! C& B0 l
having a powerful psychological impact., t3 E. J( ?6 n* _. _
9 H$ N: I3 T8 c* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is * ~$ h' K1 ]0 ^8 ~
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
$ S& k$ Y) F! B W, Z- A/ Rorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 3 I- k) \' H8 s
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 3 j3 j5 Y; S. a, z0 G4 T1 R
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
$ A) p' G, i6 J; [& wwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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3 Q/ }) @# b" Q. H: J* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
3 ]; ^# D; i4 x5 eproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 1 l( h. p$ j9 w/ [7 V' [
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
% u7 f9 Y6 }. s3 y5 }0 zprice.: u7 \. L3 @8 l2 Q
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 7 y2 z3 m# d* H, A( i0 _& n4 `1 ~. y
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
$ ]( f- H( R' r$ F4 }expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 6 S" s3 t1 P* ^& V/ \
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
5 |: Q6 s* Z# w, O% _& ^ Uhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
6 W8 b0 @6 z4 u$ L! \1 Kthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
# K1 a2 I2 \: h9 x0 U9 tSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 2 o S3 b- k( P
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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2 o5 g3 N# l) z* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
/ S* u7 d: j: D pyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
; m2 o* A6 \! Nprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
$ M/ A. K, t a0 Y2 L' J8 ryour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ! a9 j& |+ M6 Q. e6 f! } N# |
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the " ^, L: b; H& B' t( H2 M6 s
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 6 A" }, s# M: z# n3 Q& _4 Z: }
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
3 f* J+ ?8 W8 P& o) v5 E- Owill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 9 i0 E5 L6 k, U, Q( P6 O
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
/ g6 a4 l; V$ A" T2 ?consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
% }4 k9 [ c4 A# e+ h. T) obuyers 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
! K- l1 K2 R' P( V D, R# @die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
: N* ^' H/ m: z( @# @$ bwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 6 f. N% i* Y; ^) ]" g, e
he’ll close. |
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