 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 4 d; d) u2 [+ W, v6 U, O) g+ T+ j
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
' n$ @3 l# q% Z; Wbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 3 b. ^1 l4 N& c" z' {. Y6 H' a# o. q% b
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and . N( u# u! `% _6 q2 p
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
$ ^, P2 f" K+ h1 \( c! @$ u& V* Eyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
: Y( Y' _" F8 D) Dand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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& i: B( D5 ^* j$ Z, M: U$ b+ n9 z0 t* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many $ `( ~) O7 m! R* `: H) j" a7 x
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken " c) m# @' K2 A8 a3 J) A; d7 W- r" H- p
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ' s7 _, c' ], e B7 f; B2 S
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.0 H: W' I- W9 ]7 [! C' g# P
# o( C$ r2 J+ r" y& p" Y# K* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
, ^0 l' p& D2 Q6 Xthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 1 ?5 N0 l! L6 s% g. Y+ N
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while / E. ?. ~; F! Z ]( u6 `0 U8 r9 c3 k
having a powerful psychological impact.
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; P1 t# s: q2 Y: H7 K, F3 P9 {* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
# O2 {& }' ^2 R. J1 F4 B% Rcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
- {* W( J5 m) e' k7 ~order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 3 X. p, x$ e: R
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 9 M0 D+ J* K( R
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
5 E* p; |+ T8 C7 s% R! u* |what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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9 A% [; b/ l P( g" p0 Q* j* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 7 A. k% P4 I+ _7 [; y
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
( H) D6 M4 |# ? z9 Cthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that b7 o: c, |1 C9 l, M# m) r% Z
price.
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& G2 r8 r" h5 j! A! _* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
- O/ h4 M& M& j, |5 C. A fbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
5 X6 N# ]( S; r3 Uexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of : ]. M1 `) o6 k) S
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
& {9 q* B( n4 v# s0 k! p9 ihave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
( |) d- X0 q( s( Q5 r) Ythe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 9 Z$ ` A G' Y
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
" g/ T% l9 d! @6 [die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.% n3 ~+ T- U6 K
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
w$ p& @2 {; Ryour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the # K6 ^! u3 C3 b( J* m& {% x' n3 U7 G
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
1 l: }+ Y% a( d W8 J( P) uyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The ) c2 r0 V$ Z4 l& Q& N" l
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
4 e/ x. J) U# o# t6 j- T5 tbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.- W6 d$ R5 f8 o# [
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
; C4 U; B1 ^9 \3 J8 l$ W9 U( Xproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
9 R) z# t. o- N8 @2 `) V8 O* D0 Kwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 5 z( u4 n6 d! G+ j Y c
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 5 _! ~8 ]- q$ q1 a4 p0 ?
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ; L; B' Y- P' n
buyers in during the bubble years.
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9 S, P9 C7 F* `8 z' o4 T# E7 X* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
: `+ q8 j+ w6 _" t3 e" Cdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you - }; _$ v3 ?% e' P
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but # R5 ^2 ?0 F% c( q5 w$ B" R
he’ll close. |
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