 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
/ ` I/ w: \% x1 _, B9 C+ g' Jfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 0 u8 ^$ ]/ W& Z3 d
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all B/ d" s1 g# J! |
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 6 c; E+ |/ \$ v# p+ \! w9 `
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.3 \0 ^/ i% d( V' }7 }
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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 o6 L3 j1 z( n: V+ F. m
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
! G2 ~/ h. s5 x% f/ iand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.), t9 B" x3 l) o% D1 | b
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 8 m: ^8 f, N& T1 A3 C+ a1 D
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
/ g6 i) h1 \" E# J6 k$ rseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
& b# X& n4 X. L& D# M! T1 b. d1 M: Zget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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$ ~* t2 J4 z! t1 w- _' q) m+ }* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on : |) ]7 }0 h0 E* G" D
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
{ y3 y0 P( C; Xcashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
2 O8 ], z- @+ G1 v k( J% Nhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
9 Q4 ]/ [+ ^4 O, U9 U/ J# Xcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in : A/ W p$ a* T# n3 B3 l
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
* B. a O+ h" zthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 4 |% B! z5 L1 ?
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get % f1 ]6 I5 V( Y2 l) g& o
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.' Q6 [4 G+ B3 Y) y
3 e! O9 q8 f/ \7 G: A" N* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 4 m. E* C4 _$ C8 W7 A
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
; }0 R# |# t( \/ n7 ~that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that & t! ~! c- _9 c p1 d
price.+ n+ N; m; o, N' e2 K
6 ?2 ~; T3 H5 N2 H* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five # `' y. n( J6 e& ]! ?% A5 q
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
c# V. O2 R o Fexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
; h! F8 C$ J* K1 O) X8 N ywork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
1 Q: k( z# w2 \6 `8 K( T" v Bhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of " }# d' V' ^6 M) [. z' ~8 V5 ?# q
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
8 y/ i: f" G; }* ]6 ^0 o: I G9 CSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 0 C. h) ~; `3 d7 r7 G
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
% c, ~. _$ B7 F! w" S# Q! Q4 i' Tyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the - l z- n1 W/ k( N& c( F5 V: b4 ~
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
6 X. k0 G9 d) v# dyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The : h) u# l* ~6 b5 P5 X- s7 F
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ) n8 j1 V* f2 Y3 g! e3 F) H% i9 B
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 3 Y8 C% |% Q( T- A7 K2 d4 N% D) {
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
1 S- u1 _& A6 C3 _/ q. awill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do - d" p1 `: r! {2 d
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just ! R% z& o& P/ `6 L9 W0 g0 Q: V" l
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 2 }" [1 X K4 n2 `
buyers in during the bubble years.
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# h+ q! Y( [" ^) B0 d5 L* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
d- s4 ~+ F8 }$ zdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
7 `: l+ v% r3 ^$ z) F$ rwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 9 p2 m4 H4 l* ~
he’ll close. |
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