 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 + m2 v- g- K. B L1 i" b3 d+ ?
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the + N. v4 Z# ^9 }# G V8 I' ]
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
1 Q' H3 E2 b3 _9 Xthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
$ d0 u) M4 U7 Y% sbegging 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 : m! `2 E+ A: x5 C, g' _
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this % _0 z6 |4 D; {
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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/ u! L3 B4 d/ S1 ^' E* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many - E' A% {1 w q7 C
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 6 b$ ], `9 Q" P% O6 W
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ! v3 W" \9 d% T" B) Q0 K4 j* T( Y( h( [
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.' N; [: C* t( d2 g/ d
. {9 B; y/ f+ F" n6 U) p% b* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
8 z- n! I) x& j2 u4 H5 Y9 w' d0 p5 fthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
7 |6 H! y w" B( f4 M/ p$ ^cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
. U4 [. d/ R( k" \" z9 I% I2 E! Ehaving a powerful psychological impact.
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% ~7 Y# V- [: h* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is : V$ W- p1 x' D
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
3 E* `! g) ~: I. E% O. q8 Corder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
) ]! G" ]7 |" g* C2 b' q! Tthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you 3 a. T v0 w+ F: S# I0 J
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
) O b# \( ^; T/ O" D9 \3 w/ hwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.1 l9 e: d/ i* b& B! c
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another $ {0 Z& Q. ~4 }+ ^
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know % H; s9 A# F8 q# b1 K7 n
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
9 Q# \' B3 i9 }6 K6 Jprice.
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5 x2 L$ z9 F( F _" ]* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 6 i8 _' T/ N/ b7 G' y3 F I
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ! }: _3 o1 ~6 N' J! I
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of L7 W- s: f0 S
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
6 _7 c4 \2 V( G- X( Whave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
; h. g) L1 F$ J6 \the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
$ F1 y# M2 d& o$ }, xSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
6 y6 ?* I1 k: \8 Gdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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, h2 _7 G& f% l* n* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have 1 M; }' L/ z! G! J
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the ) s4 m9 P$ s' w1 I- i. |2 k& L
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
8 x) x7 V \+ c. y' l4 ^5 Q, Jyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
- s* W @% \0 V3 g" F0 \) A0 Qmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 8 v+ v! \$ y3 g- f( X2 b6 C. e
better chance you have of securing the best deal. J: I9 o0 P) j, g) x" q
. `9 D K% o3 @6 h* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
" D% U* `. h/ ]! N0 y7 Wproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 8 z& z! s+ D+ H7 q& v/ v% `
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do * N0 Y" H. h+ b( l/ ^' T
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just % A: Q/ t; g S
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed ( V" j% h4 e% ~- M5 B. f2 m
buyers in during the bubble years.6 X3 J7 B6 g4 h/ n! V4 k7 `
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
5 \8 j! S& }+ `die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you . i. w/ F" f) Z! n
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
: [1 Q2 ?& N( H) ?/ [8 K& Lhe’ll close. |
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