 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 % P" I! g- H0 G3 g' I7 q7 K* E
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
1 N9 a- h& M- |% l6 J& n' [bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all , W: c" r6 b3 _* P6 i
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
! [* ?& C. w: Xbegging 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 # J( A" k( g1 Q, s$ g; t# m0 R
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 4 a& @5 t& v/ B! T* f i
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.). l7 W. w$ x! n' D9 O6 i
: G( @; l( h- _" j* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
3 V$ I/ P, C" Y. F- A; Hproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken - A. d c* \% d M/ m/ Z
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
r6 I3 {/ S) m% \" T1 ]- ~get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.3 F8 c; X; L' P4 e# z
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
1 f" k( u! M0 M$ b9 R& |the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not * G( t4 W0 V5 i F" E6 g
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while # _! B2 @: E: G D' `1 y
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is , @. I! Z! x1 D, H
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
' G4 P$ B( L7 \$ ~order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
" v# d' h F3 c) Z3 \: Qthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
, m, w& N7 X$ E& ^' }3 N6 lnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
% E' f5 ?* c& ?9 T# c' Lwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.3 W m0 k" k5 p
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another # N! m; T7 b7 z0 z2 |# E
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
$ |/ U7 a# M, x6 zthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
1 \1 F, C4 N. \" Mprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
5 _. d% i4 P. ]! X! ibusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
* N+ D- w) O' Kexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
4 o1 w+ o3 P) uwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
- R: u& |1 H; R( d% a+ K8 U% zhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of % v. j- t& t% d, r" B& v
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
0 z' E" ^" S: N: \Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will % ?1 r" t1 w7 {7 ?3 F
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.; _" n- e2 z# x" X4 O2 |
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
3 }! y1 {; c& c9 D. W }0 vyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
! }+ X/ a: f" o& Z. r1 K! }price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
1 i& s& F$ \) T Tyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
1 k4 q$ a, `# T' |" X% H4 Q2 kmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 2 g- U% o% U8 k @! _
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
$ q& B, h j8 B5 H* a% v/ r3 O0 _# Yproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 7 s! ?) O9 y* q" H0 P) e+ V
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 4 H2 R$ d8 |0 ?+ ^+ c9 L$ u
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 0 r; k* h. X( v6 O% j; d
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed . K" a' p! f. @- Y1 _9 B f1 B
buyers in during the bubble years." T' p5 {5 c: E1 ]3 H
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
8 F- l) _4 m4 T! V! edie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
; L8 U" v; u8 y; c, \# W4 e' s4 Qwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ; [# g0 }- t& R$ a; Q% q
he’ll close. |
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