 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
( k1 V: m8 z }falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
7 u/ n. y. {, G# t [% qbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
0 |, _/ M, y |" ^the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
+ v+ E# S1 G9 X! Abegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.; V5 w a/ f7 J. V0 V. x# @! w
. l4 v4 N& E) ^! ^So, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if , F! z2 Y2 r5 k: a7 ?
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this * `) j1 r3 n: T, ?; O `& \% M
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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: C- C+ q: Z" R' e* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
) H5 k3 K0 Z" M2 y- k( nproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ! \. v- `. W7 X- Q4 s
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
3 n4 q7 e' e. C x5 [ b# H$ s! J2 Z8 f1 oget 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
/ z. N1 d; N2 jthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 8 m* @6 z/ Y/ o" C
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
. {; W+ O2 ^7 L4 vhaving a powerful psychological impact.- ^$ L# E3 ^7 ]1 \$ L k3 F& ~
) J0 _4 d( m5 V! ~' I; j* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
* H3 P# R% {& C9 \; ]completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
5 o1 _, v& R1 e/ r6 {order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
$ W& _/ }" A% U1 A4 Zthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
5 q% G: G9 c, ]7 y8 f+ l7 x* U0 Gnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
* z& C& H" O. Uwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.# ]( F- e; u, x1 f5 x. _
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
4 A9 F! J( E' Kproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
5 V8 ~3 c6 Z1 o7 K! b4 p0 Gthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that % _. F6 ^, L. N
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
* K* Q2 E* f- C& fbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
; ^! {6 c- W4 ~! y- ~ fexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 5 N! l4 ]: y1 g0 ^2 K( i$ w. `
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you $ N+ ]! s: U f- \, ~4 J
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of ) Y" R9 r2 u6 `* A2 F! }& y9 n
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 8 j& l! l& w T4 z- S' A
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
5 T7 x x0 m& o: ]$ O- r& w# ~die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.& e, A T: b& b* R, O6 S
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
0 g6 v7 d s3 h3 c) Q$ C6 uyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
( L, W3 m2 @0 V: Q4 @( Z, yprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into + H1 o8 R0 q& R
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
9 d e9 z9 R# U; Z* O( Fmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 8 {, ]+ I/ |! q% z$ A% W( n! A
better chance you have of securing the best deal.) r- t% H4 u7 J) d
$ q0 R) k9 O% X5 N8 p, O) t5 b* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing , R! e- f% M% S/ Q$ \
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That - M6 t* c9 z9 C- o
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
) e- w+ S& ?* a/ Fto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 9 z# o& ]: d& y, E/ V
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
4 ]) W8 @+ R9 M/ _# V& _# x( Sbuyers in during the bubble years.. U9 w4 A& y" d
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
! E: |# _$ p( H8 s) e2 l9 G: Tdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ' Y4 T0 p. M5 ^9 E' I, `* }9 K
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but : f j+ j; E1 _8 c
he’ll close. |
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