 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
6 |, \0 n; l8 G5 N" o7 F5 r% E0 Ofalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the * e# m& ^: Y& B2 G( t
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 4 ` [# G8 p D
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
: A3 k4 l! y1 e% ~9 @0 ]: G. lbegging 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
, v; f4 x V& t# ?, vyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this : ^9 V- f7 r- `- q4 z9 r
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)( X+ K2 d3 I8 a& I/ T: Q$ K2 `
$ _5 m1 ]+ B. O9 b# o5 }: N* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
2 O3 y1 v1 ], r o& ~% ? _4 }/ i. |properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
+ I" M# v y: [3 ^ p1 jseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
% g8 k; \9 @5 W1 n! c; u* H# V" fget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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7 O9 @6 m/ |1 U: P2 D6 \* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
2 T' g8 h* m4 jthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not b: M1 h3 _1 m
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 9 q( a+ k; y8 j/ M
having a powerful psychological impact., Y% I" M" ^- o
5 r( B# a! ]0 K) T) i( W. y. i* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
( l2 v5 z% e* K/ H% r2 |completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in ; E, x7 S. ]2 c/ _' M6 b
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 6 s+ z0 X- a9 |5 v7 z; b
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
/ i9 K* y5 d7 i, Y" A, I' p8 j& f. Hnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ; e4 J/ J4 e) N/ n0 R$ c) f3 x
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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3 o: f4 w8 |5 t) A, n. u( {: o* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another - r) b/ q5 C, E2 S
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
7 d/ R; p4 t3 c) C, o+ ~, Zthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ; w6 i5 |5 |2 \# l* C
price.
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, a Q1 f0 O" v; ~3 u0 e3 t* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
' O. [% d2 o( rbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s * o8 c. z. X% u1 s& }
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of a# G! d5 [# \3 x
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you . U4 z( z- ^- }3 n
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of , N% E: s7 _! O; X
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
! }* d. z4 s( u) k: KSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 3 y* h5 L+ K% t7 ]
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
: O$ C" J$ B) D% T7 v5 x! S d. wyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
: d+ O9 C( D1 n0 O; dprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
& C1 f; C+ S' D9 \) d/ Cyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
# y$ J$ t7 z; a( s- m6 C% q. Omore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
3 }6 d# i- t+ Z' j/ Z5 C& ?3 ]6 tbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.- K% g) j% _: n" C
3 P2 E- @ s# E. ?: T" `* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 8 P/ E1 k0 b7 C, N6 K
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
4 z1 j9 a- ~ V/ T. owill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 7 B7 q* \+ j; |- s
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
, [# s' K: P& Q( f/ x9 {consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed U0 \% ?# ?# U' w( ?3 U
buyers in during the bubble years.
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/ z9 |9 L* w/ V" |9 C5 P) \* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 5 }! H1 P! s( g- V5 @4 Z. @
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you - l: E6 G9 T2 o9 V) J
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
& m" O. f( G+ r5 N; \: E) T6 _. hhe’ll close. |
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