 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 ! l, ?9 T: x3 Y9 q+ R
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 1 z* s* }7 ~3 s4 q5 C; ` N6 G
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all # [, w& k, ^% b& |4 F7 v
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and , i8 M u+ ?( t: w7 b
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part. t2 W) p; Q& L3 o
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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 ' e5 y1 e! Q% y* ~+ s' R( d- o
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
% `% M+ B6 _( H/ ^* R! Aand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)8 L+ N/ X9 R/ Q- S7 [
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many : p/ T9 A9 k. H8 Q1 i
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
2 x) L, a" n5 Gseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you ' p C' K8 |2 `3 l$ r! v: d) h% H
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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( w- w- ~0 W ^* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
# o) @! A0 g+ u/ ?the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 6 t- c9 u! w6 Z9 `; a. P+ ]
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
# o1 P( E# l6 V" zhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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& i; h( w( t2 d4 v6 [9 _% K/ A* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ! E/ Z y8 z# u
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 8 k; V1 o5 ^' P; H+ A7 m: D& n
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on * l' v3 \, ^+ _8 W, j$ E( N- {# ^1 v
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
0 Y% u; {- b1 W# R7 g/ D/ Cnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get / e- N7 {( i8 |3 q# G- x
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.5 K) z- }# ~( ]4 ~+ n5 e
1 V9 q; j- O8 A* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another " c/ H5 O3 R* y$ U1 u0 |# U$ k
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 4 w0 p7 {) T+ X* ~6 V! t2 `; q
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
' y9 y# z: v Z) a3 B/ Lprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 1 {0 O6 |9 E: g7 I5 w/ `2 c8 y* U
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ( h+ o; V& e! I' m0 S6 k% e
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
9 ?0 a& R/ D) s, `1 H' J( qwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
4 E2 G6 o+ l3 Jhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
, t& K% H( H4 t% v* _5 m! Sthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
3 @$ U) Q4 D" w2 K3 iSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
7 s4 V. h; q$ I" sdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.+ M& ?4 S8 r/ C0 _
" Y* t# l: `% t$ G9 N F* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have + u& L. {& R& j) R$ t. p* Y
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
# Z% [4 g6 C0 Q' A8 t: dprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
. S5 C4 V+ M9 T2 j& Ayour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
# o% x9 O) T2 U) W. d) I' pmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ; ~6 m- x& ?/ c* O. y. F `1 n: ]
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
" T2 t2 z7 s7 \4 G( W- B% Gproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ( H1 U7 n4 P' z9 e
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do , l: u4 U. y+ O1 r6 _7 y
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just . D7 a5 m B3 e& B H" ]
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
3 t" H; l2 S/ |& ]buyers in during the bubble years.; i8 U* U. Z7 \& ]3 w
/ S: p5 c [" g. ?% Y( w4 z* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 3 A* n2 y; _5 i' O
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 4 ]" g( n; C- _: I- Z$ g+ b
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 0 ]5 X, w" P7 C2 a/ ^6 n
he’ll close. |
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