 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 ?' G/ X y; f' u, y, k4 x( i+ X
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 9 n: V! K" _0 M: C f
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all * u! N" S+ \3 s5 {4 \" C
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and $ @5 H t# [1 G |3 ]
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.
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$ v5 ?& b% }" u. tSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
2 C& n* v1 v6 B7 S5 Kyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
0 Y5 P- i C4 y4 d2 ^% D- `* Uand stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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# g( `) i9 G: ^" ~: ?; |& q* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
# a4 n3 K" @1 D( iproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
9 d }5 }8 @0 Y& S7 pseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
& ]# z z3 ]: q3 q' t5 @$ oget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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$ x) m) l, ^2 g4 ~$ ]8 r* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on - v R5 L. n8 A, N2 e/ c) a/ Y
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
# n7 E+ ~* Z, X, `! ncashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
" w7 c" s, Y: ^/ B6 l$ S' Whaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
) B0 |6 G8 v8 v: V7 `7 Q! Acompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
5 M: ]$ z, A) o8 b/ C v- iorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
$ P4 {. i0 ~, b1 }) p \the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you $ U G- E5 }1 [) z3 i+ a% i- G) Y
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
8 ~4 J4 w& l& y- \' L) swhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.8 }' p. `$ j( I
7 t4 o7 p; I# k! H# ~3 b* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 0 ]. U4 T: }. ]
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
3 f8 r* P5 k* {; f0 `that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ( f8 G/ d' j* a5 G9 ]9 M# I; E
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 2 a9 s7 P4 l9 q+ B9 w+ W1 {1 Z
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s % J0 d* J& a$ b2 S
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of 0 K7 s, a+ t( S2 Z4 f( i
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
6 U( v( Q3 p- ^+ Z$ {* v$ o2 u3 whave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of m( S* R. q$ C$ Z
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. " l. G: `3 E8 n1 |% v
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
9 O& R6 c- S& [/ W6 \2 z j' Vdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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5 ~. H0 b$ C/ B2 m* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have . {0 P# t; I3 S6 v( P' ]
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
, T# y, x# v+ ~& G; s8 Kprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
3 u, g6 ~$ r. l$ Y. m7 `your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 7 @* t4 |% I5 p) h3 I$ E
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the $ O; I4 a$ T- c+ x6 y8 e
better chance you have of securing the best deal.4 N% K3 I3 I8 E6 D/ T2 x# o$ p
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing . o0 r1 T' d# z7 Z& _0 w R
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That & W- Z1 e& S" i& O& D" P! N3 D
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do # ?9 Y( I& [: ~3 G) j
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
4 W# e+ E0 `! o& W5 k9 Rconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 2 J% o1 A7 ~% \1 v: ?$ ?: j( M O
buyers in during the bubble years.) U: b& b6 f0 I& v
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it
+ h2 r' T9 K" C. b$ f9 `$ Pdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
1 D* h+ R, R4 q& X: m; u1 j* pwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but ( ` |( o( S6 a$ S" g
he’ll close. |
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