 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
0 ]( v0 x' ~3 M6 h9 H" Q0 ~falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
7 m$ i2 o0 Q4 o9 C4 Kbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
3 X2 X6 [; \3 H9 d$ u" Fthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
* B/ x3 `" t* r# P2 b6 ^/ e o7 tbegging 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 + U: Y( P: `7 x2 o) f
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this # i1 M& g5 \; v$ @/ {2 z, K2 i
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)' ?! s! n# @3 ^" E2 ~2 _2 l# a
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
# M) H" a* `4 n0 kproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken 1 u1 e6 M, G0 a/ e B. j ]
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 5 s/ g1 h, o2 ^& ]; ]
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.3 \+ D- ?& Z% l+ g
( @) p- B% r8 t. q' |0 u* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
- k% |, g/ B' Q8 t. o$ G4 f! W* W8 wthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not + Q& L2 z7 q; S. [) r) y# ^8 v8 ?
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
. x# K3 m: t U8 X0 [having a powerful psychological impact.- m* l" x! {& ]2 Y. Y5 B4 a
$ T* W# { U4 E+ W9 D6 X* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
2 d: O* S+ Z# h; w: K3 hcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
' l8 p0 e3 {& }( c/ y" P1 ]order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
e# _; N/ ~. Z3 h- L3 rthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
7 }9 r8 r; x/ Xnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
7 g A8 I( f: hwhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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2 J/ q4 H* @5 T3 w* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another / {1 e, f+ R; V; @& _
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 0 v+ Q/ Y2 g7 N5 u5 w, L
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
( N+ ~- `3 f% dprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
8 j9 }% b& v. B/ J5 B; xbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
, f4 M2 z7 h: I/ o7 n: f) wexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of # Y3 f! E5 k* g/ f
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
$ Y* R) ?8 W1 Z) l' Khave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
, B: y0 Q& S( Uthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. - T3 M$ v3 E5 j" M" X2 P5 `4 u; }
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
* D1 v( D! h) G8 udie 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
* h t A5 c0 ]0 z# ?! byour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
0 g2 ~3 `* i0 [+ Wprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
# L$ u& x- }% U3 k! ^7 h" F2 ]your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The * p) A1 S, C. v/ [9 n
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the ! Q5 U( s E0 O2 ]$ `
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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' Q. M; R" {; ^1 o+ n# t* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing 8 Y+ }) S9 T9 t i5 r
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 0 |4 h$ E6 d* V' y' c2 M! |2 Z
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
5 z+ ?/ E- g: U" g/ wto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 5 k# Z! ]" |: M' Y: o
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
. ?& f9 i4 l4 n2 X" `' d( a( fbuyers in during the bubble years.
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ) Q$ r2 _" [7 R% {- ^
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ( k& K& {! d4 B; P. X8 U: U
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
- t' s! M' I0 D4 mhe’ll close. |
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