 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 4 U( Z7 p2 I! @- k- l: Q
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 1 n3 ^% F# A% c% j6 p/ g! P: {
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all - Z$ }+ Q+ A2 R; z6 I# X
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
; v( t, A; C' @5 c% Sbegging 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 3 D1 x" W# ^ m+ X
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this j. P0 j" {( k
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many 7 s( H; c t1 ?; \8 b+ Q4 D
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken $ c8 I- D }9 v! m) O% q3 u6 O& B
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you $ w% s7 t; D$ X1 y; | r
get 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 }2 a. E% k& W/ f
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not ! t' Z6 m a/ u/ ~6 F$ q% z$ Y
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
6 `+ ?# a H. c! Y. Lhaving a powerful psychological impact.! e2 t/ l2 \& |* T" p; \
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is
/ J' w4 e% D7 L& tcompletely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 8 |) e. d2 R( X9 V$ n) u3 X- D% }1 E
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 0 d# Q+ a: `# j, w" S# ] _$ n3 E) Z
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
) \& g2 r* M) u2 C/ ]1 `! g/ d" f' l) n8 Ynever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get w( \. i0 k+ D5 ?. \1 y) b
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.' t( ]0 V, b! i% g) d
- ~( x1 C/ B3 w9 r1 c* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another ; q+ e9 j$ u+ x6 ], ~% P q
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 2 ?, V! Q4 c0 W9 K' y8 |7 T$ X, W, x
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 4 c% }, l8 e* _
price.7 y0 S6 C7 c8 b" T& F3 A2 i3 t2 x
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five 4 h& t" ], m; p% G9 J- C
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s 9 P9 M9 A9 O! o1 h9 j9 W
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of ) K5 o) \0 s+ s; Y
work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you : ^% g& [1 c' l( r1 l9 E4 d2 h" q, j
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
2 |, {) f0 L% E* Y9 h, pthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
r/ Z P2 \2 b6 H% V8 bSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
! v5 _4 u0 h, h' Q6 Ldie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.5 l4 N3 ]* a6 g9 |% r# {2 [
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
3 r6 }+ x$ ~! Z) o+ }4 R3 f, Z b& t$ Nyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the : T8 j U* ? K4 J8 C; w
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into 7 [( W! Y4 Z& `3 a
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
% O% p& D: |7 t; A" Zmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
3 `, H; `2 q' C* K* ?9 L1 Lbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.1 }( E/ L L% N- M7 U- C
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing ' d3 Z. A- f/ _8 Q3 S
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
( g f' k0 f0 B4 z: M5 t2 I( V$ @" ]6 I1 xwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
( F0 |, V! O, lto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
! `7 d. n0 |; N& H. Y, ?) uconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
2 ~- u- M9 w I" }$ T& L2 I$ @buyers in during the bubble years.. f8 _$ f: J7 [5 J6 J, ^$ }: J: S
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* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 4 r% w1 K, o6 D8 O
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you : C% Z1 ^" c& h
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
) G8 U) l; w$ o The’ll close. |
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