 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- y6 A. w
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the 0 \; F$ R) U% E0 i; ~
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
U) w' q: W4 W) {% n* ethe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and 0 H5 T' B& ^ l0 i* q
begging for mercy. That’s the fun part.* k) A$ b5 O. v. p
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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 ' e$ w L$ l- v: J- y/ ]8 {) h
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this - O; i6 P+ |# K* Y' j/ A
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 8 ?1 C9 Q& r. Q& s
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
' {# ~! _9 R& N4 i' U, |" s) |/ fseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
+ P8 S: ]) h& S& ~+ b, p$ ~3 Hget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with." P/ I% `- T% u; H7 D4 N" R% `3 I& u
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
6 E" g& m7 E) F1 z+ Uthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not
+ N4 y( U _! X) }3 @. M2 r. ^cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while ) q3 z3 z+ [* a! g7 a- [- S
having a powerful psychological impact.2 G$ N5 j% E! n @0 ?
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is * H/ V2 }! j& F! q3 R* S7 t
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 0 h B. F' s j& y' o
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 7 d( [/ A# r! G# n/ W" J+ @
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
! ^9 {0 [7 ~% U; ~3 G1 X( _never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get ( p+ R: @* `# R# V! i* V5 O1 `
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price. Y1 K x- f6 ^' d
9 [" I0 ^- g, B1 ]2 ]+ Y" Z* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 9 B7 S" ]4 [$ W, t1 T3 P: K* Z! t0 @
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know . i& Z, }* ^) C
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that * ^6 G k7 X+ u
price.7 ?& M- J+ c3 `2 [' N
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five & } \ f4 P. R0 K/ ^3 T) v
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
/ @% ~0 ~" m& a& \% Qexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
8 t! d" ^+ i, i2 }+ `3 U& Pwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
! M. D+ u. D7 \! `: Bhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
" D; }( p) ~8 g) p. x. }, tthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
; b( ?/ r" @) {+ ^4 d/ XSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
3 k! G8 W% p# K) ?6 j2 a# Bdie 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 $ p, V- e9 w1 y9 T/ X, {
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
, H" [8 U$ w' kprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
: Z) B1 r+ r- k9 |. _9 yyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The / U1 J4 n8 v, _# |+ g3 ^
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 5 f* b: i3 _) |/ a3 E; F7 V; F
better chance you have of securing the best deal.$ p% Y6 D5 x& ]9 w# d& I: H* f9 e
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
, h* p- D+ y. W$ c1 t$ A) `properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 7 j/ \( C; ~ p3 R( ~4 M5 A
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do ) f$ l& n1 y7 w
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
5 c1 S4 d' w) K1 \6 v# ~. yconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
1 Z, x3 u% k6 B4 Ubuyers in during the bubble years.. F3 v7 t' |" U2 {
. ^1 I0 z: n9 Q2 q. t/ m* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it 6 ]& ]& t3 ]" D4 ^
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
% ` r \: b' x- m/ L+ ^6 rwill not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 4 v; D# h% Z# m4 V
he’ll close. |
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