 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
- B+ V2 U: V) zfalling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the ) W M) c+ K: u) W7 ^8 l
bottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
+ g- I4 k7 s: C' M. ^/ Athe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
, N) j y3 X( Vbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.0 P* E" N% Y7 K& E! s( p; N
$ o- n" Y. E P$ pSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if
$ X& W2 ]" _& ?0 f* Tyou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
/ z' z7 O2 }* A* Y1 |9 _5 l1 q, kand 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
; G& a2 h- Q0 ?+ ^properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken ( D4 l/ o/ W* A; j' P+ z
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 9 |5 E. |- C* S( U
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.
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) e; i' {2 W8 I* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
5 y3 ]9 _6 c' {% ?1 ^# sthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 0 D' T- S9 ?0 s& u3 A) p
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
# u) a) e1 V( Y7 g; uhaving a powerful psychological impact.
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' ^$ o9 A5 ?, X3 E* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ' b4 e: S# ]: R' i% s
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
& D7 V H g' k4 o* `) a. Zorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
) h4 I. p3 y6 mthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you : ^1 H" j, d8 b+ \2 b: @
never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get % O" G" T6 {) q# y
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 6 ]" ]" e( f0 A# J7 V) K2 b% b
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
4 F0 l$ R3 x- e! w4 u! Y/ kthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that ; d6 U2 h! N/ W* n
price.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
' t+ j9 s, u e$ S9 Z! Ybusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
1 D" z( v" [2 }- g, C# W& o# texpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
5 a" L/ x7 N5 m$ U( rwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
5 o$ q8 m# j7 I: P" z N1 bhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
+ h2 [6 Z* B5 G0 s- Mthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount.
& Y( x9 Y: g" {) C. XSince the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
2 S5 q' P/ ^! W6 E/ k) }# H! Kdie 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 5 j$ O( E/ O1 x- I, e
your agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the * B9 t( _: }! ~! P7 b+ O0 V) C
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
1 C. U7 H f; l9 U* M2 `1 a' `your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The & c/ O' {& f) D; a4 A
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
- X5 T. l4 M# N1 ?6 e% K: |$ H: Fbetter chance you have of securing the best deal.3 [# W1 Z$ z8 e/ ^7 G! o
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
l1 f% W# h$ s$ w5 r+ W$ Iproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That 5 s+ n( ^5 W: S" C, W
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do
* \3 Q- _: R8 t2 D h7 _- mto save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
6 M- X- P# M" Q# _% ?6 Z8 Lconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 8 @7 A2 v; p- C2 J6 ~: R
buyers in during the bubble years.( F: n2 Q4 y9 j/ G8 W d
6 r. K) m" [8 b' Y* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it * }3 V. T9 l. T: R9 g7 q% V
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you
! P* P& k4 [4 E' b/ |will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
' J/ N( v5 t6 C6 d1 t" B# \he’ll close. |
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