 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 1 R6 A& c3 S8 s! X2 V6 g1 c$ T
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
9 y# \0 h$ F, I) zbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
7 ~& n/ N5 y; l1 Wthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
' T+ i2 U- t8 tbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.6 _/ x0 ]7 v5 `. r* ^3 d+ X
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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
2 g. J3 X( E1 ^- I4 F, byou want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 4 u; T4 I2 F7 _# |' G* F0 Z$ H
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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. |" R2 A9 C& H$ T: W b; i# o: H9 d* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many " A+ A' y: T" C# @. c+ Z6 P: G
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
* o, `$ N% n, M: r% Hseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
! R2 d( Y, V4 B o) q9 E" g$ Bget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.1 ~$ o0 W! ?6 O3 {* {, e6 c2 \
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on ( s3 ?$ c4 r* L$ z- u& b2 I/ c8 X
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not " T3 Y0 I' X) i( N8 x& V7 n/ ]! i
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while
, K( f* v+ y) `5 U. j6 `) Chaving a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is 5 u3 c% }1 p. I
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
0 } s6 V# I- j. h# U" n; \order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on 9 N. l, o+ o# m0 z( C! V9 U1 k
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
9 }" n5 \ Z+ q0 ~' {/ T' y8 o, ?never expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
! G D# B# x: |9 a" ^5 N* w7 \7 ^1 ~what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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7 F8 K. i4 A2 B3 W, o% ]/ s* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 3 v2 g5 S% U$ p0 p% O5 X
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know 8 j6 A9 Z" O. x& m k2 w
that immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
, u6 |3 _- M! M: |! L- }' dprice.
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
% V+ H Z) Y! H, n" d3 e/ Qbusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s ( z3 S; b( K5 O* e- e
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
( f5 w2 o- z( o; ywork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ; L1 @7 b5 z4 j7 C: k/ J
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of
+ z8 B- J" p- D/ ^% H" F! Tthe repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. / T7 ~3 m b" T& j- @7 B
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will ' s* ~+ |: {8 q- L& D! |$ o. y3 `
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture. |" F7 f6 c5 B3 k5 D9 A
" Z, o1 O0 b" h. a4 U0 P* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
3 t/ a9 d3 Q8 I' ^" xyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the - ^% O' N) g* M( F7 b0 U* p) F
price down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
% L) O' a1 Y* d# J% Z" L& Y% D0 Xyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The
0 M/ x9 J3 H2 Tmore you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the 4 t) _. r+ h4 Z: U$ G1 K% I
better chance you have of securing the best deal.
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* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing " N% w2 q1 O T0 H% a
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That ) R8 `( a( m" `9 k r: R
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do . Q5 m0 L( }* l% s, R' Y; k% M
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just 7 j" \9 A. \, A0 T( F. H
consider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed . S" k1 L. M t; M0 c' ]
buyers 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
: \8 z9 Z) e6 x0 I" F* U* Tdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 9 R7 |7 }( d" b
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
9 v! ]; o1 b% u1 yhe’ll close. |
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