 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
* y) z4 f1 O; I$ r6 W. @$ s' n, {falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
& e" b: p+ q* M7 \+ i0 N, V+ P# Fbottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all
) c- t& Q" u; x6 g7 A/ r/ hthe cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
; K7 Z; s' \! G& ]4 Xbegging 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
7 E9 V/ ?# D2 v, T" i( {you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this 3 j. u& p V2 G* J7 \/ e, e p
and stick it on the fridge. (By the way, this is another preview of my coming book.)
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0 O0 @& E4 g" B+ ]9 D* Offer what you want to pay, not what the vendor is asking to be paid. With so many
" t4 m. V! ] G# C7 Pproperties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken : A; e! s7 B# u0 n8 H
seriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you 4 C4 n, y3 B/ [- g3 T+ C; n) F' N0 |0 [- ~
get a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.' K; |% S( \- y4 L9 ^
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on 5 f k7 I- D. \$ D7 p# B0 z
the end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not 5 w. j. X" @) A) B* [
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while + g% _; V3 |4 o8 K
having a powerful psychological impact.
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* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is ! e7 W# C6 ]* c# p1 b/ R2 z
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in 3 L7 Z' ]6 J! o/ S5 q
order to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on , S7 g3 s1 k3 `2 u; B
the vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
+ M" w2 c) t" p4 g3 s9 bnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get
) ~' m1 q: O" \! E' m# Y7 ewhat you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.; p2 g9 g$ ]) j; n$ {/ G
! `4 o3 ?& t) M$ l5 f$ K P* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another 9 M- b3 o) z# H, a7 Q* j: b: N
property – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
$ H$ F! }5 Q5 e5 ]2 x4 ?/ Zthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that 0 `2 y2 Z% F* h2 b7 d/ f
price.
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- c E1 h. h% c2 ~7 a) [& p* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five , y- N+ H! K1 H! Z, ~* j/ z, }& j
business days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s , @* v1 d' i6 F- X1 ~4 [
expense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
/ l% q" a$ A% P( s3 ?work done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you ; b7 _2 e, S3 V
have leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of 4 t4 l8 G" ^" s/ P$ ]. y( ^$ F) O
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. ; {; r* F3 ?2 w; a/ J+ O6 N
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will
, h3 c( b+ w1 d( Sdie unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.: h* E! c& l h
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* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
, P Y) o" Z6 ?; W7 y3 uyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
& [9 E2 q/ \- v; h& Sprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into ; h/ n' b4 |, ~1 J" i
your offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 8 [8 N5 H+ j' O+ l8 F0 g
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
7 R! v! K% ]/ k# E8 Ybetter chance you have of securing the best deal.
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4 ^8 E0 o& V' @* @( d* Speaking of which, why not make two offers at the same time on two competing
+ p2 \% i, t/ D, g) k$ Fproperties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That # y& x& [5 `: V: V! B
will add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do : D! C' ~$ i! m6 d, m
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
& b( B& ^4 E2 n) N B) w5 Zconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed 5 D! r4 I' M: Y7 y8 x8 i# u1 x
buyers in during the bubble years.
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9 t) r; b, X) p* And, of course, you can make a low-ball offer, get a sign-back, and then just let it ' B# S) ]$ [5 w. n* [- n
die. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you 0 k9 o* E5 U4 d2 k! Y" I
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but
3 i' t9 u5 b( r( Ohe’ll close. |
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