 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 7 ]& O4 L. N, ^0 x9 M
falling market, like this one. The danger of doing so is that you buy before the
% a2 N* c: ~& }/ ybottom arrives, and take a capital gains hit. The advantage is you hold absolutely all 7 P. {* r0 i" t0 A4 B
the cards, and can strike a great deal while the victim-seller is writhing in pain and
p2 i( v- ] ^/ B+ W( C6 dbegging for mercy. That’s the fun part.9 V+ G2 v% L+ Z/ x& w
: c, T% b) @+ M+ e8 mSo, don’t ask me if it’s time to buy yet, because you won’t like the answer. But if ' _5 W, Q+ O. J9 C
you want some tips on being a vulture, for when the moment’s right, then clip this
0 }! {) a- P4 O9 K. u( Tand 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 0 C# ]0 o6 }& {
properties listed, and so little sales activity, every offer has to be taken
4 Q# m- b2 `6 {6 K1 c) u2 cseriously. Only by writing up an offer on your own terms, at your own price, will you
5 r3 n) {, b( s. Eget a sign-back showing the true level of desperation you’re dealing with.2 M' B& g( d6 f) z# ^0 U- S) ?
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* Always submit the offer with a deposit cheque, which is like putting a shiny lure on
! ^: q5 u0 Z: J- G4 }5 _! Sthe end of your fishing line. However, the offer must stipulate the cheque is not % _7 r1 {! O: n" e
cashable until a firm and binding agreement is reached. So, it means nothing, while 8 G; m J, L% y( d1 D6 M- F2 z
having a powerful psychological impact.' o' r/ B5 [! o% C) l, h6 E1 _
m/ ]( V; h$ e" o1 `( \& A* Throw in as many conditions as you want. This will create an offer that is : A' D( K4 m6 M$ W) [) S
completely tailored to your needs and wants while providing elements you can remove in
& ^) B! ?8 U9 L3 r1 u$ S; t/ vorder to gain things you truly want. So, for example, make the offer conditional on
4 p8 E" Y5 s) R8 tthe vendors paying all your closing costs, including land transfer tax. While you
6 |- R+ N6 E) Q4 G9 I8 k& gnever expect that to happen, you can remove it during negotiations in order to get 1 ~7 h/ `2 X: k- F
what you do want and expect, which is a bargain price.
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! I+ d. r9 T _* k* Ditto for conditions giving you time to arrange financing or even to sell another
1 G B( ~" t& |) h. \- {0 Dproperty – they are both traditional deal-breakers, and the vendor’s agent will know
5 l m# Y5 l; o/ T+ o$ N6 vthat immediately. So, by reluctantly removing them you move far closer to getting that
$ E3 r0 [$ V, k, @2 e# `$ [) |1 X4 oprice.2 M" V+ k# |) o* Y9 s
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* Best, however, to insist on a home inspection. This condition should give you five
! `. K U q- Obusiness days to complete the process, and is normally done at the purchaser’s
v* y- W. g7 k1 ]' Iexpense. The reason you want this is because almost all properties need some kind of
9 z: u/ w; r$ S" O2 b& zwork done in order to make them perfect, and when you get the inspector’s report you
, a! u. F4 K% L9 `) r$ j7 qhave leverage to help you drive down the price. Simply get an estimate of the cost of % e, |3 u& n! K5 _: ]
the repairs and ask for the deal to be rewritten with a price reduced by that amount. 8 c& N, J4 k3 |: P5 `* \
Since the vendor knows the condition is entirely for your benefit and the deal will 4 Q2 Q5 I4 \' X$ K) N/ R
die unless you sign a waiver, well, guess what? Vulture.
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8 Q+ S. N, ~$ N, U# D a- {/ H* And remember that the closing date is also an important poker chip to play. Have
( |& D( ~4 h. n1 q+ ^9 wyour agent find out what the vendor wants, and then use that to help leverage the
2 ^8 e( d' F+ X! U) X6 Tprice down. Additionally, you can throw any assets you see around the property into
0 i3 j7 p/ g! O& j! ~ }! F- _3 fyour offer – power tools, appliances, lawn tractor, Harley-Davidson, whatever. The 1 |5 x2 X* S) w G7 ]' u4 i% S
more you put in, the more clutter there is for the vendor to wade through, and the
# e- G$ M/ h& z2 r3 J1 g: y% sbetter 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 - O% g% y9 [" m) ?6 l% f
properties, and then let that fact be known (through your agent) to the vendor? That
3 R2 q8 V# q. E9 h* U5 Kwill add even more pressure to the poor guy, as he tries to figure out what he must do 9 u! t9 K& x# i: N) |2 G4 J) i
to save the deal, and give you what you want. This may be cruel and unusual, but just
" G( m8 S$ X( i& ^- R1 a: Fconsider it payback for all those multiple-offer situations greedy vendors placed
4 h( `' r1 z" \& y% u, S% lbuyers 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
- a z" ` @' j& ~0 j0 Jdie. Wait a week and go back in with another one, for the same low price. Odds are you ) k9 }4 `8 c! A$ {6 M
will not get the same response this time. The stressed-out vendor may hate you, but 7 ]& u% J. }+ s+ T& i
he’ll close. |
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